“Ah!” she cried, her deep eyes clearing, “it was you, then, little mortal.  For a moment I was struck with fear.  You see if a bit of the world attaches to our garments it makes them heavy and weighs them down, and it is a long time ere they regain their lightness.  Such a mishap seldom occurs, for generally we are only too glad to keep our minds on perfect things.  But once in a long, long while we may give a thought to earth, and then it always hangs upon us like a clog; and if we did not immediately try to shake it off, we should soon be quite unable to rid ourselves of it, and it would grow and grow, and by and by we should have lost the power to rise above the earth, and should have to be poor worldlings like the rest; and, on the other hand, if the worldlings would only throw off all the earth-thoughts that weigh them down, they would become lighter and more spotless, and at last be one of us.  But if it was you who touched my robe and if I can help you, I am not afraid.  What do you wish, little one?”

For a moment Nina could find no voice in which to reply; but by and by she gained courage to falter out,—­

“I came in here because I heard most beautiful music, and I thought it might be the Santa Maria singing to the Bambinetto, since it is his birthday—­or will be to-morrow; and I thought—­I did not mean to do wrong, but I thought maybe if I could see the Gesu Santissimo once, only once, I should never be tired nor cold nor sad-hearted any more.  They say on the Festa del Gesu Bambino one gets most beautiful gifts.  I have never got any gifts; but perhaps he might give me one if I promised to be very good and to take most excellent care of it and never to lose it.”

By this time the whole company of spirits, seeing their sister in conversation with a little mortal, had crowded eagerly about; and as Nina finished her sentence they all cried out in the sweetest, most musical chorus imaginable,—­

“She wants a gift,—­the earth-child wants a gift; and she promises to be very good, and to take excellent care of it and never lose it.  The little one shall have a gift.”

But most gently they were silenced by a nod from the spirit to whom Nina had first spoken.

“Dear child,” she said, “we are the Christmas spirits,—­Peace, Love, Hope, Good-will, and all the rest.  We come from above, and we are laden with good gifts for mankind.  To whomever is willing to receive we give; but, alas! so few care for what we bring.  They misuse it or lose it; and that makes us very sad, for each gift we carry is most good and perfect.”

“Oh! how can they?” cried Nina.  “I would be so careful of mine, dear spirits.  I would lock it away, and—­”

But here the spirit interrupted her with a pitying smile and the words,—­

“But you should never do that, dear one.  If one shuts away one’s gifts and does not let others profit by them, that is ill too.  One must make the best of them, share them with the world always, and remember whence they come.”