CHAPTER XIII.
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS "Here's the tack-hammer, Hippy, and don't fall off the ladder, please," cautioned Grace, as she assisted Hippy Wingate to tack up an evergreen garland in Mrs.Gray's drawing room.
Not in twenty years had the old house taken on such holiday attire.
Great bunches of holly and cedar filled the vases and bowls and decorated the chandeliers.

Fires blazed on every hearth and the warm glow from many candles and shaded lamps brightened the fine old rooms.
"My dear young people," exclaimed Mrs.Gray, coming in just then, "how happy you make me feel! I do wish you were all really my children and could forever stay just the ages you are now." "This house would be like the palace of everlasting youth, then, wouldn't it, Mrs.Gray ?" suggested Anne.
"Until some meddlesome little Pandora came along, opened the box and let all the troubles out," interposed David, who was still feeling very bitter toward his sister Miriam, and glad to leave home for a time until his anger had cooled.
"Ah, well, we have no Pandoras here," answered Mrs.Gray, smiling on the young guests.

"You are all girls and boys after my own heart, and I trust we shall have a beautiful time together.

But here comes that nephew of mine, Tom Gray.

I wonder if he's grown out of all recollection." While she was speaking one of the town hacks had driven up to the steps, and there was a violent ring at the bell.
"Mr.Thomas Gray," announced the old butler at the door and Tom Gray, who had been the subject of endless speculation and conjecture, entered the room.
"If he turns out to be disagreeable or stupid or anything," the girls had been whispering, "it would be such a pity because everybody else is so nice." Neither had the boys felt inclined to be prepossessed in Tom Gray's favor.