"I'd take away the tree, and then I'd clean the room and use it."
"I've often thought of it, Hannah, but some way I can't do it; and here the old tree stands just as we left it. It's no use, and yet—see here, children, tell your mother I'll give her five dollars if she'll come over to-morrow when I've gone to town, and—and tend to this room. You may come with her and go all over the house if you choose."
"And then," agreed Hannah, "you and us'll go visiting. Sometimes you come over to our house to see us in our sitting-room, and next day or the next we'll all come over here and visit you in your sitting-room, and we'll be folks. And Mr. Hodgkins, don't you think you're the only man that's had to get along without Christmases, because us kids never had a Christmas in our lives until last year."
"You mean you never had a Christmas tree before, don't you, Hannah?"
"No, I mean we never had a Christmas. We never even knew folks had trees in their houses until now, but you just wait! This year we're going to have one of our own."
"Yeth, and I geth you better come and help uth get it ready," put in Stubbins, "becauthe you know about the way to fixth 'em."
"Thank you," said Mr. Hodgkins, "I'll think about it."
CHAPTER XI
MRS. MULVANEY'S AIR CASTLE
When Mrs. Mulvaney saw the Christmas tree she shook her head. "I'm glad you're with me, Chinky," she began, "I'd hate to be here alone, and what's more, I hate to touch that tree. Poor man! To think how he's missed his folks and him so good. I'd no more take any money for doing a neighbourly act like this than I'd fly."