Page:Georgie by Dorothea Deakin, 1906.djvu/159

"Georgie" "But I wish you would, mother," he persisted. "I want to show you something."

"What, Georgie? Is it a present?"

I laughed softly. It might even have been dignified thus, I thought, but little did she guess what shape this new gift of his had taken.

"N-not exactly. At least—" he paused imploringly. "Won't you come and see?"

"Can't you bring it down and show me?"

She lifted a pretty ringed hand and pushed the brown hair from his damp forehead. Georgie flushed and cast a whimsical look at me.

"Well—hardly," he said with an uneasy laugh.

"But why? Can't you carry it?"

I turned away. This was more than I could bear with gravity. Georgie straightened his shoulders.

"Yes," he said with a reckless laugh, "I think I can carry it. You are sure you would like to see it—here?" 143