Page:The Story of the Treasure Seekers.djvu/341

Rh "We'll just come into my study first," said the Uncle, "and wish each other a Merry Christmas." So then we knew he wasn't the butler, but it must be his own house, for only the master of the house has a study.

His study was not much like Father's. It had hardly any books, but swords and guns and newspapers and a great many boots, and boxes half unpacked, with more Indian things bulging out of them.

We gave him our presents and he was awfully pleased. Then he gave us his Christmas presents. You must be tired of hearing about presents, but I must remark that all the Uncle's presents were watches; there was a watch for each of us, with our names engraved inside, all silver except H. O.'s, and that was a Waterbury, "To match his boots," the Uncle said. I don't know what he meant.

Then the Uncle looked at Father, and Father said, "You tell them, sir."

So the Uncle coughed and stood up and made a speech. He said&mdash;

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are met together to discuss an important subject which has for some weeks engrossed the attention of the honourable member opposite and myself."