It was the day before Christmas Eve.
Though the time had gone slowly to Noel, Christmas had come at last.
The house was full of the chatter of the children. Chris had come home from school the previous evening, and he was in the best of spirits, for he was head of his form, and his report was a very good one.
It seemed as if it were going to be a real old-fashioned Christmas. There was hard frost and bright sun.
Directly after breakfast Mrs. Inglefield suggested that they should all go to the woods, and bring home some evergreens and holly.
"Take the wheelbarrow. General Herbert said you could cut as much as you like in the nearest wood. I dare say you will find Mr. Wargrave and his helpers there getting some green for decorating the church. I wish I could come with you, but I am too busy."
"Oh, Mums, when, when shall my tree be brought in?" Noel was in such a state of excitement that he could hardly contain himself.
"This afternoon, darling. You must wait till then. I have asked Foster to come round and dig it up."
A few moments later and the three children were out on the hard, frosty road wheeling their barrow along and talking hard as they went.
"Inez is going to have a party," Diana told Chris; "her father and mother have let her ask who she likes. I wouldn't have them for my father and mother for worlds! They never go about with her or have her with them, but Inez says they're nicer to her than they used to be. I think she isn't so disagreeable herself. She's going to have a conjurer at her party. It will be like our London parties, Chris. It is going to be on New Year's Eve, and we are all asked, and Ted is asked, too, and he's so much better that he can sit up now, and stand on his feet sometimes."