“O Marione! Wir happiness time wir have der Christtag. Wir ’ave der Baum so high,” holding up a plump little hand as high as she could reach. “Twenty, thirty das Licht! Christtag presented buful! You ’ave one, sieben, zwölf, four! You come happiness; nicht cry, nicht! nicht! Lachen! so!” and a merry peal of laughter Marion found no trouble in echoing.
“You come parlor Christtag night, you see! I, Santa Claus! Merry Christtag. Catch you! Nicht cry! Lachen! Lachen!”
She shut the door softly, but Marion heard her laugh as she went down the long corridor, such a 185 merry, contagious laugh, that it carried away with it the loneliness from Marion’s room.
There was to be a gathering in the parlor then,—der Baum. Twenty, thirty das Licht, and what else? Of one thing Marion felt sure, if she was to receive, one, sieben, zwölf, four presents, she must give some in return, but what, and to whom?
She was not long in doubt. Lilly White was among those who remained, and the Fräulein had hardly gone when she made her appearance with four other girls at her door.
“Oui, Fräulein Marione! Ab alio expectes, alteri quod feceris.
“That’s French, Latin, and German. I picked it out of”—
“Don’t tell, Lilly White,” broke in one of the girls. “See if Marion can translate it.”
“Come in and let me try,” said Marion, laughing. “Oui—yes; Fräulein—Miss Marion; Ab alio expectes, alteri quod feceris—If any one gives you a present, be sure you give one back.”
“A literal translation,” said the same girl. “Miss Jones always said you were her best Latin scholar. Practically, however, it translates,—