"But I'm too busy, Mr. Casey. Today is Christmas and I love to view it from the window. Just to think that it belongs to me! I can't realize it. Mr. Casey, you are my fairy Godfather and nothing else. How can I ever repay you?"
"By always being a mother to my girl, ma'am, as ye have been since she met ye. Why, ye deserve a whole garage of automobiles for the kindness ye've shown her, and see the good man she now has through ye. Don't thank me, ma'am. It's ourselves who can't thank ye enough."
CHAPTER XVIII
ANOTHER SURPRISE
After a delicious Christmas dinner the Bigelows came over. They welcomed and embraced Nora. Mrs. Bigelow really seemed sincere on this occasion. Mr. Casey liked them at once, especially Mr. Bigelow and Nannie.
"They'll make her happy all right. My girl has chosen wisely," he thought.
Tom and Ethel went out together during Christmas week. They skated and visited all the art galleries, enjoying every moment. They had many serious talks, and Ethel took Tom to call on several of her friends. The girls voted him delightful and Ethel was proud of him. They spoke of Mattie Hastings.
"Tom, Patty will never get over it," she said, "of that I'm sure."
"Ethel, don't you see, Patty witnessed it, and the shock is indelibly stamped on her memory. Time will help remove it—nothing else."
"But what a brave act, wasn't it?" continued Ethel. "Patty sends orders
for flowers once a week for her grave, and they say it looks very lovely.
And I even disliked her once. I said her eyes were too close together and
I misjudged her. Then I fairly hated Nora—think!—she who saved my life.
Each one has done something. What have I done? Whom have I benefited?
Who is better for having had me for a friend?"