ambridge. Mr. and Mrs. Ambrose set to work and John followed their
example. Even the prickly holly leaves were pleasant to touch and there
was a homely joy in the fir branches dripping with half melted snow.

Before they had been at work very long, John was aware of a little
figure, muffled in furs and standing beside him. He looked up and saw
little Nellie's lovely face and long brown curls.

"Can't I help you, Mr. Short?" she asked timidly. "I like to help, and
they won't let me."

"Who are 'they'?" asked John kindly, but looking about for the figure of
Nellie's mother.

"The schoolmistress and Mrs. Ambrose. They said I should dirty my frock."

"Well," said John, doubtfully, "I don't know. Perhaps you would. But you
might hold the string for me--that won't hurt your clothes, you know."

"There are more greens this year," remarked Nellie, sitting down upon the
end of the choir bench where John was at work and taking the ball of
string in her hand. "Mr. Juxon has sent a lot from the park."

"He seems to be always sending things," said John, who had no reason
whatever for saying so, except that the squire had sent a hamper to the
vicarage. "Did he stay long before dinner?" he added, in the tone people
adopt when they hope to make children talk.

"Stay long where?" asked Nellie innocently.

"Oh, I thought he went into your house after we left you," answered John.

"Oh no--he did not come in," said Nellie. John continued to work in
silence. At some distance from where he was, Mrs. Goddard was talking to
Mrs. Ambrose. He could see her graceful figure, but he could hardly
distinguish her features in the gloom of the dimly-lighted church. He
longed to leave Nellie and to go and speak to her, but an undefined
feeling of hurt pride prevented him. He would not forgive her for having
taken the vicar's arm in coming home through the park; so he stayed where
he was, pricking his fingers with the holly and rather impatiently
pulling the string off the ball which Nellie held. If Mrs. Goddard wanted
to speak to him, she might come of her own accord, he thought, for he
felt that he had behaved foolishly in asking if she wished to see his
odes. Somehow, when he thought about it, the odes did not seem so good
now as they had seemed that afternoon.

Mrs. Goddard had not seen him at first, and for some time she remained in
consultation with Mrs. Ambrose. At last she turned and looking for Nellie
saw that she was seated beside Jo