ared Nora.

"Then that means that our engagement----"

Hippy was not allowed to finish. A shout went up from the others, and he
and Nora were surrounded.

"Hippy, how could you?" The pink in Nora's cheeks deepened, but she did
not deny his statement.

"Nora, come here," commanded Mrs. Gray.

Nora obeyed with a shyness entirely foreign to her. Putting her finger
under Nora's rounded chin, Mrs. Gray looked smilingly into the piquant
face. Then she drew the girl within her circling arm and kissed her.
Grace, Miriam, Anne and Jessica followed suit.

"Now it is your turn, Jessica and Reddy," said Nora pointedly.

Jessica's pale face grew scarlet. She looked appealingly toward Reddy,
who sat beside her, then they rose and, taking her hand in his, Reddy
said with a world of affection in his voice, "Jessica has promised to
marry me in the fall." Jessica and Reddy were immediately surrounded.

"Will surprises never cease?" exclaimed Grace, regarding her betrothed
friends with loving eyes. "Now I begin to believe that we have really
grown up."

"_You_ haven't," retorted Tom Gray in a low tone which Grace alone
heard.

"Give me a year or two in which to do my work, and perhaps I will," said
Grace softly.

"Do you really mean that, Grace?" asked Tom eagerly.

"I think I do, Tom," hesitated Grace, "but I can't promise you what you
wish, yet."

"By the low, significant tones over in Grace's corner I imagine another
engagement is about to be announced," remarked Hippy, grinning broadly.
All eyes were immediately turned upon Grace and Tom.

Grace met their gaze with a shake of her head. "No," she said, "Tom and
I are not even engaged. I must be free to go back to Overton next year
to do my work there. I must look after my house for one year at least."

Tom's face clouded, but he said no more. David, too, was strangely
silent. Anne had accepted an engagement to tour America with Everett
Southard in Shakespearean roles the next season. Miss Southard was to
accompany them on the tour. Still, David had the satisfaction of knowing
that Anne loved him and that some day she would be his wife, although,
like Grace, she would neither bind herself by a promise nor allow him to
place his ring upon her finger.

A little silence followed the announcement of the engagement of part of
Mrs. Gray's Christmas children. Hippy had resumed his position on the
railing, while Nora had slipped to the seat beside Grace, her hand in
that of