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“Go to sleep at once, Larry!” she said sharply.

I began to snivel. I couldn’t concentrate, the way that pair went on, and smothering my early-morning schemes was like burying a family from the cradle.

Father said nothing, but lit his pipe and sucked it, looking out into the shadows without minding Mother or me. I knew he was mad. Every time I made a remark Mother hushed me irritably. I was mortified. I felt it wasn’t fair; there was even something sinister in it. Every time I had pointed out to her the waste of making up two beds when we could both sleep in one, she had told me it was healthier like that, and now here was this man, this stranger, sleeping with her without the least regard for her health! He got up early and made tea, but though he brought Mother a cup he brought none for me.

“Mummy,” I shouted, “I want a cup of tea, too. “

“Yes, dear,” she said patiently. “You can drink from Mummy’s saucer. “

That settled it. Either Father or I would have to leave thehouse. I didn’t want to drink from Mother’s saucer; I wanted to be treated as an equal in my own home, so, just to spite her, I drank it all and left none for her. She took that quietly, too.

But that night while she was putting me to bed she said gently:

“Larry, I want you to promise me something. “

“What is it?” I asked.

“Not to come in and disturb poor Daddy in the morning. Promise?”

“Poor Daddy” again! I was becoming suspicious of everything involving that quite impossible man.

“Why?” I asked.

“Because poor Daddy is worried and tired and he doesn’t sleep well. “

“Why doesn’t he, Mummy?”

“Well, you know, don’t you, that while he was at the war Mummy got the pennies from the Post Office?”

“From Miss MacCarthy?”

“That’s right. But now, you see, Miss MacCarthy hasn’t anymore pennies, so Daddy must go out and find us some. You know what would happen if he couldn’t?”

“No,” I said, “tell us. “

“Well, I think we might have to go out and beg for them like the poor old woman on Fridays. We wouldn’t like that, would we?”

“No,” I agreed. “We wouldn’t. “

“So you’ll promise not to come in and wake him?”

“Promise. “

Mind you, I meant that. I knew pennies were a serious matter, and I was all against having to go out and beg like the old woman on Fridays. Mother laid out all my toys in a complete ring round the bed so that, whatever way I got out, I was bound to fall over one of them.

When I woke I remembered my promise all right. I got up and sat on the floor and played—for hours, it seemed to me. Then I got my chair and looked out the attic window for more hours. I wished it was time for Father to wake; I wished someone would make me a cup of tea. I didn’t feel in the least like the sun; instead, I was bored and so very, very cold! I simply longed for the warmth and depth of the big featherbed.

At last I could stand it no longer. I went into the next room. As there was still no room at Mother’s side I climbed over her and she woke with a start.

“Larry,” she whispered, gripping my arms very tightly, “what did you promise?”

“But I did, Mummy,” I wailed, caught in the very act. “I was quiet for ever so long. “

“Oh, dear, and you’re perished!” she said sadly, feeling me all over. “Now if I let you stay will you promise not to talk?”