“But Babe doesn’t care two pins for him.”

“Perhaps.  Perhaps not.  Wait and see.”

“Of course she doesn’t.  Fancy Babe in love!” He giggled derisively at the idea.

“Fancy Melchisedek neat and dressed up in a pink bow!” she retorted.  “It seems impossible now; but it will occur in time.  Allyn, what do you suppose sent Babe into medicine?”

“Sheer Babe-ishness.”

“She won’t stay there.”

“Maybe.  But I think Babe really wants to do something,” he added, with sudden gravity.  “You know papa isn’t very rich, to say the least, and Babe is an independent mortal that wouldn’t want to be supported all her days.”

“I wonder if that did have anything to do with it,” Cicely said musingly.  “It must be horrid to have to think about money things.”

“Don’t you ever do it?”

“No.  Papa attends to all that, and he has all he wants.  Oh, but won’t it be good to see him!”

“Are you glad you’re going, Cis?” Allyn’s tone showed that he was hurt at the thought.

“No,” she said flatly.  “I have missed papa terribly, more than you can even imagine; but I have had a very happy year here, and I shall be sorry to go away.  You’ve all made it pleasant for me, Allyn; you and Cousin Ted more than any of the rest.”

“I—­I’m glad if we have.  It doesn’t seem so.  But what am I going to do without you, Cis?”

“Take to Jamie Lyman,” she said merrily.  “He won’t fight with you as I do.  Tell me about Mr. Barrett, Allyn.  How long is he going to stay?”

“Till the day before Christmas.”

“I hope he will call here.  I’d like to see him,” she said, as she gave Melchisedek a final polish and set him down on the floor.  “Oh, Allyn, I am so glad I am to have one jolly Christmas here.  Papa and I have been by ourselves lately, and it will be great fun to have a whole large family to play with.”

That very day, she had started her Christmas gift on its way to her father and, that same evening, she sat alone over the library fire, so absorbed in planning her gifts for the McAlisters that she paid no heed when Theodora and Billy came into the next room.  She felt very comfortable as she sat there, very content with what fate offered her.  Early in the new year, her father was to sail for home, and she was to join him in New York again.  Meanwhile, she was to spend the holidays here, and, as she glanced about the cozy, luxurious room, lighted only with the flickering fire, she realized how dear to her this adopted home had become.  Next to their own beautiful house in New York, this was the dearest spot in the world to her, and there would be some regret mingled with her happiness in her return to the city once more.  In the meantime, she did wish she knew what Allyn wanted for Christmas, good old Allyn whose squabbles with her were largely in the past.

Suddenly she roused herself.

“Do you think it is necessary to tell her?” Theodora was asking.