chap."

"Only _kids_ believe that rot," persisted William. "I left off
believin' it years and _years_ ago!"

Her face grew pink with the effort of convincing him.

"But the boy _told_ me, the boy wot got things from this 'ere chap wot
comes down chimneys. An' I've wrote wot I want an' sent it up the
chimney. Don't you think I'll get it?"

William looked down at her. Her blue eyes, big with apprehension, were
fixed on him, her little rosy lips were parted. William's heart
softened.

"I dunno," he said doubtfully. "You might, I s'pose. What d'you want
for Christmas?"

"You won't tell if I tell you?"

"No."

"Not to no one?"

"No."

"Say, 'Cross me throat.'"

William complied with much interest and stored up the phrase for
future use.

"Well," she sank her voice very low and spoke into his ear.

"Dad's comin' out Christmas Eve!"

She leant back and watched him, anxious to see the effect of this
stupendous piece of news. Her face expressed pride and delight,
William's merely bewilderment.

"Comin' out?" he repeated. "Comin' out of where?"

Her expression changed to one of scorn.

"_Prison_, of course! _Silly_!"

William was half offended, half thrilled.

"Well, I couldn't _know_ it was prison, could I? How could I _know_ it
was prison without bein' told? It might of been out of anything.
What--" in hushed curiosity and awe--"what was he in prison for?"

"Stealin'."

Her pride was unmistakable. William looked at her in disapproval.

"Stealin's wicked," he said virtuously.

"Huh!" she jeered, "you _can't_ steal! You're too soft! _Softie_! You
_can't_ steal without bein' copped fust go, you can't."

"I _could_!" he said indignantly. "And, any way, he got copped di'n't
he? or he'd not of been in prison, _so there_!"

"He di'n't get copped fust go. It was jus' a sorter mistake, he said.
He said it wun't happen again. He's a jolly good stealer. The cops
said he was and _they_ oughter know."

"Well," said William changing the conversation, "what d'you want for
Christmas?"

"I wrote it on a bit of paper an' sent it up the chimney," she said
confidingly. "I said I di'n't want no toys nor sweeties nor nuffin'. I
said I only wanted a nice supper for Dad when he comes out Christmas
Eve. We ain't got much money, me an' Mother, an' we carn't get 'im
much of a spread, but if this 'ere Christmas chap sends one fer 'im,
it'll be--_fine_!"

Her eyes were dreamy with ecstasy. William stirred uneasily o