32

VIII. JACK AGAIN 37

IX. THE DOG AGAIN 44

X. NOAH AGAIN 49

XI. MIRANDA AGAIN 53

XII. THE ANGEL AGAIN 62

XIII. THE CHRISTMAS CANDLE 68

XIV. TOM 73

XV. CHRISTMAS DAY 76

ILLUSTRATIONS

YOU HANG IT ON THE TREE, ANGELINA (page 26) _Frontispiece_

SHE LOOKED UP AND DOWN THE STREET 22

_PING!_ OUT SPRANG THE JACK-IN-THE-BOX 42

BOB COOPER SAVES THE BABY 46

HE GRASPED A RAILING TO STEADY HIMSELF 64

MARY RETURNS THE DOLL 78

_From drawings by Reginald Birch_

THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL

CHAPTER I

THE PLAY BOX

At the sound of footsteps along the hall Miss Terry looked up from the
letter which she was reading for the sixth time. "Of course I would not see
him," she said, pursing her lips into a hard line. "Certainly not!"

A bump on the library door, as from an opposing knee, did duty for a knock.

"Bring the box in here, Norah," said Miss Terry, holding open the door for
her servant, who was gasping under the weight of a packing-case. "Set it
down on the rug by the fire-place. I am going to look it over and burn up
the rubbish this evening."

She glanced once more at the letter in her hand, then with a sniff tossed
it upon the fire.

"Yes'm," said Norah, as she set down the box with a thump. She stooped once
more to pick up something which had fallen out when the cover was jarred
open. It was a pink papier-mache angel, such as are often hung from the top
of Christmas trees as a crowning symbol. Norah stood holding it between
thumb and finger, staring amazedly. Who would think to find such a bit of
frivolity in the house of Miss Terry!

Her mistress looked up from the fire, where the bit of writing was writhing
painfully, and caught the expression of Norah's face.

"What have you there?" she asked, frowning, as she took the object into her
own hands. "The Christmas Angel!" she exclaimed under her breath. "I had
quite forgotten it." Then