and Dot a Merry Christmas. Many of them, too, stayed for a moment to speak to Mrs. Eland and Miss Pepperill. The interest aroused by the recently perfor

en of Milton," the latter said, rather tartly. "I'd b

be dreadful!"

was that ran you down. He could be

that I hadn't earned!" c

earned it mighty hard," said Mrs.

ng back wearily in her chair. "And I don't see how I

gged Mrs

an awful youngster?

" declared Mrs.

d Miss Pepperill. "But I certainly

aid Dot. "Like

ear his name mentioned. "I went over and asked his mother about h

r chimney yesterday was too much for him.

is sick and dies, he'll never

Pepperill, eyeing Dot as though s

e," admonished Tess. "

idn't get to be a pirat

n't believe Sammy Pinkney i

er grandmother. I never heard such a child as you are, Theresa

was crying," s

but Dot brought her the nicest piece of "Christmas" candy i

. The meal was almost ready to serve, but Neale O'Neil

on't come back," she said accusingly to t

ared Agnes. "He knows we depend on hi

y isn't comi

nounce that all was ready, and he tuc

re!" the second sist

irl saw it was the handwr

to schedule.' Oh! that is all right, then," Ruth

at's too mean of

d. They went in to dinner, a

ectacle. Ruth's idea of lighting the room completely by candles proved a good one. The s

itchen. Aunt Sarah Maltby, in her best black silk and ivory lace, seemed to have imbibed a share of th

nced. Mrs. Eland sat between Tess and Dot on one side of the long board,

most immediately she excused Tess and Dot to run up for their dolls. The presents were to be t

only begun to eye that place of mystery with growing curiosity, when there was a shaking of the branch

est of iv'rything to ye!" c

. "Is-is it the real

t in fun!" But she could not imagine, any more than did Dot, who it

they all sat along the opposite side of the cleared table, facing him. With many a quip and jest he brought the packages and presented them

yet thinking of the absent one. "If Neale were only

bed with their arms full. Then the party broke up and the masquer

on Murphy, accepting a piece of Agnes' cake and sitting

ome to dinner?" dema

d the cobbler, quiet

house?" asked Ruth, curiously, for A

from Milton entirely,"

emanded both

hy, slowly. "Come to think of ut, he niver t

tter?" a

got a letter," crie

before supper," said Mr. Murphy, reflectively. "Ye, see, Neale was over h

he chorused

d, lad?' says I to him. But niver a wor'rd did he reply to me till afther he'd been over here

" wailed Agnes, "

hman, shaking his head. "Neale can be

f without saying a wo

lf for going; but I'd hate meself worse if I didn't go.' Now! kin ye

other. Neither of them could see into this