nto the study. He was real,
Mother!"

"Of course he's real," Major Hunt said. "Do you think he's gone up
the study chimney?"

Wally appeared in the doorway.

"Will the ladies and gentlemen kindly walk into the study?" he said
solemnly. "We have a distinguished guest."

"There! I _told_ you," said Geoffrey ecstatically. He tugged at his
father's hand, capering.

In the study a great fir-tree towered to the ceiling; a Christmas-tree
of the most beautiful description, gay with shining coloured globes
and wax lights and paper lanterns; laden with mysterious packages in
white paper, tied with ribbon of red, white and blue, and with other
things about which there was no mystery--clockwork toys, field guns
and ambulance wagons, and a big, splendid Red Cross nurse, difficult
to consider a mere doll. Never was seen such a laden tree; it's
branches groaned under the weight they bore. And beside it, who but
Father Christmas, bowing and smiling with his eyes twinkling under
bushy white eyebrows.

"Walk in, ladies and gentleman, walk in!" he said invitingly.

Wally frowned at him.

"That's not the way to talk," he said. "You aren't a shop-walker!"
He inflicted a surreptitious kick upon the elderly saint.

"Hi, you blighter, that's my shin!" said Father Christmas wrathfully;
a remark luckily unheard by the guests in the excitement of the
moment.

All the household was there; Miss de Lisle beaming at Wally and very
stately and handsome in blue silk; the servants, led by Allenby, with
Con and Katty and Bride giggling with astonishment at a tree the like
of which did not grow in Donegal.

"All mustered?" said Father Christmas. "Right oh! I mean, that is
well. As you see, I've had no end of a time labouring in your behalf.
But I love hard work!" (Interruption from Mr. Meadows, sounding like
"I _don't_ think!") "Being tired, I shall depute to my dear young
friend here the task of removing the parcels from the tree." He
tapped Wally severely on the head with his knuckles, and that hapless
youth ejaculated, "Beast!". "You'll get thrown out, if you don't
watch it!" said the saint severely. "Now--ladies first!"

He detached the Red Cross nurse from her bough and placed her in
Alison's arms; and Alison, who had glued her eyes to her from the
moment of entering the room, uttered a gasp, sat promptly upon the
floor, and began an exhaustive examination of her charms, unheeding
any further gifts. Under the onslaugh