But Faith had to speak to another of her friends first, and that was old Timothy, who was in the new overcoat and standing outside the gate.
He gripped hold of her small hand.
"A happy Christmas, missie!—But your face tells me you're having that."
"Yes, everything is delicious," said Faith. "Wouldn't you like a week of Christmas Days, Timothy, all bunched together? It goes too quickly for us."
"We can have a week of Christmas joy," the old man said, and then he went off and Faith joined her sisters.
The Pirate arrived about four that afternoon; and he produced out of his pockets the most wonderful presents for everyone. They came from Paris; there were three big chocolate boxes for the little girls tied up with pink satin ribbon; there was a most dainty silk work-bag for Granny, and a tiny little leather box for Aunt Alice. There were dainty handkerchiefs, and scent bottles, and sachets, which were also distributed round.
The children were quite overcome by it all.
"I shall have to write to Mrs. Cox to-morrow," said Charity; "I feel I must tell about it all to somebody."
The Pirate was sitting round the fire with Granny and Aunt Alice.
Aunt Alice every now and then ran away to see how the cooking was getting on, for she had one of the village women to help her for the day, and she wanted some superintendence.