lace and
rested his elbow on the mantel, so that he would be in full view when
the Little Gray Lady awoke.

At last her eyes opened, but she made no outcry, nor did she move,
except to lift her head as does a fawn startled by some sudden light,
her wondering eyes drinking in the apparition. Mark, hardly breathing,
stood like a statue, but Kate, bending closer, heard her catch her
breath with a long, indrawn sigh, and next the half-audible words:
"No--it isn't so--How foolish I am--" Then there came softly:
"Harry"--and again in almost a whisper--as if hope had died in her
heart--"Harry--"

Kate, half frightened, sprang forward and flung her arms around the
Little Gray Lady.

"Why, don't you know him? It's Mark, Cousin Annie, and here's Tom
and Nanny Fields, and everybody, and we're going to light all the
candles--every one of them, and make an awful big fire--and have a real,
real Christmas."

The Little Gray Lady was awake now.

"Oh! you scared me so!" she cried, rising to her feet, rubbing her eyes.
"You foolish Children! I must have been asleep--yes, I know I was!" She
greeted them all, talking and entering into their fun, the spirit of
hospitality now hers, saying over and over again how glad she was they
came, kissing one and another; telling them how happy they made her;
how since they had been kind enough to come, she would let them have a
_real_ Christmas--"Only," she added quickly, "it will have to be by the
light of one candle; but that won't make any difference, because you can
pile on just as much wood as you choose. Yes," she continued, her voice
rising in her effort to meet them on their own joyous plane--"pile
on all the kindling, too, Mark; and Kate, dear, please run and tell
Margaret to bring in every bit of cake she has in the pantry. Oh, how
like your mother you are, Kate! I remember that very dress. And you,
Mark! Why, you've got on the same coat I saw your father wear at the
Governor's ball. And you, too, Tom. Oh, what a good time we will all
have!"

Soon the lid of the old piano was raised, a spinet, really, and one of
the girls began running her fingers over the keys; and later on it was
agreed that the first dance was to be the Virginia reel, with all the
hospitable chairs and the fire screen and the gouty old sofa rolled back
against the wall.

This all arranged, Mark took his place with the Little Gray Lady for a
partner. The music struck up a lively tune and as quickly ceased as the