tle
figure in the snow.

"Santa Claus's partner," said Kitty.

"What do you want?" He peered out at the sleigh. He was evidently sleepy
and a little puzzled. "We don't take in anything at this hour except
patients." He looked as if he were about to shut the door when a woman's
voice was heard within speaking to him and the next moment the door was
opened wide and he gave way as a matronly figure came forward and stood
in the archway.

"Who is it?" she asked in a very pleasant voice, looking down at the
little figure in the snow before her.

"Santa Claus's partner," said Kitty, gazing up at her.

"What do you want, dear?" The voice was even pleasanter.

"To leave some presents for the children."

"What children?"

"All the good children--all the sick children, I mean--all the
children," said Kitty.

The matron turned and spoke to the porter, showing to Livingstone, as
she did so, a glimpse of a finely cut profile and a comely figure
silhouetted against the light within. The bolts were drawn from the gate
of the driveway and the doors rolled back.

"Come in," said the matron, and the little figure enveloped in the
shaggy cape and hood walked in under the big arch followed by the
sleigh, whilst Livingstone withdrew a short distance into the shadow.

It was some time before the doors opened again and Kitty reappeared,
but Livingstone did not mind it. It was cold too, but neither did he
mind that. He was warm. As he walked up and down in the empty street
before the long building his heart was warmed with a glow which had not
been there for many and many a long year. He was not alone. Once more
the memory of other Christmases passed through his mind in long
processional, but now not stamped with irretrievable opportunity, to
mock him with vain regret for lost happiness; only tinged with a sadness
for lost friends who came trooping about him; yet lightened by his
resolve to begin from now on and strive as best he might to retrieve his
wasted life, and whilst he bore his punishment do what he could to make
atonement for his past.

Just then across the town the clocks began to sound the midnight hour,
and as they ceased, from somewhere far-away church bells mellowed by
the distance began to chime the old Christmas hymn:--

_"While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
All seated on the ground,
The angel of the Lord came down,
And glory shone around."_

Livingstone stood still to listen, in