Alexia eyed the long festoon with a dubious gaze. "No, I shouldn't. Oh, I'll keep on at this if it kills me."
"Oh, Jasper!" It was Ben who shouted it, and sprang to welcome him. And then, for the space of a minute, there was no more work done, while everybody crowded around to see Jasper fixed in a big easy-chair at the side of the long room, where he could get the best view of everything. Suddenly a small figure emerged from a heap of greens in the corner, where some thin little fingers had been picking out sprigs for the busy hands to weave into wreaths.
"Hullo, Pip!" cried Jasper, putting out a warm hand, as Pip sidled up, "now that's good to see you," throwing his arm around the thin shoulders. "Having a good time, Pip?" and he bent his head for the reply.
"Yes," said Pip, "I am."
"Now that's fine," declared Jasper, again. "Well, fly back to work," and he gave him a pat on the back.
Pip sidled off again and lost himself in the pile of greens.
"Miss Polly, they've come," announced Jane, opening the playroom door, and advancing to Polly.
"Who?" asked Polly, holding a wreath for Ben to nail up over the little window—"not that way, a little more this other side," she said, as Ben placed the nail in. "Who, Jane?"
"Why, those poor children at Mrs. Van Ruypen's," said Jane.
"What? Oh, you don't mean they've come this morning!" exclaimed Polly, quite aghast, and dropping the wreath.