answered Tessa.

'I say, mamma; she wants something to eat. Can I give her an orange?'
called the boy, prancing away into the splendid room, quite like a fairy
prince, Tessa thought.

A plump motherly lady came out and looked at Tessa, asked a few
questions, and then told her to come to-morrow with Ranza, and they
would see what could be done. Tessa clapped her hands for joy,--she
didn't mind the chilblains now,--and Tommo played a lively march, he
was so pleased.

'Will you come, too, and bring your harp? You shall be paid, and shall
have something from the tree, likewise,' said the motherly lady, who
liked what Tessa gratefully told about his kindness to her.

'Ah, yes; I shall come with much gladness, and play as never in my life
before,' cried Tommo, with a flourish of the old cap that made the
children laugh.

'Give these to your brothers,' said the fairy prince, stuffing nuts and
oranges into Tessa's hands.

'And these to the little girl,' added one of the young princesses,
flying out of the dining-room with cakes and rosy apples for Ranza.

Tessa didn't know what to say; but her eyes were full, and she just took
the mother's white hand in both her little grimy ones, and kissed it
many times in her pretty Italian fashion. The lady understood her, and
stroked her cheek softly, saying to her elder daughter, 'We must take
care of this good little creature. Freddy, bring me your mittens; these
poor hands must be covered. Alice, get your play-hood; this handkerchief
is all wet; and, Maud, bring the old chinchilla tippet.'

The children ran, and in a minute there were lovely blue mittens on the
red hands, a warm hood over the black braids, and a soft 'pussy' round
the sore throat.

'Ah! so kind, so very kind! I have no way to say "thank you;" but Ranza
shall be for you a heavenly angel, and I will sing my heart out for your
tree!' cried Tessa, folding the mittens as if she would say a prayer of
thankfulness if she knew how.

Then they went away, and the pretty children called after them, 'Come
again, Tessa! come again, Tommo!' Now the rain didn't seem dismal, the
wind cold, nor the way long, as they bought their gifts and hurried
home, for kind words and the sweet magic of charity had changed all the
world to them.

I think the good spirits who fly about on Christmas Eve, to help the
loving fillers of little stockings, smiled very kindly on Tessa as she
brooded joyfully over the small store of presents th