“Oh, I like that!” she said, “and I think you were very, very kind to give it to me.”
Elsie had stolen close to her father’s side and slipped one hand into his.
He bent down to look smilingly into her eyes and give her a gentle kiss.
“Papa,” she said softly, “thank you very much for your lovely present.”
“Welcome, my darling, and many thanks to you for my beautiful present from you.”
It was a small but very fine painting by one of the old masters. She had given a beautiful lace set—collar and under-sleeves—to her mamma and one to Mildred.
The presents having all been distributed, the ladies and gentlemen adjourned to the drawing-room, leaving the children in possession of the parlor where the tree stood.
“Let’s play games!” cried a chorus of voices in which several boyish ones were conspicuous.
Elsie asked what they would have, suggesting a number of the quieter kind; but none of those seemed to suit; evidently the majority at least were in a romping mood.
“Hot—butter—beans,” proposed Walter; “that’s good fun and needn’t be so very noisy either.”