They had a large tree and distributed the gifts.
Everyone received exactly what he or she desired. Mr. Casey's generosity
was boundless. He gave Mrs. Hollister a small limousine with the
understanding that all bills should be sent to him.

"Madam," he said, "you and Nora have a great deal of shopping and social
duties to perform. Nora tells me that you go by the cars and rarely in a
taxi, and that you seldom allow her to pay her fare. Now this will set
everything right, and Grandmother--God bless her--must have her ride
daily. It is money well invested, for you and Nora can take comfort. I
have engaged a good chauffeur and have made arrangements with a garage
near by. All bills are to be sent to me. Nora will attend to the sending
of them."

Mrs. Hollister couldn't speak. They stood under the mistletoe. She just
raised herself up and gave Mr. Casey two hearty smacks, at which there
arose a shout.

"I shan't try to thank you," she said, "for I can not."

Then another surprise came in shape of a wonderful diamond la valliere or
pendant, and poor Mrs. Hollister was most embarrassed.

"Mr. Casey," she said, "you are going to get me in wrong. People may
criticise me."

Then Tom's present came--a lovely grey silk evening wrap trimmed with
chinchilla, and verily Mrs. Hollister was nearly off her head.

Grandmother received a long silk coat lined with fur and trimmed with a
large lynx collar and cuffs--from Mr. Casey also.

"Don't think that I bought out a furrier," he said, "but I know people
always need them."

Ethel received a lovely pendant from Mr. Casey and one from Tom, while
Nora presented her with a beautiful diamond ring.

Everyone was happy this Christmas eve and strange to say Mr. Casey took
Aunt Susan right under the mistletoe and kissed her, which made
Grandmother laugh immoderately.

During one of the moments when people were rather quiet, Harvey Bigelow
took Nora by the hand and walked up to Mr. Casey who was standing under
the mistletoe; in fact, he had stood nowhere else during the evening.

"Mr. Casey," he said, "I ask of you the most valuable gift that a father
can give. I ask the hand of this dear girl," and he kissed Nora gently.

Mr. Casey, who had imbibed somewhat plentifully of punch, and who was
quite warm, looked at the two for a moment.

"An' is it this that ye two have been up to?" he said. "Nora, me child,
do ye wish it to be?"

"Yes, Papa," faltered the girl, "I love Harvey."