The two were before the Air-Motor, turning their backs to the door; and they heard it open quietly, for old Barbara always came to call Overholt to his meals, because he was very apt to forget them.

“We are just coming,” he said, without turning round.  But the boy turned, for he was hungry for the good things; and suddenly a perfect yell of joy rent the air, and he dashed forward as Overholt turned sharp round.

“Mother!”

“Helen!”

And there she was, instead of in Munich.  For the rich people she was with had happily smashed their automobile without hurting themselves, and had taken a fancy to spend Christmas at home; and, after the manner of very rich people, they had managed everything in a moment, had picked up their children and the governess, had just caught the fastest steamer afloat at Cherbourg, and had arrived in New York late on Christmas Eve.  And Helen Overholt had taken the earliest train that she could manage to get ready for, and had come out directly to surprise her two in their lonely cottage.

So John Henry Overholt had his three wishes after all on Christmas Day.  And everybody had helped to bring it all about, even Mr. Burnside, who had said that Hope was cheap and that there was plenty of it to be had.

But as for the little Christmas City in which Hope had dwelt and waited so long, they all three put the last touches to it together, and carried it with them when they went back to the College town, where they felt that they would be happier than anywhere else in the world, even if they were to grow very rich, which seems quite likely now.

That is how it all happened.

Printed by R. & R. Clark, limited, Edinburgh.

THE NOVELS OF

F. MARION CRAWFORD

Crown 8vo. 6s.

Arethusa. 
A Lady of Rome.

Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d.

Mr. Isaacs:  A tale of modern India. 
Dr. Claudius:  A true story. 
Roman singer. 
Zoroaster. 
Tale of A lonely Parish. 
MARZIO’S crucifix. 
Paul PATOFF. 
With the immortals. 
GREIFENSTEIN. 
Sant’ ILARIO. 
Cigarette-MAKER’S Romance. 
KHALED:  A tale of Arabia. 
Witch of Prague. 
Three fates. 
Don Orsino. 
Children of the King.

MACMILLAN and Co., Ltd., London.

THE NOVELS OF F. MARION CRAWFORD

Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d.