"If you aren't downstairs _cleaned_ by the time the lunch-bell goes,
my son," he said, "you won't see that bugle of yours this side of
Christmas."

William swallowed.

"Yes, father," he said meekly.

He went slowly upstairs to the bathroom.

Life was a rotten show.

CHAPTER X

THE HELPER

The excitement began at breakfast. William descended slightly late,
and, after receiving his parents' reproaches with an air of weary
boredom, ate his porridge listlessly. He had come to the conclusion
that morning that there was a certain monotonous sameness about life.
One got up, and had one's breakfast, and went to school, and had one's
dinner, and went to school, and had one's tea, and played, and had
one's supper, and went to bed. Even the fact that to-day was a
half-term holiday did not dispel his depression. _One_ day's holiday!
What good was _one_ day? We all have experienced such feelings.

Half abstractedly he began to listen to his elders' conversation.

"They promised to be here by _nine_," his mother was saying. "I do
hope they won't be late!"

"Well, it's not much good their coming if the other house isn't ready,
is it?" said William's grown-up sister Ethel. "I don't believe they've
even finished _painting_!"

"I'm so sorry it's William's half-term holiday," sighed Mrs. Brown.
"He'll be frightfully in the way."

William's outlook on life brightened considerably.

"They comin' removin' this _morning_?" he inquired cheerfully.

"Yes, DO try not to hinder them, William."

"_Me_?" he said indignantly. "I'm goin' to _help_!"

"If William's going to help," remarked his father, "thank Heaven _I_
shan't be here. Your assistance, William, always seems to be even more
devastating in its results than your opposition!"

William smiled politely. Sarcasm was always wasted on William.

"Well," he said, rising from the table, "I'd better go an' be gettin'
ready to help."

Ten minutes later Mrs. Brown, coming out of the kitchen from her
interview with the cook, found to her amazement that the steps of the
front door were covered with small ornaments. As she stood staring
William appeared from the drawing-room staggering under the weight of
a priceless little statuette that had been the property of Mr. Brown's
great grandfather.

"WILLIAM!" she gasped.

"I'm gettin' all the little things ready for 'em jus' to carry
straight down. If I put everything on the steps they don't need come
into the house at