"What are fits?" asked Noel.
"You fall down and bite your tongue in half, and go black in the face!" said Chris cheerfully. "A chap at school did that once, and he had to be sent home for good."
But nothing could damp Noel's spirits.
When they came to the wood, they found others before them there. Mr. Wargrave had half a dozen of his choir-boys, and they were all as busy as they could be.
Noel was very interested in the decoration of the church. He asked Mr. Wargrave if he could help in it, and before he returned home he went into the church with the young vicar.
"It's for Jesus' birfday, isn't it? He'll like His house to look pretty."
"Yes," answered Mr. Wargrave. "I don't believe in decorating our own houses, and leaving God's house untouched."
Noel stood looking at the holly and evergreens which had been put together in a heap at the bottom of the church.
And then a gardener appeared with some white flowers from the Hall. Lady Alice had sent them. The vicar received them with much pleasure.
"I wish," said Noel, "that I could give something of my own to Jesus for His birfday. He likes things that grow, doesn't He?"