"Oh, pshaw! that's too long to wait," Rock declared. Then seeing his mother's expression, he asked, "Is there any particular reason for it, mother?"
"Yes, I must confess, there is."
"Then I'll wait, if Dimple will, but it's a good deal to ask of a fellow."
"I'll wait," said Dimple cheerfully.
"Then I'll come over for you some time after breakfast," Rock told her, "and I'll see the presents over here and have the fun of that."
"I think Rock was just dear to do that," said Florence after he had gone. "I did so want you to stay with me to-night. Come, let's go right to bed, Dimple."
"We want to hang up our stockings first."
"Oh, of course. Mamma has some white ones, real big long ones, that she keeps on purpose. You know every one of the family has a stocking on Christmas morning."
"I am always going to hang up mine," Eleanor declared; "even after I am grown up and am married. I hope we shall live near each other then, don't you?"
Florence replied that she did and they hurried off to bed after seeing the stockings securely hung up by the nursery chimney-piece.