led
each other up from the floor, and, springing on to the bed, danced a
Highland fling in the middle of it, till a slat fell out with a
terrifying crash.

* * * * *

With the coming of December the holiday gaieties began. A spirit of
festivity lurked in the very air. A mock Christmas tree was one of the
yearly features of the school, when each pupil's pet fad or peculiarity
was suggested by appropriate gifts. Preparations for the tree began
early in the month, and whispered consultations were carried on in every
corner, with much giggling and profound assurances of secrecy.

The practising of Christmas carols went on in the music-rooms, and
snatches of them floated down the halls and through the building, till
the blithe young hearts were filled to overflowing with the cheer and
good-will of the sweet old melodies. Now the usual Monday sightseeing
gave way to shopping, and every moment that could be snatched from
school work was given to crochet-needles and embroidery-hoops, to the
finishing of an endless variety of gifts, and the wrapping of same in
mysterious packages.

One Monday Betty did not join the others in their weekly shopping
expedition. Her few purchases had been made, and she wanted the day to
work on unfinished gifts. She was making most of them with her needle.
She was glad afterward that she had decided to stay when a slow winter
rain began to fall. It melted the light snow-fall which whitened the
ground into a disagreeable compound of slush and mud.

It was almost dark when Kitty and Allison burst into the room, their
arms full of bundles, and began displaying their purchases. Lloyd
followed more slowly, and, dropping her packages on the floor by the
radiator, stood trying to warm her fingers through her wet gloves.
Presently, in the midst of the exhibition, with her hat still on, she
flung herself across her bed, piled up as it was with strings and
crumpled wrapping-paper. "Excuse me if I mash your bargains, Kitty," she
said, weakly, closing her eyes. "But I'm as limp as a rag! So ti'ahed--I
feel as if I were falling to pieces. We tramped around in the wet so
long, and then inside the stores there were such crowds that we were
pushed and jammed and stepped on everywhere we turned. It seemed to me
we waited hours for our change. Then the car we came out on was so
ovah-heated that we almost stifled. I'm suah I caught cold when the icy
wind struck us aftah we left the