"Where's Renée?" Aunt Pen answered.
After a moment's search she found her alone behind the big tree. She was fastening upon one of the branches her silver star! Tears dampened her cheeks.
"Oh--my dear!" cried Aunt Pen. Over her swept the realization of what Renée had given that "peace might come upon this world!" She caught the small hand and held it.
"Not there," she whispered, "but here!" and taking the star she hung it close to the big Star at the top.
"He gave his Son for us, too," she added softly.
CHAPTER XIV
HILL-TOP
"Picnics," explained Peggy, with a conviction born of experience, "are just as much fun in the winter as they are in the summer, 'specially when they are at Hill-top!"
For the four days following Christmas snow had fallen steadily. Each moment of the holiday time had been filled with out-of-door fun: now Mrs. Lee had suggested that--as a sort of climax--the Eagle Patrol have a picnic at Hill-top!
Pat had never heard of a picnic in the middle of the winter!