After a little while you notice that you can see faintly through the window at the back, because it is beginning to be daylight. Very, very slowly it grows brighter. Then the door, that Jack and Polly went out by, opens, and in come the two children in their wrappers.
Is it daylight now? asks JACK, but he is looking toward the fire-place instead of toward the window.
Yes, I think it is, says POLLY, and she is looking in the same direction.
Then they go on tiptoe to the door of the other room, where Father and Mother sleep; they open the door and shout:
Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!
Two rather sleepy voices, from MOTHER first and then from FATHER, answer: Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. And MOTHER continues, All right, children; we'll be there in a moment, as soon as we have put our wrappers on.
The children go over to the fire-place, and feel the lumpy stockings; and then in come Father and Mother in wrappers and nightcaps.
Oh, says FATHER, old Santa Claus hasn't forgotten us, has he? And candy canes are still in fashion, I see; I'm glad of that. Bring Mother her stocking, Polly; and Jack, get mine for me. We'll sit down and take our time about it.
No fair, Jack, cries POLLY. You're peeking into your stocking. I've only felt of mine.
But my thing is in a box, says JACK, so that I can't see anything anyway. Oh, let's begin quick.