The whole table rose to this toast except the doctor, even to the small Eric and Hester who had no idea what it was all about but found it all very exciting and delightful and beautifully grown up.  As they drank the toast Ted’s free hand rested with affectionate pressure on his uncle’s and Tony on the other side set down her glass and squeezed his hand instead.  They too were trying to tell him that what Larry had spoken in his own behalf was true for them also.  They wanted to have him know how much he meant to them and how much they wanted to do and be for his dear sake.

Perhaps Philip Holiday won his order of distinguished service then and there.  At any rate with his own children and Ned’s around him, with the wife of his heart smiling down at him from across the table with proud, happy, tear wet eyes, the Head of the House of Holiday was content.

THE END