“Humph, I should think so,” said Max, “must have been made of a different kind o’ dust.  We weren’t so well off and happy last Christmas eve, Lu.”

“No, indeed!  Gracie and I wanted a Christmas tree ever so much, and begged and coaxed for one, even if it was but a wee bit of a thing; but she wouldn’t let us have it, said it was just nonsense and a wicked waste.”

“Just like her,” remarked Max, in a tone of mingled aversion and contempt; “but don’t let’s talk about her.  I’d rather think of pleasanter subjects.  Wasn’t it splendid in papa to give me this watch?” pulling it out and gazing on it with pride and delight.  “Isn’t it a beauty?”

“Yes; and I’m as glad as I can be that you have it, Max,” Lulu responded affectionately.  “And wasn’t it good in him to give gold thimbles to Gracie and me?  I shall try very hard to learn to sew nicely, to show him I’m grateful for it and all he does for me.”

“That’s right, Lu; let’s both do our best to improve all our opportunities, so that we will make his heart glad.  And we can do that in another way, too.”

“How?”

“By loving Mamma Vi, and being as good to her as ever we know how.”

“I do mean to, for she is good and kind to us,” said Lulu, in a frankly cordial tone.

“You were vexed at papa at first for marrying her,” remarked Max, with a roguish look; “but just suppose he’d taken Mrs. Scrimp instead.”

“O Max!” cried Lulu, her eyes flashing, “how can you talk so?  You know papa would never have thought of such a thing.”

“I don’t believe he would, but Ann told me once she knew Mrs. Scrimp would be glad enough to take him if he’d give her the chance.  What would you have done if he had?”

“I don’t know, and it isn’t worth while to consider,” replied Lulu, with a grown-up air she occasionally assumed, much to Max’s amusement.  “But my writing’s done, and I’m going to bed, for I’m tired and sleepy.  So good-night.”

“Good-night,” returned Max.  “I sha’n’t be in a hurry to get to bed, for it won’t be worth while to get up early to catch other folks, as all the things have been given to-night.  I almost wish they had let us wait till to-morrow morning.”

Perhaps the remark was intended to throw Lulu off her guard; at all events he was at her door with a “Merry Christmas,” before any one else was stirring but the servants.

Lulu was awake, too, sitting up in bed and trying, in the dim light of the early dawn, to undo a small paper parcel she had found on her pillow.

Max had opened the door and given his greeting in a subdued tone that there might be no danger of disturbing any sleeper in the vicinity.

“Oh!” cried Lulu, in a voice of suppressed eagerness, “the same to you!  Come in and see what Santa Claus has brought me.”

Max stepped in, closed the door, and tiptoeing to a window, raised the blind and drew back the curtain.