them too much for my own good." And the glance he
directed toward the boy's aunt was half reproachful, half tender. Hetty
turned quickly to wipe a bit of imaginary dust from the table, but Mr.
Grey turned once more as he reached the door:

"May I send the doctor up, Miss Maise?"

Miss Maise had been trying to muster up courage to ask him that very
thing, for she did not want him to think too harshly of her. Now that he
had really asked, however, she replied crisply:

"Thank you, Pearl can go for me. Good evening, Mr. Grey. You have been
most kind to Periwinkle."

Mr. Grey felt as if she had tried to hurry his departure, but, had he
been able to read Miss Hetty's thoughts just then, his heart would have
been much lighter.

Naturally enough, Peri became a hero in the village. He had saved the
life of one of the Greys at the risk of his own, and the Greys could
not but help making a fuss over him. The village children had learned
already to love the kindhearted boy and his sweet sister; now their
parents came to regard them with the same affection.

This change was noticed by the minister and in his next letter to his
son he wrote: "The barriers between the two factions are slowly
crumbling, simply because those children will not recognize them.
Strangely enough, the strongest resistance is made by Hetty and Robert
Grey, but Pearl or her brother will take them by surprise some time and
then all will be well. I must tell you of something that will cause you
much pleasure. It seems that the children's mother had told them of our
Christmas services here and they were making great plans for Christmas
eve. They have never seen a Christmas tree. Miss Hetty had not the heart
to tell them that for three years we have had no Christmas Eve service,
neither had Robert Grey--nor I. So one Sunday when Peri was home with
his sprained wrist and Pearl of course was with him I made one final
appeal to the congregation after the Sunday-school service. I could see
that it was what they had all been longing for. To show you how both
families feel toward those children I need mention only that Eldon Maise
and Robert Grey, almost in one breath, made the motion that we have
children's services on Christmas Eve this year. You must hurry home for
the event."

When Joe finished reading these good news he indulged in a regular dance
of delight, waltzing his table and other articles of furniture around in
such a way that, had they been posse