Bella always sent home a box of refreshments to the
mother."

"Well, I shall persuade them to go back wid me, and they'll have enough
then, I'm thinkin'."

"Mr. Casey, you are a good man," said Aunt Susan. "The world would be
better if we had more like you."

"But, Mrs. Carpenter, I think this way. The Lord has been good to me. He
has caused me to prosper. Why should I consider it all me own? No, I
think whenever I can help a fellow man He expects me to do so--that's
all--and I try to make good."

The elderly women made no reply. He was a rough self-made man--a Roman
Catholic, although not a churchman, who could give them points on charity
and who did his good deeds quietly and without boasting. Mr. Casey was a
Scout, although not a young one, for that was the way they were taught to
do their good deeds.

Upon their arrival home he directed the chauffeur to get his dinner or
luncheon and return, and after the Hollister luncheon, Nora, Harvey,
Ethel and Tom went to Van Courtlandt Park, where there was skating,
returning in time for six o'clock dinner.

"I think, ma'am," said Mr. Casey, "we have monopolized your car pretty
well, and you never have been inside of it."

"But I'm too busy, Mr. Casey. Today is Christmas and I love to view it
from the window. Just to think that it belongs to me! I can't realize it.
Mr. Casey, you are my fairy Godfather and nothing else. How can I ever
repay you?"

"By always being a mother to my girl, ma'am, as ye have been since she
met ye. Why, ye deserve a whole garage of automobiles for the kindness
ye've shown her, and see the good man she now has through ye. Don't thank
me, ma'am. It's ourselves who can't thank ye enough."

CHAPTER XVIII

ANOTHER SURPRISE

After a delicious Christmas dinner the Bigelows came over. They welcomed
and embraced Nora. Mrs. Bigelow really seemed sincere on this occasion.
Mr. Casey liked them at once, especially Mr. Bigelow and Nannie.

"They'll make her happy all right. My girl has chosen wisely," he
thought.

Tom and Ethel went out together during Christmas week. They skated and
visited all the art galleries, enjoying every moment. They had many
serious talks, and Ethel took Tom to call on several of her friends.
The girls voted him delightful and Ethel was proud of him. They spoke of
Mattie Hastings.

"Tom, Patty will never get over it," she said, "of that I'm sure."

"Ethel, don't you see, Patty witnessed it, and the shock is in