for some money, or
else as (you'll excuse me, sir) you was touched in the 'ead."

"I wasn't," said Peter. "Not in the least. I wanted the things, so I got
them. But now I come to think of it, I shan't want most of them any more,
as I'm going away, so I think I'll just return them to the shops they
came from. Of course they won't be pleased, but they'll prefer it to
losing the money _and_ the things, I suppose, won't they. And we haven't
spoiled them a bit, except that cushion Francesco has just walked over,
and that can be cleaned, I expect. I had to have them, you know, just
when I wanted them; I couldn't have borne not to; but I don't really
need them any more, because I'm going to have other things now. Oh, I'm
talking too much, and you want to be cooking the supper, don't you, and
I want to put Thomas to bed."

CHAPTER XX

THE LAST LOSS

Three days later it was Easter Day. In the evening, about half-past nine,
when Thomas lay sleeping and Peter was packing the rugs and cushions and
pictures he hadn't paid for into brown paper parcels (a tedious job),
Rodney came in. Peter hadn't seen him for some time.

"What on earth," said Rodney, lighting his pipe and sitting down, "are
you doing with all that upholstery? Has someone been sending you Easter
presents? Well, I'm glad you're getting rid of them as speedily as may
be."

Peter said ruefully, because he was tired of the business, "The stupid
things aren't paid for. So I'm packing them up to be sent back directly
the shops open again. I can't afford them, you see. Already most of my
belongings are in pawn."

"I see." Rodney wasn't specially struck by this; it was the chronic
condition of many of his friends, who were largely of the class who pawn
their clothes on Monday and redeem them on Saturday to wear for Sunday,
and pawn them again, paying, if they can afford it, a penny extra to have
the dresses hung up so that they don't crush.

"A sudden attack of honesty," Rodney commented. "Well, I'm glad, because
I don't see what you want to cumber yourself with all those cushions and
rugs for. You're quite comfortable enough without them."

Peter said, "Thomas and I wanted nice things to look at. We were tired of
horse-hair and 'Grace Sufficient'. Thomas is fastidious."

Rodney put a large finger on Thomas' head.

"Thomas isn't such a fool.... Hullo, there's another of you." Francesco
woke and came out of his corner and laid his nose on Rodney's knee wit