CHAPTER XI
SANTA CLAUS VISITS THE JUDGE
The moment that dinner was over the judge was hustled into the libraryby Nora and Miriam, and informed by them that they constituted acommittee of two to amuse him until eleven o'clock. He was theirprisoner and they dared him to try to escape.
Next to Grace, Nora, with her rosy cheeks and ready Irish wit wasperhaps the judge's favorite, while he had a profound admiration forstately Miriam; so he was well satisfied with his captors, whotriumphantly conducted him to the drawing room, where Miriam played andNora sang Irish ballads with a delicious brogue that completelycaptivated the old gentleman.
At eleven o'clock there was a great jingling of bells and into the roomdashed Santa Claus, looking as fat and jolly as a story-book KrisKringle.
"Merry Christmas," he cried in a high squeaky voice. "It's a littleearly to wish you Merry Christmas, judge, but I've an engagement inChina at midnight so I thought I'd drop in here a trifle early, leave afew toys for you and your little playmates and be gone. I always make ita point to remember good little boys. So hurry up, everybody, and followme, for I haven't long to stay."
With these words Kris Kringle dashed through the hall followed by thejudge who, entering fully into the spirit of the affair, seized Nora andMiriam by the hand and the three raced after their strange visitor atfull speed, catching up with him at the door of the dining room whichwas closed. Here Santa Claus paused and gave three knocks on the oakdoor.
"Who is there?" demanded a voice, that sounded like David Nesbit's.
"Kris Kringle and three good children."
"Enter into the realm of Christmas," answered the voice, and the doorwas flung open.
The sight that greeted them was sufficiently brilliant to dazzle theireyes for a moment. In one corner of the dining room stood the greattree, radiant with gilt and silver ornaments. At the top was a hugesilver star, while the branches were wound with glittering tinsel, andheavily laden with beribboned bundles of all shapes and sizes, while thespace around the base of the tree was completely filled with presents.
At one side of the tree stood a graceful figure clad in a white robethat glittered and sparkled as though covered with diamonds. She wore agilt crown on her head and carried a scepter, while over her shouldertrailed a long garland of holly fastened with scarlet ribbons. It wasGrace Harlowe in a robe made of cotton wadding thickly sprinkled withdiamond dust, gotten up to represent the spirit of Christmas.
On the other side of the tree lay old Father Time, apparently fastasleep, his sickle by his side. His long white cotton beard flowedrealistically down to his waist, and in his folded hands was a placardbearing these words, "Gone to sleep for the next hundred years," whilein the opposite corner his sister and the rest of the guests had groupedthemselves, and as the old gentleman stepped over the threshold, achorus of laughing voices rang out:
"Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!"
Then Grace glided forward and escorted the judge to a sort of doublethrone that had been improvised from two easy chairs raised to a smallplatform constructed by the boys, and draped with the piano cover, and acouple of silken curtains, while Santa Claus performed the same officefor Miss Putnam.
After they had been established with great pomp and ceremony, SantaClaus awoke Father Time by shaking him vigorously, apologizing to thecompany between each shake for doing so, and promising to put him tosleep the moment the festivities were over.
Then the fun of distributing the presents began, and for the next hour agreat unwrapping and rattling of papers ensued, mingled with constantexclamations of surprise and delight from all present, as they openedand admired their gifts.
The judge was particularly pleased with the little personal gifts thatthe girls themselves had made for him, and exclaimed with the delight ofa schoolboy as he opened each one. At last nothing remained save onerather imposing package.
"This must be something very remarkable," said the judge, as he untiedthe bow of scarlet ribbon and unwrapped the folds of tissue paper,disclosing a cut glass inkstand, with a heavy silver top, on which wereengraved his initials in block letters.
There was a general murmur of admiration from all.
"Very fine, very fine," said the judge, picking up the card which read,"Merry Christmas, from Miss Barber."
"Miss Barber?" he repeated questioningly. Then it dawned upon him thatthis expensive gift was from one of his guests.
"Pardon me, my dear," he said turning to Marian, who looked halfcomplacent, half embarrassed. "I am an old man and don't always remembernames as well as I should. The beauty of your gift quite overcame me.Allow me to thank you and express my appreciation of it."
Marian smiled affectedly at the judge's words, in a manner so foreign toher former, blunt, good-natured self, that the girl chums watched her insilent amazement.
But the judge's inkstand was merely the fore-runner of surprises. Asudden cry from Grace attracted the attention of the others.
"Why, Marian Barber, what made you do it?"
Then other exclamations followed in quick succession as the Phi SigmaTaus rushed over to her in a body, each carrying a jeweler's box.
"You shouldn't have been so generous, Marian," said Grace. "I neverdreamed of receiving this beautiful gold chain."
"Just look at my bracelet!" cried Jessica.
"And my lovely ring!" put in Nora.
"Not half so fine as my silver purse," commented Anne.
Miriam Nesbit was the recipient of a cut glass powder box with a silvertop, while Eva Allen was in raptures over a gold chatelaine pin, thatmore than once she had vainly sighed for.
Even the boys had been so well remembered that they felt ratherembarrassed when they compared their simple gifts to Marian with thoseshe had given them. As for Mr. Henry Hammond, he had received a completetoilet set mounted in silver that was truly a magnificent affair, whileMarian proudly exhibited a gold chain and locket set with smalldiamonds, which she had received from him.
When the last package had been opened, Santa Claus removed his hugewhite beard, slipped out of his scarlet bath robe bordered with cottonand stood forth as Hippy Wingate; while Father Time set his sicklecarefully up in one corner, divested himself of his flowing beard andlocks, took off David's gray dressing gown and appeared as Tom Gray.
It was long after midnight before the guests sought their rooms, theirarms piled with gifts.
"Come into my room for an after-gathering," said Miriam to the girls, asthey stood in a group at the head of the stairs.
"Wait until we deposit our spoils and get comfy," said Grace.
Fifteen minutes later the Phi Sigma Taus, with the exception of MarianBarber, wrapped in kimonos, were monopolizing the floor space around thebig open fireplace in Miriam's room.
"Where's Marian?" asked Grace.
"Gone to bed," answered Eva laconically. "She said she didn't propose tostay up half the night to gossip."
"The very idea!" exclaimed Jessica. "We never do gossip, but I think shehas furnished plenty of material so far for a gossiping match."
"And it looks as though we were in a fair way to start one, now," saidAnne slyly.
"Anne, you rascal," said Jessica laughing. "I'll acknowledge my sins andchange the subject."
"My presents were all beautiful!" said Miriam Nesbit, who, clad in akimono of cream-colored silk bordered with red poppies, her long blackbraids hanging far below her waist, looked like a princess of theOrient.
"And mine," echoed Grace. "The chain Marian gave me is a dear."
She stopped abruptly. A sudden silence had fallen upon the group at herwords. Grace instantly divined that in the minds of her friends therelurked a secret disapproval of Marian's extravagance in the matter ofgifts.