quite forgotten. It was, of
course, a family name, and with all his independence Jack had a great
deal of family pride. And the air with which she had said, "Perhaps you
have read his stories,"--she could have laughed, but for the pain of the
thought that she who had once been first had now no part in his life.
Others had the right to be proud of him, but not she.

She closed the lid and put the box away: the past could not be recalled,
she must try to forget, as she had tried all these years; but even as
she made the resolve her heart was saying, "I must see that child
again,--I must, must!"

CHAPTER TWELFTH.

AT CHRISTMAS TIME.

"Hurrah!" said the Spectacle Man, "Mark's coming home for Christmas." He
waved a letter above his head as he spoke, and looked as if he might be
going to dance a jig.

"Is he? I am very glad," replied Frances, who had run down to speak to
the postman, and now paused in the open door of the shop.

"I was really afraid we couldn't manage it, travelling costs so much,
but one of his friends has given him a pass. Mark is a great fellow for
such things!" Mr. Clark's face beamed with pleasure.

Frances wished she might bring her books and study her lessons in the
shop, it was so sunny and cheerful, with Peterkin stretched out in lazy
comfort before the fire, his master busy at his work-table over some
lenses.

"Mother, do you know it will be Christmas in two weeks?" she asked, as
she entered the sitting room; "and Mark is coming home," she added. "Do
you think he will be nice?"

"We may as well give him the benefit of any doubt," said Mrs. Morrison,
answering the last question. "What do you want to do for Christmas,
Wink?"

"What can we do without father?" the little girl exclaimed, thinking of
the merrymakings of other years in which he had always been prime mover.

"We are so glad to know how well and strong he is getting that we can
manage to have some sort of a happy time without him, I think," her
mother replied. "Suppose you ask Miss Sherwin if she and Miss Moore will
be here through the holidays."

The air was full of Christmas plans, the streets were full of Christmas
shoppers, and the dwellers in the house of the Spectacle Man could not
escape the contagion. The girls on the third floor were not going home,
and were very willing to unite with their neighbors in a little
festivity.

Miss Moore proposed a tree, which, in kindergarten fashion, they should
all unite in