CHAPTER XIV
THE RETURN OF THE CHRISTMAS CHILDREN
"Holy night, peaceful and blest," rose Nora Wingate's clear voice, highand sweet on the still winter air. A chorus of fresh young voices tookup the second line of the beautiful hymn, filling the calm of the snowynight with exquisite harmony.
A little old lady, with hair as white as the snow itself, her cheeksbright with color, her eyes very tender, appeared in the library windowas the song ended. She had concealed herself in the folds of the curtainwhile the singing went on, fearing it might come to a sudden stop shouldshe reveal herself.
Her appearance, however, inspired the singers to fresh effort, for,immediately they spied her, led by Nora, they burst into the old Englishcarol, "God Rest You, Merry Gentlemen." They sang it with their rosy,eager faces raised to her, a world of fellowship in every note, whileshe stood motionless and listened, a smile of supreme love and contentmaking her delicate features radiant.
As they ended this second carol she raised the window. "Come in, thisminute, every one of you blessed children. You can't possibly know howhappy you have made me this Christmas Eve."
"Coming right in the window," declared Hippy, as he made an ineffectualspring and failed to land on the wide sill.
"Just as I expected," jeered Reddy Brooks, dragging him back. "You mightknow Hippy would spoil everything. We all start out, on our bestbehavior, to sing carols to our fairy godmother. Then at the mosteffective moment, when we are feeling almost inspired, he ruins thewhole effect by trying to jump in the window."
"He might as well try to jump through a ten-inch hoop," seconded David."He'd be just as successful."
"They are slandering me, Nora," whimpered Hippy, "and I am the sweetestcarol singer of them all. Protect me, Nora. Tell Reddy Brooks it was hissinging that nearly ruined that last carol. Tell him his voice is asloud and obnoxious as his hair. And tell David Nesbit that--" Hippy gavea sudden agile bound out of reach of Reddy's avenging hands, and toreacross the lawn and around the corner of the house, shrieking a wild,"Good-bye, Nora. Remember I've always been a good, kind husband to you.Don't forget me, Nora."
"Holy Night, Peaceful and Blest."]
"I'll pay him yet for that remark about my obnoxious hair," grinnedReddy, as the carol singers trooped across the lawn and into the house.
Mrs. Gray met her Christmas children with welcoming arms. "I am going tokiss every one of you," she announced.
"We are willing," assured David, and she was passed from one pair ofarms to another, emerging from this wholesale embrace, flushed andlaughing.
"You didn't kiss me," observed a plaintive voice from behind theportieres that divided the library from the hall. Hippy's round face wasthrust engagingly into view. He had slipped in the side door,unobserved.
"There he is, Reddy. How did he get in so quietly?" David took avengeful step forward. The face disappeared.
"Just wait until I hang up my overcoat," threatened Reddy.
"Don't let him hang it up, Nora. If you value the safety of yourhusband, make him stand and hold it," pleaded the plaintive voice.
"Here, Reddy, give me your hat and coat," ordered Nora cruelly.
"Ha! I defy you." Hippy suddenly bounced from behind the curtain intothe midst of the group in the hall. "I would defy forty David Nesbitsand fifty Reddy Brooks for a kiss from my fair lady." He bowed beforeMrs. Gray.
"Bless you, Hippy," she said, as she kissed his fat cheek, "that wasnicely said."
"I am always saying nice things," assured Hippy airily. "Better stillthey are always true things. There are some persons, though, who can'tstand the white light of truth. May I rely upon you for protection, Mrs.Gray? Alas, I am now alone in the world. The person who is supposed tohave my welfare at heart is hob-nobbing with my traducers. Miriam Nesbitused to be a fairly good protector, but she hasn't done much along thatline lately."
"Come on, Hippy. I'll take care of you. I'm sorry I've neglected you."Miriam held out her hand. Hippy hung his head and simpered. Then withhis Cheshire cat grin he seized Miriam's hand and toddled beside herinto the library. The others followed, laughing at the ridiculousspectacle he presented.
"Both our fairy godmother and I are disgusted with you," taunted Nora asshe directed a glance of withering scorn at Hippy, now calmly seatedbeside Miriam on the big leather davenport, the picture of triumph. "Youasked her to protect you; then you deserted her and deliberately wentover to Miriam for help."
"Wasn't that awful?" deplored Hippy. "Such inconstancy makes me blush."
"You couldn't blush if your life depended upon it," was David Nesbit'sscathing comment.
"There are others," retorted Hippy.
David glared ferociously at the grinning Hippy.
"There are others," went on Hippy blandly, "who, I might venture to say,have even greater trouble in producing that much lauded rarity, a blush.But what does blushing mean? It means turning very red. It isn't alwaysconfined to one's face, either. I once knew a man, a rare creature,whose very hair blushed. That is, it turned red when he was an infantand blushed more deeply every year. In fact it never quit blushing."
"I once knew a person, a senseless creature, who didn't know when he waswell off," began Reddy, in an ominous voice. "From the time he learnedto talk he made ill-natured remarks about his friends. But at last hecame to a terrible end. He----"
"I never knew him," interrupted Hippy. "I'm not interested in persons Idon't know. I'd rather talk to Grace. I've known her for a long time,and we've always been on friendly terms. Come and sit beside me,Grace."
"Jilted," declared Miriam tragically, as Grace accepted the invitationand seated herself on Hippy's other side.
"Not a bit of it. I believe in preparedness. Theconstant-reinforcements-arriving-every-minute idea appeals to me. Youare both bulwarks of defense."
"I'm surprised that anything except eats appeals to you." This fromReddy.
"'Eats' did you say? What are eats? Or, better, _where_ are eats?"demanded Hippy, beaming hopefully at Mrs. Gray.
"They will appear very soon, Hippy," assured Mrs. Gray. "I sent adispatch to the kitchen the moment you finished singing."
"For goodness' sake, Grace and Miriam, keep Hippy quiet for a while. Noone else has had a chance to say a word," complained David. "I'd like tohear a few remarks on 'Life in Chicago' by our estimable pals, Jessicaand Reddy."
"Life in Chicago can't compare with life in dear old Oakdale," saidJessica. "In spite of the theatres, concerts and all the pleasures thata big city offers one, Reddy and I are always a little lonely."
"That is because you and Reddy miss me," observed Hippy with positivemodesty.
"You're right, old man. We do miss you," agreed Reddy, withunmistakable sincerity. For once Hippy forgot to be funny. "You aren'tthe only ones who miss the old guard," he answered seriously; then headded in his usual humorous strain, "I hope some day the Eight OriginalsPlus Two and all their friends will emigrate to a happy island andcolonize it. Then there won't be any missed faces or any letter writingto do, for that matter. David and Reddy can run the business of thecolony and see that we aren't cheated when we trade glass beads andother little trinkets with the savages. Of course there will be a fewmoth-eaten old cannibals. Tom can classify the trees of the forest andmake the obstreperous beasts and reptiles behave. I will represent thelaw. I will settle all disputes and administer justice. I'll be aregular old Father William, like the one in 'Through the Looking Glass,'I always did love that poem, especially this verse:
"'In my youth,' said his father, 'I took to the law, And argued each case with my wife. And the muscular strength which it gave to my jaw, Has lasted me all of my life.'"
Nora pretended to pay no attention to Hippy, who waited for her toprotest, an expansive smile wreathing his fat face. "She didn'tunderstand," he said sadly, after beaming at Nora in vain. "There's nouse in trying to explain. I suppose I'll have to give her an appointmentof some k
ind on my island. Nora, you may have charge of me. Isn't that anoble mission? Still she doesn't answer. Oh, well, never mind, I'll goright on appointing."
"Mrs. Gray, you will be the queen, and Grace can be prime minister. Annecan have charge of the amusements, and Miriam can help her. Miriam has adecided leaning toward the drama."
The color in Miriam's cheeks suddenly deepened at this apparentlyinnocent remark. "I don't think I like your island idea very well," shesaid lightly. "I'd much rather have the Originals live right here inOakdale." She rose and strolled across the room to where Jessica sat.
"It's not the island idea. It's the dramatic idea that Miriam objects todiscussing," confided Hippy in a low tone to Grace.
"How did you find it out?" asked Grace.
"First of all by observation, my child. Second, through David. He knowsit, too. Southard told him. They have seen a good deal of each othersince the Nesbits have lived in New York. David thinks him worthy ofMiriam."
"I knew he cared. I wonder if Miriam does? She never mentions Mr.Southard. I hope she loves him. It is so hard when one cares and theother doesn't." Grace's gray eyes grew sad. Conversation languishedbetween Hippy and Grace for a little. Then with a half sigh Grace rose,"I am going to ask Nora to sing," she said.
Before she had time to carry out her intention John appeared pushing asmall table on wheels ahead of him. Its shelves were laden withsandwiches, olives, salted nuts and delicious fancy cakes, while a maidfollowed him with a chocolate service.
Mrs. Gray poured the chocolate, and Anne, always her right-hand man,assisted her in serving it. Grace, with her ever-present youthfulness ofspirit, found trundling the table about the room a most pleasingdiversion. They were a very merry little company, entering into the joyof being together with all their hearts, and deeply thankful for theopportunity to gather once more in the same spirit of friendly affectionthat had characterized all their meetings.
It was well toward midnight when the party broke up.
"Mayn't I take you home in my car, Grace," pleaded Tom. Grace stood forthe moment, a little detached from the others, arranging the veil overher hat.
"Oh, no, Tom," she made quick answer. "It is late. You mustn't go tothat trouble. David is going to take Anne and I in his car. Hippy, Nora,Reddy and Jessica are going home in Hippy's machine."
Tom's face fell. "May I come to see you to-morrow afternoon, then?"
"Yes, do. Miriam and David are coming over for a while," returned wilyGrace. Her one idea was to avoid being alone with Tom. His sole idea wasto be alone with her. His pride, however, would allow him to go nofurther. He had been rebuffed twice in rapid succession.
"Thank you. I'll drop in on you then," he said, trying to summon anindifference he did not feel.
After his aunt's guests had departed with much merriment and laughter,Tom turned to go upstairs. He was sure Grace did not intend to beunkind. It was not her fault if she did not love him. He had determined,however, to plead with her once more. Then, if she still remainedobdurate, as he feared she might, he would give up all hope of her,forever, and go his lonely way in the world.