here was no further conversation on the back seat.

They had entered Amberson Addition, and the moon of Mr. Amberson's
delight was overlaid by a slender Gothic filagree; the branches that
sprang from the shade trees lining the street. Through the windows of
many of the houses rosy lights were flickering; and silver tinsel and
evergreen wreaths and brilliant little glass globes of silver and wine
colour could be seen, and glimpses were caught of Christmas trees, with
people decking them by firelight--reminders that this was Christmas Eve.
The ride-stealers had disappeared from the highway, though now and then,
over the gasping and howling of the horseless carriage, there came a
shrill jeer from some young passer-by upon the sidewalk:

"Mister, fer heaven's sake go an' git a hoss! Git a hoss! Git a hoss!"

The contrivance stopped with a heart-shaking jerk before Isabel's house.
The gentlemen jumped down, helping Isabel and Fanny to descend; there
were friendly leavetakings--and one that was not precisely friendly.

"It's 'au revoir,' till to-night, isn't it?" Lucy asked, laughing.

"Good afternoon!" said George, and he did not wait, as his relatives
did, to see the old sewing machine start briskly down the street, toward
the Sharons'; its lighter load consisting now of only Mr. Morgan and his
daughter. George went into the house at once.

He found his father reading the evening paper in the library. "Where are
your mother and your Aunt Fanny?" Mr. Minafer inquired, not looking up.

"They're coming," said his son; and, casting himself heavily into a
chair, stared at the fire.

His prediction was verified a few moments later; the two ladies came
in cheerfully, unfastening their fur cloaks. "It's all right, Georgie,"
said Isabel. "Your Uncle George called to us that Pendennis got home
safely. Put your shoes close to the fire, dear, or else go and change
them." She went to her husband and patted him lightly on the shoulder,
an action which George watched with sombre moodiness. "You might dress
before long," she suggested. "We're all going to the Assembly, after
dinner, aren't we? Brother George said he'd go with us."

"Look here," said George abruptly. "How about this man Morgan and his
old sewing-machine? Doesn't he want to get grandfather to put money into
it? Isn't he trying to work Uncle George for that? Isn't that what he's
up to?"

It was Miss Fanny who responded. "You little silly!" she cried, with
surprising