“You are just in time, my son.”  Mother McNeil beamed warmly at the uninvited visitor.  “When a man can be of service, it’s let him serve, I say, and if you will get that step-ladder over there and fix this angel on the top of the tree it will save time.  Jenkins has gone for more tinsel and more bread.  We didn’t intend at first to have sandwiches and chocolate—­just candy and nuts and things like that—­but it’s so cold and snowy Frances thought something good and hot would taste well.  You can slice the bread, Mr. Van Landing.  Four sandwiches apiece for the boys and three for the girls are what we allow.”  She looked around.  “Hand him that angel, Frances, and show him where to put it.  I’ve got to see about the cakes.”

Never having fastened an angel to the top of a tree, for a half-moment Van Landing was uncertain how to go about it, fearing exposure of ignorance and awkwardness; then with a quick movement he was up the ladder and looking down at the girl who was handing him a huge paper doll dressed in the garments supposedly worn by the dwellers of mansions in the sky, and as he took it he laughed.

“This is a very worldly-looking angel.  She apparently enjoys the blowing of her trumpet.  Stand off, will you, and see if that’s right?” Van Landing fastened the doll firmly to the top of the tree.  “Does she show well down there?”

It was perfectly natural that he should be here and helping.  True, he had never heard of Mother McNeil and her home until two nights before, never had dressed a Christmas tree before, or before gone where he was not asked, but things of that sort no longer mattered.  What mattered was that he had found Frances, that it was the Christmas season, and he was at last learning the secret of its hold on human hearts and sympathies.  There was no time to talk, but as he looked he watched, with eyes that missed no movement that she made, the fine, fair face that to him was like no other on earth, and, watching, he wondered if she, too, wondered at the naturalness of it all.

The years that had passed since he had seen her had left their imprint.  She had known great sorrow, also she had traveled much, and, though about her were the grace and courage of old, there was something else, something of nameless and compelling appeal, and he knew that she, too, knew the loneliness of life.

Quickly they worked, and greater and greater grew the confusion of the continually appearing boxes and bundles, and, knee-deep, Mother McNeil surveyed them, hands on her hips, and once or twice she brushed her eyes.

“It’s always the way, my son.  If you trust people they will not fail you.  When we learn how to understand there will be less hate and more help in the world.  Jenkins, bring that barrel of apples and box of oranges over here and get a knife for Mr. Van Landing to cut the bread for the sandwiches.  It’s time to make them.  Matilda, call Abraham in.  He can slice the ham and cheese.  There must be plenty.  Boys are hollow.  Frances, have you seen my scissors?”