charm of strangeness. She wore on her wrist a tiny watch, the like of
which they had never seen before, and one of them poked it shyly with
his finger. She accommodatingly slipped it off and gave it to them to
examine, telling them of the beautiful shop in Geneva where she had
bought it. Susan returned to share in these further revelations by the
wonderful lady. The spectacle of their children gathered at the erring
Lois's knees, filled the watchful sisters with dismay. The ease of the
woman's conquests, her continued indifference to their feelings, caused
their indignation to wax hot.

"The children must go. Run along home now, and, boys, see that Susie
gets home safely. No; you must go at _once_!" said Mrs. Waterman.

"Oo bring lady home to ours house, mamma; my wants to play with lady's
watch."

"Skip along, Susan; you'll have lots of time to play with my watch,"
said Lois. "Oh, wait a minute!"

Jeremiah was bringing fresh glasses for the eggnog, and she sent him to
her room to bring down some packages she had left on her bed.

While he was gone she romped with Susan, running back through the hall
into the dining-room with the chirruping child trotting after her, and
paused breathless as Jeremiah placed the parcels on the center table.

"That is altogether unnecessary; the children have had enough presents,"
said Mrs. Fosdick. "The children must go at once."

"Oh, these are only trifles; just a minute more," Lois flung over her
shoulder.

She peered into a box, inspected the contents with a moment's quick
appraisement, and clasped on Susie's chubby wrist a tiny bracelet.

"There, Susan! What do you think of that?"

Susan thought well of it beyond question and trotted to her mother to
exhibit the treasure.

Three pairs of eyes looked upon the trinket coldly. Careless of their
scorn Lois was enjoying the mystification of the young Amzis, to whom
she held out two boxes and bade them make a choice. She laughed merrily
when they opened them and found two silver watches as like as two peas.

There was no questioning Lois's complete success with the children.
Their fathers responded in grateful praise of the gifts: their Uncle
Amzi said "Thunder!" and expressed his delight.

"Now, you youngsters run along or I'll get scolded for keeping you.
Scoot!"

Lois urged them to the door, where Susan presented her face for further
osculation.

"You shouldn't have done that, Lois; it was altogether unnecessary,"
a