affection, and loved her
all the more for remaining faithful to old claims.

As for Betty Trevor, she shivered up in her attic bedroom, putting in
last stitches to the presents which had been manufactured at the cost of
much trouble and self-denial. The table-centre for mother had cost only
one and threepence, but looked every bit as nice as those displayed in
the shop-windows for six and nine. The shield of white wadded satin
seemed an ideal protector for a dress shirt, and if father did not use
it as such when he went out in the evening, it would be his fault, not
hers! The blotters for Miles and Jack, the work and shoe bags for the
girls, to say nothing of endless odds and ends for cousins and aunts,
made quite a brave show when she laid them all out on the bed
preparatory to wrapping them up in paper. Jill was invited to the
private view, her own present being discreetly hidden away for the
occasion, and expressed an admiration tempered by pity.

"Such a fag!" she declared. "Look at me, I've done the whole thing in
one afternoon! Sallied out with my savings in my purse--two shillings
pocket-money, one and three for waking Miles in the morning, sixpence
from mother--reward of merit for not biting my nails for a week--
ninepence from Norah for my pink silk tie (it cost half-a-crown, and I
hated the old thing), four and sixpence altogether--and I got fifteen
really handsome presents."

"Jill, you haven't! It isn't possible!"

"It is then; it only needs management. I've kept all the chocolate
boxes we have had given to us by grateful patients during the year--six
of them--and they look ripping filled with sweets at sixpence a pound.
I collected mother's old scent-bottles too, with cut-glass stoppers, and
bought a shilling's worth of eau-de-Cologne to fill them. Such a joke!
It didn't quite go round, so I put some water in the last, and it's
turned quite milky. I'll have to give that to Pam. She'll think it
something new and superior. I've got sticking--plaster for the boys--
they are sure to cut their fingers some day--and a beautiful needle-book
for mother--ninepence halfpenny--and it looks worth it, every penny.
Oh, I say, while I remember, I don't mind lending you my snow-shoes, but
you might take the trouble to put them back when you've done with them!
I wanted them badly this morning."

"I haven't got your old snow-shoes. I don't know what has come to this
house. Everyone is accusing me of steal