put them into her hand.

Aunt Zelie silently kissed them both.

There was something about this kiss that for a moment clouded the
brightness of the day for Bess. "I wish people did not die," she
exclaimed with almost a sob, as they went downstairs.

"What makes you look so sober, I should like to know?" demanded Uncle
William, who, with Aunt Marcia, was the first of the guests to arrive.

"I was just thinking," she replied, and then, as Aunt Zelie came in
with her usual bright face and the roses on her breast, she felt
reassured and danced away to be as merry as anybody.

Dora and Ikey were the only outsiders invited to the tree, which was
much like other trees, and so does not need to be described. It was
perfectly satisfactory, however, and they all had exactly what they
wanted. Dora was amazed at the number of things that fell to her
share, most of all at a small gold bracelet with a daisy on the clasp,
from Aunt Marcia.

"You may be sure she likes you after that," whispered Aleck.

"Let's go over and wish Miss Brown a Merry Christmas," proposed Carl,
when the candles began to burn low.

"We will storm Nottingham castle!" cried Ikey. "Come on!"

They received a cordial welcome. "What good children you are to think
of me to-day!" she said, laying down her book.

"We have had such a beautiful time we thought we would finish it by
coming to see you," said Dora.

"And thank you for our work-bags," added Bess.

"You need not think you have had all the Christmas on your side of the
street," said Miss Brown, pointing to a rose-bush in bloom in the
window and to some new books on her table. "And I should like to
know," she continued, "how five little girls happened to guess what
would please me most."

The M.Ks., after much discussion about their gift to Miss Brown, had
accepted Aunt Zelie's advice and had themselves photographed in a
group.

"I shall never be lonely again with these bright faces to look at,"
she said, lifting the picture from the floor beside her sofa.

"Did you have Christmas trees when you were a little girl, Miss
Brown?" Louise asked.

"No, my grandmother used to celebrate New Year's day as the great
holiday; we had gifts then, but not a tree."

"I haven't had one since I was a very little girl," said Dora; and
Ikey added, "And neither have I."

"Did you have one when you were a little girl, Ikey?" asked Aleck
gravely, making everybody laugh.

After they were gone Miss Brown sat