There was a twinkle in Mrs. Metherell's eyes as she spoke, which Jim was quick to notice.
"I hope you are going to invite me," he said, smiling; then, seeing Mrs. Metherell looked a little doubtful, "You surely won't leave me out in the cold!"
"It's a children's party, sir."
"So much the better! They are ever so much jollier than grown-up people's parties! I will help you amuse the children!"
"They are a few I know who will not be very likely to have anything done for their pleasure at home. I am going to ask them to come on Christmas Eve from four to eight. I shall give them a good tea—poor little souls! And I mean to dress up a Christmas tree for the occasion!"
"I shall insist on being present, Mrs. Metherell; and I'll help you dress the tree!"
A smile of gratification spread over the landlady's face as she answered:
"I am sure I shall be very glad of your assistance, sir. It's not much I'm able to do for my fellow creatures; but now, at Christmas, I think one ought to make a little extra effort to try to make others happy. It always seems to me Christmas is the children's festival especially, and I should like to think I was able to make some of His little ones glad, for His sake."
"Yes," Jim agreed. "I remember—oh! As long ago as I can remember anything—the excitement there used to be at home when this season drew near, and how my father used to remind us children that we must never forget in the midst of all the festivity the cause of our rejoicing."
"He was quite right, sir."