‘Oh, daddy,’ she said, ‘I do wish you had come down; it was such lovely fun—the best tree I ever saw. Why wouldn’t you come?’
‘If thirty odd years should pass over that little head of yours, my Lady Fly, and you should then meet with Mysie and Val, maybe you will then learn the reason why.’
‘We will recollect that in thirty years’ time.’
‘When our children go to a Christmas-tree.’
‘And we sit over the fire instead.’
‘Oh! but should we ever not care for a dear, delightful Christmas-tree?’
‘If we had each other instead.’
‘Then we would all go still together!’
‘And tell our little boys and girls all about this one, and the Butterfly’s Ball!’
‘Perhaps our husbands would want us, and not let us go.’