s hard and cheerless.

XVII

GRAY DAYS AND GOLD

When Rebecca looked back upon the year or two that followed the
Simpsons' Thanksgiving party, she could see only certain milestones
rising in the quiet pathway of the months.

The first milestone was Christmas Day. It was a fresh, crystal morning,
with icicles hanging like dazzling pendants from the trees and a glaze
of pale blue on the surface of the snow. The Simpsons' red barn stood
out, a glowing mass of color in the white landscape. Rebecca had been
busy for weeks before, trying to make a present for each of the seven
persons at Sunnybrook Farm, a somewhat difficult proceeding on an
expenditure of fifty cents, hoarded by incredible exertion. Success had
been achieved, however, and the precious packet had been sent by post
two days previous. Miss Sawyer had bought her niece a nice gray
squirrel muff and tippet, which was even more unbecoming if possible,
than Rebecca's other articles of wearing apparel; but aunt Jane had
made her the loveliest dress of green cashmere, a soft, soft green like
that of a young leaf. It was very simply made, but the color delighted
the eye. Then there was a beautiful "tatting" collar from her mother,
some scarlet mittens from Mrs. Cobb, and a handkerchief from Emma Jane.

Rebecca herself had fashioned an elaborate tea-cosy with a letter "M"
in outline stitch, and a pretty frilled pincushion marked with a "J,"
for her two aunts, so that taken all together the day would have been
an unequivocal success had nothing else happened; but something else
did.

There was a knock at the door at breakfast time, and Rebecca, answering
it, was asked by a boy if Miss Rebecca Randall lived there. On being
told that she did, he handed her a parcel bearing her name, a parcel
which she took like one in a dream and bore into the dining-room.

"It's a present; it must be," she said, looking at it in a dazed sort
of way; "but I can't think who it could be from."

"A good way to find out would be to open it," remarked Miss Miranda.

The parcel being untied proved to have two smaller packages within, and
Rebecca opened with trembling fingers the one addressed to her.
Anybody's fingers would have trembled. There was a case which, when the
cover was lifted, disclosed a long chain of delicate pink coral
beads,--a chain ending in a cross made of coral rosebuds. A card with
"Merry Christmas from Mr. Aladdin" lay under the cross.

"Of all things!" excl