e.

"What did you call for?" Betty queried. "Did you want to see me? Was
it about to-morrow? We are going to call for you at half-past two. We
can walk, I suppose, unless it is wet?"

"Oh yes, it will be far nicer. I do hope it will be fine. This is not
at all a cheerful Christmas, is it? Good-bye! I do hope you'll have a
lovely time!" returned Cynthia, waving her hand and crossing the road
towards her own doorway. It was too late to remind her that she had not
answered the last question, and the first sight of the hall table
banished every other thought, for on it lay the pile of Christmas cards
whose advent had been so eagerly expected. Betty seized the bundle and
began doling them out, while her brothers and sisters clustered round,
and clamoured for their share.

"Miss Trevor--Miss Trevor--Miss Trevor--(Betty, it's not fair, you are
taking them all!) Miss Jill Trevor, Miss JM Trevor, Mrs Trevor, James
Trevor, Esquire, MD--(Looks like a bill! How mean to send a bill on
Christmas day!) Miss Trevor, Miss Pamela Trevor," so it went on, the
major share falling to the three girls, the boys coming in only for an
occasional missive from an aunt or some such kindly relation, who
suddenly awoke to the fact of their existence at Christmas time. When
the cards were dealt out there still remained a little pile of envelopes
which had apparently been delivered by hand, as no stamps appeared
beside the addresses. Betty pounced on them, and gave a shout of
delight.

"There's money inside! There is, I can feel it. Mine's quite small--
like a--a--" She dropped the remaining envelopes to open her own in a
flutter of excitement. Inside there was a folded piece of paper
enclosing a second envelope--one of those tiny, dainty affairs in which
some old-fashioned tradesmen still deliver change to their customers.
In her haste Betty ripped it open, and held up to view a brand new
sovereign.

"It is! It is! How s-imply lovely! I was so hard up--and now! What
perfect angel can have sent it?"

She picked up the piece of paper which she had dropped in her haste, and
read aloud, "With the best wishes of Terence Digby," the while her
brothers and sisters made short work of their own envelopes. Jack and
Jill had each a new ten-shilling piece, and Pam a magnificent silver
crown, the size of which delighted her even more than the value.

"He said he would send me something, but I never thought it would be
money. It's