Page:Neith Boyce--The bond.djvu/320

318 Ronald greeted Crayven with a faint smile, and listened indifferently to remarks about his health and the advisability of letting currants alone in future. Then he said:

"Want to see the tick-tick."

Crayven took out his repeater and rang the hour, opened the case and showed the wheels. Ronald devoted ten minutes to a grave consideration of the watch, then said: "Show us the knife."

Crayven produced a bunch of gold trinkets attached to a chain; a cigarette- and match-case, a cigar-cutter, a pencil, and penknife. These occupied Ronald for some twenty minutes.

"Have you got the dog?" he enquired next.

Crayven fetched his walking-stick, the top of which was admirably carved into an animal-head, and laid it on the bed, saying:

"I brought this for you to keep, old fellow. It's yours now."

Ronald clutched the stick with an expression of such joy that Teresa had not the heart to protest, and smiled radiantly at Crayven, whose dark eyes softened oddly as he looked at the child and then up at Teresa.

"Now sing," said Ronald.

With a look at Teresa, Crayven said apologetically:

"Well, old man, perhaps your mother would rather I didn't. It makes a good deal of noise in a room"