for Hope, and nine for Allyn."

"And me?" Phebe pranced impatiently.

"Oh, Babe, I forgot you."

"Hush, Babe; there's Billy's chair," Hope said, endeavoring to suppress
her young sister.

"Did you know Patrick brought over a bundle, Hu?" Theodora whispered. "I
saw mamma slying it into the house. 'Twas a big one, too."

"Really?" Hubert tried to look as innocent as if Billy had not consulted
him about Theodora's Christmas gift.

"Yes, I'm so glad now that I hemstitched that handkerchief. It is fairly
covered with my gore where I pricked myself; but he won't be critical, I
hope."

The babel of greeting and chatter was hushed, as Hope took her seat at
the piano and the children gathered around her to sing their favorite
carol. The last note had scarcely died away when Allyn, at a signal from
Hubert, gave a joyous shriek and plunged upon the basket.

"One at a time," Hope cautioned him; "and bring the bundle to sister, so
she can read the writing on it."

The first package chanced to contain his much-desired horsey, and he
retired to a corner to embrace it, while Phebe and then Theodora took
their turns at drawing.

"Draw for me, please," Billy asked Theodora, when his turn came.

"Not a bit of it. You must do your part." And she had whisked him across
the room and landed him beside the basket, before he could realize her
intention.

For two hours, the fun was fast and furious. Mulvaney, on the floor in a
nest of papers, was wrestling with a vast bone, Mrs. Farrington was
admiring a bit of Hope's dainty handiwork, and Hubert was trying hard to
realize that at last he was the proud owner of a watch. Everyone was
happy, and Hope and Theodora congratulated themselves upon the success
of their Christmas frolic.

"It's your turn to draw, Billy." And Theodora rolled him across the
floor to the fast-emptying basket.

"Bah! I can't reach it. Get the one in the corner, Ted. It's a big
square one."

"Is this it?"

"Yes." Billy took it and read the label. _Theodora, with love from
Babe._

"Why, Babe dear, you gave me the gloves."

Phebe flushed.

"It's probably some grind on you, Teddy," Hubert suggested, as his
sister tore away the wrappers.

Inside was a box, then another. Phebe smiled in conscious satisfaction,
while Theodora opened one layer after another of the papers within and
at last drew out a long flexible bundle.

"Phebe, you dear, it is the new belt I've been wanting," she said.

Phebe began