Page:Sheila and Others (1920).djvu/123

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SUPPRESSION OF A CUCKOO CLOCK
111

at all, it was awkward to get at, and fresh complications were continually arising.

I refrained from offering advice, or even making general remarks, a course that experience has proved wise under such circumstances. I didn't even say anything when the deer's horns and other pieces of the exterior ornamental carving began to fly off.

But Pater was less restrained. He made several remarks of a character unusual with him.

I was relieved when he got it all together again to find it would still go.

It no longer coo-cooed to us of course and Pater kept remarking what an improvement it was, but I didn't realize any myself.

The next Sunday it was the same, only more so. The glue-pot had to be found that time, and the sitting-room smelled of it for days after. I think it was that Sunday that the kid bellows came out, and the next that the blue and white bird disappeared forever from the little door-way at the top which he opened with such funny eruptive jerks. After this it became a weekly performance, a Sunday afternoon occupation to which as summer advanced, the appearance of shirt sleeves