"But Inez's party won't be as good as mine," burst out Noel; "mine is going to be to-morrow night, and everybody is coming to it."
"Oh, we've heard of nothing but your Christmas tree for ever so long," said Diana a little impatiently. "Fancy, Chris! He has asked nearly all the village children, and Foster's little boy, and the baker's little girls, and ever so many people that he speaks to, and whom we don't know at all."
"I know them," said Noel stoutly.
"I hope you'll have presents for them all," said Chris.
Noel looked a little anxious.
"Mums says we shall, and I've bought ever so many with Granny's money."
"He keeps them hidden away in a box under his bed," said Diana.
"Yes," nodded Noel, "Mums and me are going to do it ourselves in secret."
He began to caper up and down. Diana tried to sober him.
"Nurse says you'll be ill of excitement if you don't take care. She said to Mrs. Tubbs that she knew a boy who got so excited that he had fits."