Page:Possession (Roche, February 1923).pdf/109

 smoked, while the eyes of those who had built and cherished Grimstone looked soberly down from the walls.

In a pause of the music Derek said: "Oh, I say, Edmund, I have a Christmas present for you. Shall I give it to you now or shall you wait till tomorrow?"

Edmund swung around on the stool and faced him. "I think I'll wait. I have something for you too. Only a trifle. Not at all what I should have liked, but you know how it is with me. I'm always hard up."

"Oh, that's all right. How would you like a game of cribbage? I should like to give you a good licking before you go."

"All right. The piano is out of tune but it has a nice tone. Better get it tuned before it's too late."

"For whom?" asked Derek.

"Miss Jerrold, of course. I see her firmly established here as mistress by my next visit."

"Rot. I've no intention of getting married. I like the freedom of my life just as it is. I'm wedded to old Grimstone."

"Well, get the cribbage board, and I'll make you sorry you spoke."

They went to the dining room to play. The doors of the pantry between it and the kitchen were open and their game was frequently interrupted by noisy talk and laughter.

"Deuce take those hoodlums," muttered Derek. "I'll shut the doors."

"Not for a bit. I want to hear them. One of the Scotchmen is reading aloud—something from 'Jack Canuck,' I think. He sounds aggressive."

"He is—in the kitchen. That's Gunn. There; I peg two on you. That's what you get for not attending to the game."

"Whatever are they doing now? Listen."