Phyllis and Janet had liked him at once, much to Peter's relief and his own secret satisfaction. He always addressed them as, "You, Janet, or you, Phyllis," and then shut his eyes until the right one came, for he could not tell the one from the other.
"Was there ever such a day?" Phyllis demanded as she jumped on to the big sleigh with Peter's help.
"Never in all this world," he replied seriously.
They started off at a smart gait, stopping at the rectory for Alice and Mildred Blake and at the Waters' for Harry. Then away they went along an old back road that wound up into the hills.
When they stopped they were all glad to get out and stretch. The girls walked up and down to get warm, and the boys made short work of chopping down a tall bushy Christmas tree.
The ride back was exciting, for they had to hold the slippery tree on the sleigh and stay on themselves. As Janet was driving at top speed this was not easy, but they reached the little church at last and carried the tree triumphantly into the Sunday-school room.
Then they flocked into the rectory for luncheon. Janet and Peter dropped behind.
"What does it make you think of?" Peter asked, laughing.
"Don't," Janet pleaded; "it's still too awful to remember. If I thought to-night was going to be anything like that night I would go straight home and go to bed."
"Don't you worry. It won't, Princess," Peter replied protectingly.