e softly whirling past the windows,
shutting us away from the outer world. The fire seemed to burn the brighter
for them, the air seemed full of happiness and gay adventure. We bent over
our new possession on the hearthrug in ecstasy. Tam, in ferocious
playfulness, tried to show us all part of his body at once. But when we
overcame him, and pinned him down, he lay limply, with his tongue out at
one side, and the promise of many a future romp in his roguish brown eyes.
Giftie brought a woollen bedroom slipper from upstairs to worry for our
amusement. Even Colin grew friendly. The talk went on above our heads, the
far-off talk of grown-ups. But stay--it was not so incomprehensible after
all! What was it she was saying? A pantomime! A deserving Charity. Had
tickets. Suppose we take the children. Would it bore Davy? Davy said it
wouldn't.

Was all our new life to be a whirl like this? Now we were back in the
hansom cab bowling through the madly dancing snowflakes. Now we were back
at Mrs. Handsomebody's having tea with a double portion of jam; being
scrubbed and brushed, and warned of our behaviour, sliding on the slippery
soles of new boots; sniffing the fresh linen of clean handkerchiefs;
watching Mrs. Handsomebody tie her bonnet strings with trembling fingers.

In a four-wheeler now, squeezed very closely together; the wheels moving
heavily through the ever-deepening snow; lights flashing by the snowy
windows, father's leg and boot pressing against me cruelly but giving a
delicious sense of protection and good fellowship. Then the blazing light,
and heat, and pressing crowd of the lobby; a sense of terror lest the
pompous man who took tickets would refuse to accept those tendered by
father; immense relief, as a thin, bounding individual led us down the
sloping aisle. Father's guiding hand on our shoulders; we were in our
seats.

On my right sat father, and beyond him Angel. On my left The Seraph and
Mrs. Handsomebody, her hands clasped tensely in her lap. But who was that
in the golden light beyond Angel? Who indeed but our old friend Captain
Pegg who had come, it appeared, with Giftie's mistress. Lucky Angel to be
next him, laughing and whispering with him! Then, lucky me to be pushed
between the seats to shake his hand.

"Shiver my timbers, John," he whispered, "but I have great days to tell you
of! Days of plunder and bloodshed, my hearty. I went back to the old life,
for a while, you know. Look here!" He drew asid