e, and nothing
therefore remained but for the guests to appear. One or two had to be
fetched in a boat, and the cottage in the field had a special voyage to
itself. There was a little child there that was a particular friend of
Kitty's.

"It's very good of you to come, sir, but I'm not sure as I can let
Jenny go; she's been ailing all day," said the smiling mother, looking
out at Paul from an upstairs window. "She's felt the damp a bit. The
water's begun to go down already. We'll be able to get downstairs
again to-morrow; but, as I was saying to my mate, it will be the
queerest Christmas Day we've ever spent."

"Yes, indeed," said Paul, hurriedly, anxious to cut short the
disconnected speech; "but I think you must let me have Jenny, Mrs.
Weldon. She's such a great friend of Kitty's, and we shall not have
any more rain for the present. Put on an extra shawl. It will be fine
fun for Jenny to have a ride in a boat."

So Jenny, wrapped up so that only her eyes were visible, was handed
out; and Paul rowed her across the field that separated her from dry
land, popping her into a cart that waited on the far side.

Sally, meanwhile, was at the school arranging the children as they
arrived, whilst Kitty's carriage was drawn up close to the tree, which
was veiled under a sheet. Jenny Weldon was the last to arrive, and,
when duly uncloaked, was given a place close to Kitty.

Then followed the lighting of the tree; and the dancing eyes of the
children watched the process with untold delight. Joining hands they
walked round it singing a quaint old Christmas carol, led by the
rector's strong sonorous voice; and finally came the distribution of
the presents.

Paul, as he stood quietly at the back of the room, thought the scene a
pretty one. It was a beautiful tradition, that of the Christ Child; he
could have almost wished it true.

"It has come to an end--I think it has really come to an end," the
rector said. "But, stay, I find some little things tucked away at the
very bottom of the tree; and here upon the labels are written 'Miss
Lessing' and 'Mr. Lessing.' That is quite as it should be, for to whom
do we owe the fact of your all being here to-night but to the squire,
who planned and carried it out?"

And as a penknife was handed to Paul, there were cheers ringing in his
ears for him and for Sally, who had a pen with her name on it.

"It was really very jolly of you, Kitty," said Paul, making his way to
he