"Indeed, he was. Well, I hope you and I shall have a happy Christmas."
His thoughts flew to the child to whom he had given the doll the night before, but he made no mention of the matter to his landlady. And after a few more words she retired downstairs, and Jim turned to his breakfast.
[CHAPTER IV]
MAGGIE IS INVITED TO A PARTY
IT wanted but two days to Christmas, and it was intensely cold. For a few hours in the morning the sun had shone brightly in a cloudless blue sky; but now evening had come, and the keen, frosty air was cruelly biting to those who lacked thick garments and warm furs to shelter them from the severity of the weather. It promised to be a trying Christmastide for the London poor, but those who had cosy firesides to turn to, said it was healthy and seasonable.
To an onlooker, things would not have appeared very comfortable in the Blundells' home. There was scarcely more than a handful of coals in the little fire-place. Mrs. Blundell, as usual, was stitching away at her work, whilst the children held a whispered conversation together. Yet, cheerless though the garret looked, there was an atmosphere of quiet contentment about its inmates. Christmas was coming! That was the thought which cheered their hearts, that made the mother almost forget her misgivings for the future, as she hummed softly to herself the lines of the well-known hymn:
"He comes the broken heart to bind,
The bleeding soul to cure;
And with the treasures of His grace
To bless the humble poor."
Suddenly Mrs. Blundell dropped her work on her lap, and turned her head expectantly to the doorway. She had heard a footstep, and in a minute there was a knock. Maggie ran to the door, and admitted a little woman with stooping shoulders—no other than Jim Blewett's landlady.
"Oh, Mrs. Metherell!" Mrs. Blundell exclaimed in quick, pleased tones. "Do please come in and sit down! Why, you're quite breathless with climbing up the stairs! I am glad to see you, ma'am!"
Brisk and smiling, Mrs. Metherell greeted the children cordially, and then, turning to their mother, said: