THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL

CONTENTS


I. THE PLAY BOX 1

II. JACK-IN-THE-BOX 8

III. THE FLANTON DOG 12

IV. NOAH'S ARK 15

V. MIRANDA 20

VI. THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL 25

VII. BEFORE THE FIRE 32

VIII. JACK AGAIN 37

IX. THE DOG AGAIN 44

X. NOAH AGAIN 49

XI. MIRANDA AGAIN 53

XII. THE ANGEL AGAIN 62

XIII. THE CHRISTMAS CANDLE 68

XIV. TOM 73

XV. CHRISTMAS DAY 76


CHAPTER I

THE PLAY BOX


At the sound of footsteps along the hall Miss Terry looked up from the
letter which she was reading for the sixth time. "Of course I would not see
him," she said, pursing her lips into a hard line. "Certainly not!"

A bump on the library door, as from an opposing knee, did duty for a knock.

"Bring the box in here, Norah," said Miss Terry, holding open the door for
her servant, who was gasping under the weight of a packing-case. "Set it
down on the rug by the fire-place. I am going to look it over and burn up
the rubbish this evening."

She glanced once more at the letter in her hand, then with a sniff tossed
it upon the fire.

"Yes'm," said Norah, as she set down the box with a thump. She stooped once
more to pick up something which had fallen out when the cover was jarred
open. It was a pink papier-mâché angel, such as are often hung from the top
of Christmas trees as a crowning symbol. Norah stood holding it between
thumb and finger, staring amazedly. Who would think to find such a bit of
frivolity in the house of Miss Terry!

Her mistress looked up from the fire, where the bit of writing was writhing
painfully, and caught the expression of Norah's face.