"We were just thinking—" Henderson began.
"How nice it would be if little folks were invited to grown-up parties," finished Peace, who seemed possessed of only that one idea.
"That's just what I have been thinking, too," was the surprising confession from the tall man on the hearth rug.
"Wh-at!"
"Well, when mother and I came to think over the subject seriously, we both agreed that it did not seem exactly fair to put three, no, four such charming little maids to bed—for of course Lorene would share your fate, too—when there were to be such festive doings downstairs, although neither one of us believes in late hours for children. I presume we are very old-fashioned in some things—"
"No, you aren't," chorused the loyal girls.
"No? True patriots! And yet didn't you think grandma and I were just the least teenty bit hard on you to make you go to bed at the regulation hours tonight when it is Christmas?"
"W-e-ll, we would like awfully much to stay up and see if Gail and Faith do as good entertaining their comp'ny as we did," confessed Peace with unusual hesitation.
"Supposing I should tell you that we have decided to let you stay up an hour or two longer?"
"Oh, grandpa, what a darling you are!"