itting; for she remembered many such
little feet that had once pattered about the cottage floor. Prince
lifted his head and seemed to listen, then whined as he had done before.

"You are lonely, old fellow, are you not?" quavered old Josef. "You are
waiting for the children to come back and make it merry, as it used to
be in the old days when you were a pup. Heigho! Those were pleasant
days, but they will never come again, Prince. We are all growing old, we
three together."

"Ah, peace, Josef, peace!" cried old Bettine, wiping her eyes again. "It
is lonely enough and sad enough, God knows, without speaking of it.
What use to sigh for that which cannot be? If the good Lord wished us to
have a comforter in our old age, doubtless He would send us one. He
knows how we have longed and prayed that a child's feet might echo
through our house once more: how we have hoped from year to year that
one of the grandchildren might return to bless us with his little
presence." At this moment Prince jumped to his feet with a low bark, and
stood trembling, with pointed ears.

"What dost thou hear, old dog?" asked the Grandfather carelessly. "There
is naught human abroad this night, I warrant you. All wise folk are
hugging the fire like us. Only those bad spirits of Christmas Eve are
howling about for mischief, they say. Best keep away from the door, old
Prince, lest they nip your toes or bite your nose for spite."

"Hush!" cried the Grandmother, laying her hand upon his arm. "You
forget: there is the Other One abroad. It may be that He--"

She was interrupted by Prince, who ran eagerly to the door and began
sniffing at the latch in great excitement. Then he gave a long, low
howl. At the same moment the latch rattled, and the Viauds distinctly
heard a little voice cry, "Open, open, good people!"

The old couple looked at each other; the cheeks of one flushed, and the
other's paled. At the same moment they rose stiffly from their chairs by
the fire. But Grandmother Bettine was first at the door. She lifted the
latch, the door blew open violently, and with a loud bark Prince dashed
out into the storm.

"What is it? Who is there?" cried Josef Viaud, peering over his wife's
shoulder. But no one answered save the rough storm, which fiercely blew
into the faces of the old couple, whirling and screaming about their
heads. "H'm! It was only a fancy," muttered the old man. "Come in,
Mother. Come, Prince!" and he whistled out into the storm.