“Oh—what—what is all this?” faltered Granny as she saw the little throng of happy, smiling faces. “What does it mean?”
“Merry Christmas, Granny! Merry Christmas!” cried the girls.
And Granny, trembling a little, took the old squat rocker before the hearth fire while the merry throng cheered around her.
This was indeed a Christmas party!
CHAPTER XXVI
Two Ghosts
Several rather tense seconds passed after the jolly holiday greetings before Granny Howe recovered her usual poise. The smile that had been on her cheery face when Dick and Betty led her into the fire-warmed and candlelighted room of the old mansion, and she had seen the merry young people, faded as she sank into the rocker. There was a puzzled expression in her eyes.
“Well, Granny,” asked Betty, “don’t you like it?”
“Pretty fine, if you ask me,” said Dick.
“Oh, but what does it all mean?” murmured the old lady. “I can’t understand. They told me,” she went on, looking from Betty to Dick, “that someone here wanted to see me. They suggested it might be the last time I could view this dear old room, as the contractor would probably rush the work of tearing the house down after Christmas. So I came. Here I am. But what does it mean?” She was bewildered.
“We are the ones who wanted to see you, Granny Howe,” said Sim.