k, it behoved
one to have as good a specimen as possible, and the prospect of short
commons, and indifferent short commons at that, was not attractive.
_Who_ could be sure that the turkey might not arrive at the table singed
and charred, and the pudding in a condition of _soup_?

Schoolboy Tom was quick with a suggestion.

"I say--tell you what! Do the surprise-party business, and take a hamper
with us. . . . Only decent thing to do, when you march in four strong to
another person's feed. Dennis would love a hamper----"

"Ha! Good! Fine idea! So we will! A real old-fashioned hamper, full of
all the good things they are least likely to have. Game pie----"

"Tongue--one of those big, shiny fellows, with scriggles of sugar down
his back----"

"Ice-pudding in a tin----"

"Fancy creams----"

"French fruits----"

"Crackers! Handsome ones, with things inside that are worth having----"

"Bon-bons----"

Each one had a fresh suggestion to make, and Margaret scribbled them all
down on the ivory tablet which hung from her waist, and promptly
adjourned into the kitchen to give the necessary orders, and to rejoice
the hearts of her handmaidens by granting a day's leave all round.

On further consideration it was decided to attend early service at
home, and to start off on the day's expedition at eleven o'clock,
arriving at the Revell homestead about one, by which time it was
calculated that the family would have returned from church, and would be
hanging aimlessly about the garden, in the very mood of all others to
welcome an unexpected excitement.

Christmas Day broke clear and bright. Punctual to the minute the motor
came puffing along, the youthful-looking chauffeur drawing up before the
door with an air of conscious complaisance.

Despite his very professional attire--perhaps, indeed, because of it--so
very youthful did he appear, that Jack was visited by a qualm.

"Er--er--are you going to drive us all the way?" he inquired anxiously.
"When I engaged the car, I saw . . . I thought I had arranged with----"

"My father, sir. It was my father you saw. Father said, being Christmas
Day, he didn't care to turn out, so he sent me----"

"You are a qualified driver--quite capable . . . ?"

[Sidenote: A Good Start]

The lad smiled, a smile of ineffable calm. His eyelids drooped, the
corners of his mouth twitched and were still. He replied with two words
only, an unadorned "Yes, sir," but there was a colossal, a Napol