or without the feeling that
just inside might be a certain figure on its way out.

"Next week is Christmas week," explained Judge Gray. He stood upon the
hearth-rug, his back to the open fire, warming his hands preparatory to
taking up his pen. His fingers were apt to be a little stiff on these
December mornings. "During Christmas week this house is always given
over to such holiday doings as I don't imagine another house in town
ever knows. Christmas house-parties are plenty, I believe, but not the
sort of house-party we indulge in. I am inclined to think ours beats the
world."

He chuckled, running his hand through the thick white locks above his
brow with a gesture which Richard had come to know meant special
satisfaction.

"You have so many and such delightful people?" suggested his assistant.

The white head nodded. "The house would hardly hold more, nor could they
be more delightful. You see, there are five brothers of us. I am the
eldest, Robert the youngest. Rufus, Henry, and Philip come between.
Henry and Philip live in small towns, Rufus in the country proper. Each
has a good-sized family, with several married sons and daughters who
have children of their own. It has been my brother Robert's custom for
twenty years to ask them all here for Christmas week." He began to
laugh. "If the family keeps on growing much larger I don't know that
there will be room to accommodate them all, but so far my sister has
always managed. Fortunately this is an even more roomy old homestead
than it looks. But you may easily imagine, Mr. Kendrick, that there is
very little chance for solitude and quiet work during that week."

"I can fully imagine," agreed Richard. "And yet I can't imagine," he
amended. "I never saw such a gathering in my life."

"Never did, eh? You must come in some time during the week and get a
glimpse of it. We have fine times, I can tell you. My old head sometimes
whirls a bit," the Judge admitted, "before the week is over, but--it's
worth it. Particularly on the night of the party. The children always
have a party on Christmas Eve in the attic. It's a great affair. No
dancing-parties nor balls in other places can be mentioned in the same
breath with it. You should see brother Rufus taking out my niece
Roberta, and brother Henry dancing with Stephen's little wife. The girls
accommodate themselves to the old-fashioned steps in great style."

"I certainly should like to see it," Richard said, wondering i