He simply stood there--staring.
III It is of the essence of birthdays that they cannot maintain throughout a long day the glorious character of their early dawning.

In Polchester thirty years ago there were no cinematographs, no theatre save for an occasional amateur performance at the Assembly Rooms and, once and again, a magic-lantern show.

On this particular day, moreover, Mr.and Mrs.Cole were immensely busied with preparations for some parochial tea.

Miss Trefusis had calls to make, and, of course, Uncle Samuel was invisible.

The Birthday then suddenly became no longer a birthday but an ordinary day--with an extraordinary standard.