Giant’s Bread · Book I · VI · Chapter 1 6 2

II

“Mummy?” said Vernon later. “What’s going to happen in June?”

“In June, darling?”

“Yes⁠—what you and Uncle Sydney were talking about.”

“Oh! that⁠—” Myra was momentarily discomposed. “Well, you see⁠—it’s a great secret.”

“Yes?” said Vernon eagerly.

“Uncle Sydney and Aunt Carrie hope that in June they will have a dear little baby boy. A boy cousin for you.”

“Oh!” said Vernon, disappointed. “Is that all?”

After a minute or two, he said:

“Why are Aunt Carrie’s legs swelled?”

“Oh! well⁠—you see⁠—she has been rather overtired lately.”

Myra dreaded more questions. She tried to remember what she and Sydney had actually said.

“Mummy?”

“Yes, dear.”

“Do Uncle Sydney and Aunt Carrie want to have a baby boy?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Then why do they wait till June? Why don’t they have it now?”

“Because, Vernon, God knows best. And God wants them to have it in June.”

“That’s a long time to wait,” said Vernon. “If I were God I’d send people things at once, as soon as they wanted them.”

“You mustn’t be blasphemous, dear,” said Myra gently.

Vernon was silent. But he was puzzled. What was blasphemous? He rather thought that it was the same word Cook had used speaking of her brother. She had said he was a most⁠—something⁠—man and hardly ever touched a drop! She had spoken as though such an attitude was highly commendable. But evidently Mummy didn’t seem to think the same about it.

Vernon added an extra prayer that evening to his usual petition of “God bless Mummy and Daddy and makemeagooboy armen.”

“Dear God,” he prayed. “Will you send me a puppy in June⁠—or July would do if you are very busy.”

“Now why in June?” said Miss Robbins. “You are a funny little boy. I should have thought you would have wanted the puppy now.”

“That would be blamafous,” said Vernon, and eyed her reproachfully.