two days before. Kitty was wild to go to the
Collingwoods', and the old lady, who, for some reason, hated the
family, was determined she should not go. But Kitty was immovable, and
never gave up until she found that her aunt had gone so far as to
dispose of her horse, thus making it impossible to travel in such
weather, there being no public conveyances passing the house. Kitty
was an orphan, and had a guardian who would have come to her aid, but
she could not write to him in time, and, in utter despair, she went to
bed. She would not eat or drink, she would not speak, and she covered
up her head.

"After a day and a night," said Kitty, "aunty got dreadfully frightened
and thought something was the matter with my brain. Her family are
awfully anxious about their brains. I knew she had sent for the doctor
and I was glad of it, for I thought he would help me. I must say I was
surprised when I first saw that Mr. Beamish, for I thought he was Dr.
Morris. Now tell me about your coming here."

"And so," she said, when I had finished, "you had no idea that you were
prescribing for me! Please do tell me what were those medicines you
sent up to me and which I took like a truly good girl."

"I didn't know it at the time," said I, "but I sent you sixty drops of
the deepest, strongest love in a glass of water, and ten grains of
perfect adoration."

"Nonsense!" said Kitty, with a blush, and at that moment Uncle Beamish
knocked at the door.

"I thought I'd just step in and tell you," said he, "that breakfast
will be comin' along in a minute. I found they were goin' to have
buckwheat cakes, anyway, and I prevailed on Jane to put sausages in the
bill of fare. Merry Christmas to you both! I would like to say more,
but here comes the old lady and Jane."

The breakfast was a strange meal, but a very happy one. The old lady
was very dignified. She made no allusion to Christmas or to what had
happened, but talked to Uncle Beamish about people in Warburton.

I have a practical mind, and, in spite of the present joy, I could not
help feeling a little anxiety about what was to be done when breakfast
was over. But just as we were about to rise from the table we were all
startled by a great jingle of sleigh-bells outside. The old lady arose
and stopped to the window.

"There!" said she, turning toward us. "Here's a pretty kettle of fish!
There's a two-horse sleigh outside, with a man driving, and a gentleman
in the ba