The two confronted each other--the white-bearded gentleman, with the figure of an athlete and the eyes of an excited youth, and the slim girl in the gray silk, with cheeks like her scarlet ribbons.
"What does this mean?" demanded Santa Claus. He put forth one vigorous arm and drew the runaway out from the closet by her resisting hand.
"Just what it says, I should think," answered Shirley, bravely, although trembling. Had she offended him? Through the whole transaction that had been the one burden of her anxiety. "It doesn't say it very clearly, but she never tried writing limericks before. They 're not so easy as you might think."
"She! Who?"
"'S. Townsend.'"
"Do you mean to say you 've actually bought that mortgage?":
"Murray did the business. I didn't see Mr. Thorn."
"But you own the mortgage?"
"Yes."
"Thorn did n't want to sell it."