And meantime she
would devote herself to making every one she knew as happy as possible,
particularly Cousin Julia.

And she would be happy herself. There would be sufficient unhappiness
coming to her later to pay her in full for all the mischief she had
done; and she saw no harm in putting the matter from her thoughts for
the interim, and making the most of the eighteen days. Then, Christmas
being over, one day, or two at most, would suffice her to decide where
to go and to make her preparations. Another day would give her time to
write the letters with due deliberation, and on the third she would be
off.

Wherefore, her resolve being fixed and her conscience accordingly
clear, she adventured the first precious day with a light heart.

CHAPTER XXV

Elsie Marley had never been happier than as she prepared for her first
Christmas at Enderby. But that festival seemed the high-water mark of
her happiness. The close of the day found her strangely depressed and
thereafter she had more frequent periods of being ill at ease.

She had learned to knit and had spent most of her leisure time for
several weeks in making a soft white woollen shawl for Mrs. Middleton,
into which went a rather surprising amount of affection. She went into
Boston with one of the high-school girls and bought a charming little
plaid woollen frock for Mattie Howe and a beautiful doll to fill the
little mother's arms when they were not occupied with a real baby. For
Charles Augustus, she selected an harmonicon, and toys for the other
three Howes. She wanted to get a warm winter coat for her staunch ally
Kate, the jacket she wore being short and so thin as to require an
undergarment that spoiled what little shape it had. On the day before
she was to go into town, she consulted Mrs. Middleton.

Thus far Elsie hadn't accepted a penny of pocket-money, and the
Middletons were filled with dismay to have her spend her own money so
lavishly. But Mr. Middleton had told his wife that he meant to give
Elsie a check for Christmas, which being also her birthday, made a
large one legitimate. Consequently, at this time Mrs. Middleton did
not remonstrate. She only called herself heartless for not noticing
poor Katy's need and so forestalling Elsie.

After she had sufficiently exclaimed over it, she asked what the girl
meant to get.

"I thought of black broadcloth, rather plain. Should you think that
would be right, Aunt Milly?"

"Quite right