Clemence was fatter than ever, a subject of intense mortification to
herself, though at each fresh meeting she confided in whispered asides
that she had "lost five pounds--ten pounds," as the case might be. No
one believed in these diminutions, but if one happened to be amiably
disposed, one murmured vaguely, and affected conviction; and if one were
not, one openly jeered and scoffed! Lavender was sentimental and wrote
poetry in which "pale roses died, in the garden wide, and the wind blew
drear, o'er the stricken mere." She had advanced to the dignity of long
skirts, and dressed her hair--badly!--in the latest eccentricity of
fashion.

Vie Vernon, on the contrary, had developed into a most elegant person,
quite an accomplished woman of the world, darkly suspected of "going to
be engaged" to a young lawyer with a dark moustache, who had lately
developed a suspicious fondness for her father's company.

It really gave one quite a shock to realise _how_ grown-up the old
companions had become even the brothers Harry and Russell were
transformed into tall striplings who bought newspapers on their own
account, and preferred, actually _preferred_, to be clean rather than
dirty! It was a positive relief to listen to Tim's loud voice, look at
his grimy paws, and reflect that one member of the family was still in
the enjoyment of youth.

As usual, the postman's arrival was the first excitement of Christmas
morning. He brought with him an armful of letters and parcels, and
Darsie was quick to spy Ralph Percival's handwriting upon one of the
smallest and most attractive-looking of the packets.

The colour came into her cheeks as she looked, but after holding the
parcel uncertainly for a moment, she laid it down again, and proceeded
to open other letters and boxes, leaving this particular one to the
last. An onlooker would have been puzzled to decide whether it was more
dread or expectation which prompted this decision; and perhaps Darsie
herself could hardly have answered the question. The table was soon
spread with envelopes and wrappings of paper which had enclosed
souvenirs from college friends, and the more costly offerings from Mrs
Percival and her girls, inscribed with the orthodox words of greeting.
Darsie ranged them in order, and then, still hesitating, turned to the
last packet of all.

Inside was a note folded so as to act as additional wrapper for a small
white box. Ralph's writing, large and well-formed li