id,
looking at her affectionately. "She has on a very fine frock and some
very superior color in her cheeks."

"Well, it is Christmas eve, and the fire is hot," explained Cynthia.

"Ho!" laughed Janet, "that isn't it! You began to get blushy when you
thought the boys were coming this morning. You thought--"

"Janet," interposed Mrs. Franklin, "run up stairs quickly and get the
little white package on my dressing-table, dear. I forgot to put it in
the basket. You can slip it in."

For the old Oakleigh custom still obtained, and the presents were
deposited in the basket in the hall.

Janet, her explanations nipped in the bud, departed obediently, her love
of teasing overcome by her desire to see, feel, and even shake the
"little white package," which had an attractive sound.

And at last Neal arrived. The storm had begun at the south, and there
had been much detention; but he had finally reached his journey's end,
and here he was, cold and hungry, and very glad to reach the friendly
shelter of Oakleigh.

From the moment he came in Cynthia found a great deal to do in other
parts of the house--things which seemed to require her immediate and
closest attention. She left her mother and sister to attend to the wants
of the traveller, and beyond the first shy greeting she had very little
to say to him. When there was nothing left to be done she devoted
herself to Aunt Betsey. But as soon as Neal had appeased his appetite
the excitement of opening the presents began, and the assumption of
indifference to his coming was no longer necessary.

On Christmas afternoon Neal asked Cynthia to go out with him. The day
was clear, the sleighing fine, and he anticipated having an opportunity
for a long talk with her, uninterrupted by the claims of relatives. It
seemed to him that there were more people than ever who received a share
of Cynthia's attention. He would like to have her all to himself just
once.

Very much to his chagrin, however, Cynthia, who accepted his invitation
with apparent cordiality, insisted that they should go in the double
sleigh, and that Aunt Betsey and some one else should go too.

"It would be very selfish and quite unnecessary for us to go in the
cutter when Aunt Betsey is so fond of a sleigh-ride," she said,
severely.

Neal grumbled under his breath, but could say nothing aloud, as Miss
Trinkett was in the room. To be sure, when they drove off, Cynthia sat
in front with him, while his sister enter