"An' whaur would ye be wishin' the cookies put?"
"Cookies!" they all exclaimed, with one accord, "Cookies!"
Esther sampled one.
"They're just as good as they look!" she said. "What a lot of them! How did you come to think of it? How good of you!"
"It was Donald. He telt me aboot y'r birthday cakes for the wains. So I thocht bein's it was the Maister's birthday, each should hae a birthday cake. A makit one hundred."
"One hundred!" Kenneth whistled. "You know how to find the way to men's hearts," he laughed. "But you found your way to mine long ago."
"Fie, fie," she said smiling. "I ken ye weel."
When their preparations were completed, they looked about with an air of satisfaction. It was evident the spirit of Christmas had taken possession of them. Such kindness! Such good will!
Jack Harding was the last to leave the room. Before he closed and locked the door, he deposited some packages in an obscure corner.
An hour before the time for the entertainment, the little adobe schoolhouse was surrounded by people, and they continued to come even after the teacher, accompanied by the Claytons, opened the door. Soon every seat was filled; then, all standing space. Then the windows were crowded with faces. Still there were as many more outside who could not hope to see, but might possibly hear.