"All right," assented the angry brother, "and then I'll give Smarty Randall a taste of my fist."
"Your tree is gone!" repeated Mr. Hodgkins when the seven burst upon him. "Well, there! I know who took it!"
"Who?" demanded Mike.
"Santa Claus, sir, the rascal! I thought that tree he brought in looked extremely familiar!"
"What tree?" asked Stubbins.
"You come in my sitting-room and see, children."
"It's our tree, sure enough," said Johnnie, "and did he put it up, too?"
"You better believe he did, and what's more, you look in this closet."
Mr. Hodgkins opened a door, allowing the children one brief glimpse of Christmas packages, dolls, books, sleds, and toys of all kinds.
"Oh, oh, oh!" cried the seven.