Christmas fell on Thursday, and the guests were to arrive the next day. Christmas itself was the gala day it always is in a house full of happy young people. It began, of course, with the usual excitement over the stockings, big and little, that hung on the back-parlour mantel. Then there were the presents that were too big to go into stockings to be oh-ed and ah-ed over. Then came the church service and the Christmas dinner, and in the evening, a little party at a neighbouring house.
The girls from Kayuna arrived Friday afternoon. Doctor Ward took Eunice and Cricket to the station to meet them, and in due time four broadly smiling girls walked into the house, where the little guests were warmly welcomed by mamma and Marjorie.
Edith Craig was a tall, fine-looking girl, a year older than Eunice, and, being the eldest of five children, she was very mature for her years. She was really very companionable for Marjorie as well as for Eunice. Cricket she regarded as a mere infant, and her motherly ways towards that young lady were very amusing. All the family were very fond of Edith, however; she was a bright, jolly, sensible girl, who seemed equally happy whether she was exchanging confidences with Eunice, or sitting with Mrs. Ward and chatting over her embroidery, or romping with Cricket, or giving Doctor Ward intelligent attention when he was talking of some late medical discovery, or playing duets with Marjorie, or frolicking with the children in the nursery. A well-bred, adaptable girl is always charming.
Cricket thought that Hilda had grown very much in the four months since she had seen her, but her bronze curls were as smooth, and her clothes as trim, and she was as plump and pretty as ever.
The little hostesses had planned enough for the ten days’ visit to fill a month, as children generally do; but that was very much better than not having enough to do. Saturday, the first day, was a lovely beginning, for Mrs. Drayton had planned one of Emily’s pleasant little matinée parties. Ten children, including the four of the Ward party, were invited to lunch with Emily and go to the matinée afterwards, to see “Robin Hood.” This was an especially great treat for Eunice and Cricket, for they were seldom allowed to go to the theatre, and their little guests rarely had the chance. The lunch was perfect; Mrs. Drayton and Emily were as delightful as they always were; “Robin Hood” was charmingly given, and the day was a perfect success.
They found when they reached home that Will and Archie had just arrived, and as Donald’s friend had come also, the whole party collected around the dinner table.
Doctor Ward looked around beamingly on the flock, as he flourished his knife over the big turkey.
“Cricket, this is an improvement on your orphan asylum, I think,” he said. “How is it? Do you prefer the babies?”
“I really think, now that I’ve had experience,” said Cricket reflectively, “that I like middle-aged people, like ourselves, better. We aren’t so much trouble, I’m sure.”
There was a shout at Cricket’s “middle-aged people.”