Now I’d gone that day to ask Ellis to escort me to Llandudno the week after.  He likes going about with his auntie, and his auntie likes to have him.  And of course she sees that it doesn’t cost him anything.  But his father has to be placated first.  There’s another funny thing!  His father is always grumbling that Ellis is absolutely no good at all at the works, but the moment there’s any question of Ellis going away for a holiday—­even if it’s only a week-end—­then his father turns right round and wants to make out that Ellis is absolutely indispensable.  Well, I got over his father.  I always do, naturally.  And it was settled that Ellis and I should go on the next Saturday.

I said to Ellis: 

“You must be sure to bring that suit with you.”

And then—­will you believe me?—­he stuck to it he wouldn’t!  Truly I was under the impression that I could argue either Ellis or his father into any mortal thing.  But no!  I couldn’t argue Ellis into agreeing to bring that suit with him to Llandudno.  He said he should wear whites.  He said it was a September suit.  He said that everybody wore blue at Llandudno, and he didn’t want to be mistaken for a schoolmaster!  Imagine him being mistaken for a schoolmaster!  He even said there were some things I didn’t understand!  I told him there was a very particular reason why I wanted him to take that suit.  And there was.  He said: 

“What is the reason?”

But I wouldn’t tell him that.  I wasn’t going to knuckle down to him altogether.  So it ended that we didn’t either of us budge.  However, I didn’t mean to be beaten by a mere curly-headed boy.  I can do what I please with his mother, though she is my eldest sister-in-law.  And before he started in the dogcart to meet me at the station on our way to Llandudno she gave Ellis a bonnet-box to hand to me, and told him to take great care of it.  He handed it over to me, and I also told him to take great care of it.  Of course he became very curious to know what was in it.  I said to him: 

“You may see it on the pier on Monday.  In fact, I believe you will.”

He said:  “It’s heavy for a hat.”

So I informed him that hats were both heavy and large this summer.

He said, “Well, I pity you, auntie!”

Naturally it was his blue suit that was in the box.  His mother had burgled it after he’d done his packing, while he was having lunch.

I was determined he should wear that suit.  And I felt pretty sure that when he saw my reason for asking him to bring it he’d be glad at the bottom of his heart that I’d brought it in spite of him.  There is one good thing about Ellis—­he can see a joke against himself....  Have another cake.  Well, I will, then....  Yes, I’m coming to the reason.

II