"See now. You must have something for everybody. That is, counting great and small, six persons in this house. Any beside?"
"O yes; but I know what to do for them, Norton; at least I shall know; it is only these that trouble me."
"What will you offer to grandmamma?"
"I just don't know, Norton! I can't even imagine."
Norton pondered.
"Hollo, Davy!" he cried presently. "You and Judy come over here. I want to talk to you."
Judith and her brother came over the room to where Norton and Matilda were. Judith sat down, but David stood waiting.
"The thing is, friends and relatives," Norton began, "how and by what measures we can jointly and severally succeed in distinguishing ourselves, in the matter of our Christmas offerings to Mrs. Lloyd. I want your opinion about it. It is always nearly as much bother as Christmas is worth. The old lady don't want anything, that I ever discovered, and if she did, no one of us is rich enough to relieve her. Now a bright plan has occurred to me. Suppose we club."
"Club what?" said David.
"Forces. That is, put our stock together and give her something clever—from the whole of us, you know."