AuntsJuleyandHester，ratherhurtthattheirpresentshadnotreceivedspecialmention——theyforgoteveryyearthatJamescouldnotbeartoreceivepresents，’throwingawaytheirmoneyonhim，’
ashealwayscalledit——were’delighted’；itshowedthatJameswasingoodspirits，andthatwassoimportantforhim。AndtheybegantowaitforWinifred。Shecameatfour，bringingImogen，andMaud，justbackfromschool，and’gettingsuchaprettygirl，too，’sothatitwasextremelydifficulttoaskfornewsaboutAnnette。
AuntJuley，however，summonedcouragetoenquirewhetherWinifredhadheardanything，andifSoameswasanxious。”UncleSoamesisalwaysanxious，Auntie，”interruptedImogen；”hecan’tbehappynowhe’sgotit。”
ThewordsstruckfamiliarlyonAuntJuley’sears。Ah！yes；thatfunnydrawingofGeorge’s，whichhadnotbeenshownthem！ButwhatdidImogenmean?Thatherunclealwayswantedmorethanhecouldhave?Itwasnotatallnicetothinklikethat。
Imogen’svoiceroseclearandclipped：”Imagine！Annette’sonlytwoyearsolderthanme；itmustbeawfulforher，marriedtoUncleSoames。”