d amid the thickly-fallen flakes.

"Why, that is Hugh," he said. "Hugh!"

"He does know my name," whispered the lad to the small counsellor now
at his side.

"And, of course, I am Kris Kringle. And I have a bag full of presents.
But come softly down and let me in, and don't make a noise or away I
go; and bring Alice."

The girl was still in doubt, but her desire for the promised gifts was
strong, and in the very blood of the boy was the spirit of daring
adventure. There was a moment of whispered indecision, resulting in
two bits of conclusive wisdom.

Said Alice, "If we go together, Hugh, and he takes one, the other can
squeal. Oh! very loud like a bear--a _big_ bear."

"And," said Hugh, "I will get my gweat gwandpapa's sword." And with
this he got upon a chair and by the failing light of the nursery fire
carefully took down from over the chimney the dress rapier which had
figured at peaceful levees of other days. "Now," he said, "if you are
afwaid I will go all alone myself."

"I am dreadfully afraid," said she, "but I will go, too." So she
hastily slipped on a little white wrapper and he his well-worn brown
velvet knickerbocker trousers. Neither had ever known a being they
had reason to fear, and so, with beating hearts, but brave enough,
they stole quietly out in their sweet innocence and hand in hand went
down the dark staircase, still hearing faint noises as they felt their
way. They crossed the great warm library and entered the hall, where,
with much effort, they unlocked the door and lifted the old-fashioned
bar which guarded it. The cold air swept in, and before them was a
tall man in a cloak half white with snow. He said at once, "Oh! Hugh!
Alice! Pleasant Christmas to you. Let us get in out of the cold; but
carefully--carefully, no sound!" As he spoke he shut the door behind
him. "Come," he said, and seeming to know the way, went before them
into the library.

"Oh! I'm so frightened," said Alice to Hugh in a whisper. "I wish I
was in bed."

Not so the boy. The man pushed away the ashes from the smouldering
logs, and took from the wood basket a quantity of birch bark and great
cones of the pine. As he cast them on the quick embers a fierce red
blaze went up, and the room was all alight. And now he turned quickly,
for Hugh, of a mind to settle the matter, was standing on guard
between him and the door to the stairway, which they had left open
when they came down. The man smiled as he saw the lad pus