the plate at the same
time. "It'll go fast enough, no fear of that. Eating is never up-hill
work with me, and this has nothing to do but coast, you see," and she
swallowed the first mouthful down with a jolly laugh.

"Look over at Mary Brewster! She's trying her best to pretend she
ignores us," whispered Ruth, but not so low but that the young fellows
could hear.

"Is one who ignores an ignor--amus?" asked Harley Morris, grinning
broadly at his own witticism.

"Yes," promptly answered Louie. "And in this case especially so, for
she doesn't know what she's losing."

There were more games after supper, and last of all came the jolliest
part of the whole evening, an old-fashioned Virginia reel, Miss Blake
and John Gardiner leading and the rest following with the heartiest of
zest. In and out they tripped and up and down they ran till all were
fairly out of breath. Then suddenly Miss Blake seized John's hand, and
away they sped toward the library, the rest following helter-skelter,
where the Christmas tree stood all lighted and ablaze.

"All hands round!" shouted John, as they formed a ring and pranced
gayly about the fragrant tree.

Then up rose the governess' cheery voice, singing the dear old
Christmas carol that is always new:

"Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King;
Peace on earth and mercy mild;
God and sinners reconciled."

And the rest joined in and made the house re-echo with their hearty
chorus:

"Joyful all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th' angelic host proclaim,
Christ is born in Bethlehem!"

It seemed to melt the hearts of every one there, for the voices that
presently said "Good-night," were full of peace and good-will, and even
Mary Brewster's had a ring of sincerity in it as she murmured:

"Good-night, Miss Blake! Good-night, Nan. I've had a charming
evening, and I hope we'll know each other better after this."

CHAPTER XII

SMALL CLOUDS

It proved an ideal Christmas day. Clear and cold and spotlessly white,
for the snow fell heavily all through the night, and covered everything
with a mantle of glistening frost.

Nan looked out of her window, and gave a gasp of delight as she saw the
shimmering, rime-covered trees, with the sunshine striking full upon
them and bringing out sparks of light from every branch and twig.
Whatever sounds there were in the streets came to her softened and
mellowed over the snow-lad