"Were you? How delightful! I hope the strawberries will wait for you. Talk away. Tell me who you are and all about yourself. It will cheer me up."
Noel began at once.
"I've comed from India. The other children haven't been there since they were babies. Mums likes us all alike, but I know her bester than the others, 'cause I've always, always been with her. And I've got a Chris'mas tree. I planted it myself. I'm very fond of him, and I talk to him a lot. He's rather sad now because the flowers are so pretty and he isn't pretty, and he doesn't smell like the roses. But by and by, when Chris'mas comes, he'll be beautiful, grand, and beautiful! And the flowers will be dead and buried. He's really much better than they are, because he lives longer. Chris and Dinah won't laugh at him when he's dressed with beautiful lights and presents, and when he's in the middle of the room and all of us dancing round him. I tell him about it when he feels a little unhappy. And he nods his head and unnerstands."
"I'm most awfully interested," said the lady as Noel came to a pause. "Go on. Tell me more."
Noel drew a long breath, and then he sprang to his feet. "Here's a man in a cart, and I believe it is God's man, and he's got here first of all."
Sure enough, a farm cart was coming round the corner, and the man who was driving got down at once when he saw there had been an accident.
"You'm best get in my cart, mum, and I'll drive 'ee to the Hall," he said when matters had been explained to him. "'Tisn't a one man's job to get that car out o' ditch."
The lady looked at the rough dirty cart which had been used for carting manure, and she smiled very sweetly:
"I think I'll wait, thank you. I've sent a little messenger to the Hall, and they'll be sending a car for me."
The man rubbed the back of his head and looked first at her and then at the car.