The Indian Uncle went on: "I told an old friend of mine what a pleasant dinner I had with you, and about the threepenny bit, and the divining-rod, and all that, and he sent all these odds and ends as presents for you. Some of the things came from India."
"Have you come from India, Uncle?" Noël asked; and when he said "Yes" we were all very much surprised, for we never thought of his being that sort of Indian. We thought he was the Red kind, and of course his not being accounted for his ignorance of beavers and things.
He got Eliza to help, and we took all the parcels into the nursery and he undid them and undid them and undid them, till the papers lay thick on the floor. Father came too and sat in the Guy Fawkes chair. I cannot begin to tell you all the things that kind friend of Uncle's had sent us. He must be a very agreeable person.
There were toys for the kids and model engines for Dick and me, and a lot of books, and Japanese china tea sets for the girls, red and white and gold—there were sweets by the pound and by the box—and long yards and yards of soft silk from India, to make frocks for the girls—and a real Indian sword for
