CHAPTER X
CHRISTMAS WITH JUDGE
It was Christmas Eve, and the great soft flakes of snow that fellcontinuously gave every indication of a white Christmas. The north windhowled and blustered through the tree tops, making the judge and hisyoung guests congratulate themselves on being safely sheltered from thestorm.
The day had been clear and cold, and the entire party had driven onbob-sleds to the strip of woods just outside the town, where the boyshad cut down a Christmas tree, and had brought it triumphantly home,while the girls had piled the sleds with evergreens and ground pine. Onthe return a stop had been made at the market, and great quantities ofholly had been bought. Even the sprig of mistletoe for the chandelier inthe hall had not been forgotten.
"We'll hurry up and get everything ready before the judge comes in,"planned Grace. "We'll put this mistletoe right here, and Nora, you mustsee to it that you lead him over until he stands directly under it. Thenwe will all surround him. Miriam, will you tell Miss Putnam? We want herto be in it, too."
The young folks worked untiringly and a little before five the lasttrail of ground pine was in place, and the decorators stood back andreviewed their work with pride.
The great hall and drawing room had been transformed into a veritablecorner of the forest, and the red holly berries peeping out from thegreen looked like little flame-colored heralds of Christmas. Here andthere a poinsettia made a gorgeous blot of color, while on anold-fashioned mahogany what-not stood an immense bowl of deep-red roses,the joint contribution of the Phi Sigma Tau.
"It looks beautiful," sighed Jessica, "we really ought to feel proud ofourselves."
The entire party was grouped about the big drawing room.
"I am always proud of myself," asserted Hippy. "In the first place thereis a great deal of me to be proud of; and in the second place I don'tbelieve in hiding my light under a bushel."
"Now Jessica, you have started him," said David with a groan. "He'lltalk about himself for an hour unless Reddy and I lead him out."
"I dare you to lead me out," defied Hippy.
"I never take a dare," replied David calmly, making a lunge for Hippy."Come on, Reddy."
Reddy sprang forward and Hippy was hustled out, chanting as he went:
"Now children do not blame me, for I have so much to say, That from myself I really cannot tear myself away,"
and remained outside for the space of two minutes, when he suddenlyreappeared wearing Grace's coat and Miriam Nesbit's plumed hat andperformed a wild dance down the middle of the room that made his friendsshriek with laughter.
"Hippy, when will you be good?" inquired Miriam, as she rescued her hat,and smoothed its ruffled plumes.
"Never, I hope," replied Hippy promptly.
"That's the judge's ring," cried Grace as the sound of the bell echoedthrough the big room, and the guests flocked into the hall to welcometheir host.
"This is what I call a warm reception," laughed Judge Putnam, as hestood surrounded by laughing faces.
"I claim the privilege of escorting Judge Putnam down the hall," criedNora, and she conducted him directly to where the mistletoe hung.
"I must be an object of envy to you young men," chuckled the judge, ashe walked unsuspectingly to his fate.
"The mistletoe! The mistletoe! You're standing under the mistletoe!" wasthe cry and the seven girls and Miss Putnam joined hands and circledaround the judge. Then each girl in turn stepped up and imprinted a kisson the good old judge's cheek.
The Girls Circled Around the Judge]
"Well, I never!" exclaimed the old gentleman, but there were tears inhis blue eyes and his voice trembled as he said to his sister, who wasthe last to salute him, "It takes me back over the years, Mary."
It was a merry party that ran upstairs to dress for dinner that night,and the spirit of Christmas seemed to have settled down upon the judge'sborrowed household.
The only thing that had dimmed Grace Harlowe's pleasure in the least wasthe passage at arms that had occurred between herself and Henry Hammond.Grace's conscience smote her. She felt that she should not have spokento him as she had, even though she disliked him. To be sure, his remarkabout Marian's gown had caused her inwardly to accuse him of influencingMarian to make herself ridiculous in the eyes of her friends, but shecould not forgive herself for having unthinkingly spoken as she haddone.
After due reflection Grace decided that she had acted unwisely, and madeup her mind that she would try to make amends for her unkind retort. Shedecided, however, to see if she could not persuade Marian to go back toher usual style of dress.
Grace hurried through her dressing, and looking very sweet and wholesomein her dainty blue organdie, knocked at the door of the room occupied byMarian and Eva Allen.
"Come in," cried Eva's voice, and Grace entered, to find Eva completelydressed in a pretty white pongee, eyeing with great disfavor thetight-fitting princess gown of black silk that the maid was strugglingto hook Marian into.
"Marian!" exclaimed Grace. "What ever made you have a black eveninggown? It makes you look years older than you are."
"That's exactly what I told her," said Eva Allen, "but she won't believeit."
Marian looked sulky, then said rather sullenly: "I really can't see whatdifference it makes to you girls what I wear. I haven't interfered withyou in the matter of your gowns, have I?"
"No," replied Grace truthfully, "but Marian, I think the judge likes tosee us in the simple evening dresses we have been accustomed to wearing,and as we are his guests we ought to try and please him. Besides, youwould look so much better in your white embroidered dress, or your pinksilk, that you wore to commencement last year."
"I don't agree with, you at all," replied Marian so stiffly that themaid smiled openly, as she put the final touches to Marian's hairpreparatory to adjusting the cluster of puffs that had completed herastonishing coiffure the night before. "Furthermore, I have been assuredby persons of extreme good taste that my new gowns give me a distinctindividuality I have never before possessed."
"That person of extreme good taste is named Hammond," thought Grace."That remark about 'individuality' sounds just like him. I'll make onemore appeal to her."
Going over to where Marian stood viewing herself with satisfaction inthe long mirror, Grace slipped her arm around her old friend.
"Listen, dear," she coaxed, "we mustn't quarrel on Christmas Eve. Youknow we are all Phi Sigma Taus and it seems so strange to see youlooking so stately and grown up. Put on your white dress to-night, justto please me."
But Marian drew away from her, frowning angrily. "Really, Grace," sheexclaimed, "you are too provoking for any use, and I wish you would mindyour own business and let me wear what I choose."
"Please pardon me, Marian," said Grace, turning toward the door. "I amsorry to have troubled you," and was gone like a flash.
"You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Marian Barber!" burst forth Eva."The idea of telling Grace to mind her own business! You haven't been abit like yourself lately, and I know that it's all on account of thatHenry Hammond, the old snake."
"You will oblige me greatly, Eva, by referring more respectfully to myfriend, Mr. Hammond," said Marian with offended dignity. Then she sailedout of the room, her train dragging half a yard behind her, while Evaturned to the mirror with a contemptuous sniff and powdered her littlefreckled nose almost savagely before following her irate roommate downstairs.