"I wish so, too, but grandma said I had already been at Revell long enough to wear out my welcome."
"I didn't see a sign of its being threadbare when you came away," Miss Dorothy told her. "Now, have we Puff all safe?"
"Yes, he is asleep in his basket. You won't forget to tie the card around his neck with the red ribbon."
"No, I'll not forget. You must be sure to look on the inside knob of my clothes-press door the first thing Christmas morning."
"I won't forget that. I think it is fine to have a secret waiting in there for me."
"Here is the key. I know I can trust you not to open it till then."
"Indeed you can trust me."
"I am sure of it. Now give me a good hug and a kiss for Patty, for I must be off."
Marian needed no second bidding, and in a few minutes was watching Miss Dorothy go down the street carrying the basket that held Puff, and walking swiftly to catch her train. There were big tears in Marian's eyes as she turned from the window, for it seemed as if the sunshine had faded away with Miss Dorothy's going, and that Christmas would be only a gray every-day sort of time with no Patty to make it merry, and no Miss Dorothy to add to its cheer.
However, when her grandmother called her it was to do rather an interesting thing, for a Christmas box for the poor minister of a distant parish was to be packed, and Marian enjoyed handing her grandmother the articles to be put in and to talk over them. Grandma knew the circumstances of the family to whom the box was going and that there was a little girl somewhat younger than Marian to whom her out-grown clothes would go. Marian thought she would have enjoyed sending something more personal, and said so.