at is--would you like to see one of
those--those little odes of mine?"

"Yes, certainly, if you like," she answered frankly, and then laughed.
"Of course I would. Good-night."

He turned and fled. The vicar was waiting for him, and eyed him rather
curiously as he came back. Mr. Juxon was standing in the middle of the
road, making Stamboul jump over his stick, backwards and forwards.

"Good-night," he said, pausing in his occupation. The vicar and John
turned away and walked homewards. Before they turned the corner towards
the village John instinctively looked back. Mr. Juxon was still making
Stamboul jump the stick before the cottage, but as far as he could see in
the dusk, Mrs. Goddard and Nellie had disappeared within. John felt that
he was very unhappy.

"Mr. Ambrose," he began. Then he stopped and hesitated. "Mr. Ambrose," he
continued at last, "you never told me half the news of Billingsfield in
your letters."

"You mean about Mrs. Goddard? Well--no--I did not think it would interest
you very much."

"She is a very interesting person," said John. He could have added that
if he had known she was in Billingsfield he would have made a great
sacrifice in order to come down for a day to make her acquaintance. But
he did not say it.

"She is a great addition," said the vicar.

"Oh--very great, I should think."

Christmas eve was passed at the vicarage in preparation for the morrow.
Mrs. Ambrose was very active in binding holly wherever it was possible to
put it. The mince-pies were tasted and pronounced a success, and old
Reynolds was despatched to the cottage with a small basket containing a
certain number of them as a present to Mrs. Goddard. An emissary appeared
from the Hall with a variety of articles which the squire begged to
contribute towards the vicar's Christmas dinner; among others a haunch of
venison which Mrs. Ambrose pronounced to be in the best condition. The
vicar retorted by sending to the Hall a magnificent Cottenham cheese
which, as a former Fellow of Trinity, he had succeeded in obtaining.
Moreover Mr. Ambrose himself descended to the cellar and brought up
several bottles of Audit ale which he declared must be allowed to stand
some time in the pantry in order to bring out the flavour and to be
thoroughly settled. John gave his assistance wherever it was needed and
enjoyed vastly the old-fashioned preparations for Christmas day. It was
long since the season had brought him such rejoicing and