Cary dismounted and walked beside her, his bridle over his arm.  “I don’t think so, Deb,—­not to-night.”

“I wish you would,” said Deb wistfully.  “You used to all the time, and you most never do now.  And—­and it’s Christmas, and we aren’t going to decorate, or have a party, or people staying!” Deb’s chin trembled.  “I don’t like houses in mourning.”

“Neither do I, Deb.”

The colour streamed into his companion’s small face.  “I didn’t mean—­I didn’t mean—­I forgot!  Oh, Mr. Fairfax,—­”

“Dear Deb, don’t mind.  I wish you were going to have a Christmas as bright as bright!  Won’t there be any brightness for you?”

“Why, of course,” answered Deb, with bravery.  “I am going to have a lovely time.  Uncle Dick says I can do what I please with the schoolroom, and Miranda and I and the quarter children—­we’re going to decorate.  Unity’s going to show us how, and Scipio’s going to put up the wreaths.  The quarter’s to have its feast just the same, and I’m going to help Unity give out the presents.  I expect it will be beautiful!”

The two walked on, Miranda following.  Cary took the child’s hand.  “I expect it will be beautiful too, Deb.  Sometimes ever so much brightness in just a little place makes up for the grey all around.  Aren’t you going to let me see the schoolroom?”

“Oh, would you like to?” cried Deb, brightening.  “Certainly, Mr. Fairfax.  Christmas is lovely, isn’t it?  Unity says that maybe she and I will slip down to the quarter and watch them dancing.  I’m sure I don’t want parties, nor people staying!”

Deb squeezed her companion’s hand, and kept silence from the big elm to the lilac-bushes.  Then she broke out.  “But I don’t understand—­I don’t understand at all—­”

Cary, looking down upon her, saw her little pointed chin quiver again, and her brown eyes swim.  “What don’t you understand, poor little Deb?”

“I don’t understand why I can’t go to Roselands.  I’ve always gone the day after every Christmas, and it is always like Christmas over again!  And now Uncle Dick says, ‘Stay at home, chicken, this year,’ and Uncle Edward says he needs me to tell him stories, and Unity begged them at first to let me go, but when they wouldn’t, she said that she couldn’t beg them any more, and that she didn’t think the world was going right anyhow.”  The tears ran over.  “And Jacqueline,” continued Deb, in a stifled little voice,—­“Jacqueline wrote me a letter and said not to come this year if Uncle Dick and Uncle Edward wanted me at home.  She told me I must always obey and love them—­just as if I didn’t anyhow.  She said she loved me more than most anything, but I don’t think that is loving me—­to think I’d better not come to Roselands.  She said I was most a woman, and so I am,—­I’m more than twelve,—­and that I was to love her always and know that she loved me.  Of course I shall love Jacqueline always—­but I wanted to go to Roselands.”  Deb felt in her pocket, found a tiny handkerchief, and applied it to her eyes.  “It’s not like Christmas not to go to Roselands the day after—­and I think people are cruel.”