She sat down at the piano and struck a few chords, then her voice rose, clear and sweet, the pigeons following her lead, a bit quaveringly at first, but doing wonderfully well considering they were not song birds.  “She’s been training them for weeks,” Uncle Bob whispered.

After this came “Stille Nacht,” and Uncle Bob joined in, and then the Candy Man, and presently the entrance of Dr. Prue was proclaimed by a vigorous alto.  The effect was most gratifying to the performers, and from the piano Margaret Elizabeth murmured, “Very good.”

When the singing was over she took her seat on a low ottoman in the midst of the children, who drew closer.  “Next,” she said, patting the hand Virginia slipped within her arm, “comes the story, which on Christmas Eve everybody should either hear or read for himself.”

Stillness fell on the Little Red Chimney room, the pigeons listened in breathless absorption, while, forgetting herself and her audience, her hands loosely clasped on her knees, Margaret Elizabeth began the story which, as often as it may be told, yet throbs with tenderness and wonder.  As she went on her eyes grew dark and deep, and in her face shone something more than the sweetness and charm hitherto so endearing.  Was it a prophecy?  A glimpse into the unsounded heart of her?

Dr. Prue shaded her eyes with her hand; Uncle Bob wiped his glasses; the Candy Man’s soul was stirred within him, but he gave no sign.

“And they brought gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh, to the little Child in the manger; so now in keeping his birthday, we give each other gifts and are happy because of the wonderful night so long ago,” ended Margaret Elizabeth.

After that it was no longer still in the Little Red Chimney room.  Uncle Bob set the tree alight, and her ladyship distributed the red stockings.  Nobody was left out, not even the Candy Man, or Nancy and Jenny hovering in the background.

Upon occasions like the Pigeons’ Christmas Tree we long to linger, but they are evanescent.  The Candy Man must see the children home after a few brief words with Miss Bentley.

“The Fairy Godmother Society must have been organised, and my name entered among its beneficiaries,” he told her.

“I am glad if you liked it,” she replied.  “I thought you would.  To-morrow I am going to Pennington Park to stay till after New Year’s, but Christmas Eve belonged by rights to the Little Red Chimney.”  She smiled, and the Candy Man nodded understandingly.

This much in the midst of the chatter that accompanied the putting on of small coats and leggings.

“And I may hope that I am forgiven?” he had a chance to add as she gave him her hand at parting.

Miss Bentley’s eyes twinkled.  “It will do no harm to hope,” she told him.

The Candy Man, his red stocking protruding from his overcoat pocket, conducted the noisy flock to their homes, then turning southward he walked on and on toward the edge of the town.  As is fitting on Christmas Eve, a fine snow had begun to fall, sifting silently over everything, transforming even the ugly and pitiful with a mantle of beauty.