“I’m here!  I’m here!  Oh, do come, quick!” Down the long room rattled the chair, Jack cheering all the way, and brought up beside the other one, as the long-parted friends exclaimed, with one accord,—­

“Isn’t this jolly!”

It certainly did look so, for Ralph and Frank danced a wild sort of fandango round the tree, Dr. Whiting stood and laughed, while the two mothers beamed from the door-way, and the children, not knowing whether to laugh or to cry, compromised the matter by clapping their hands and shouting, “Merry Christmas to everybody!” like a pair of little maniacs.

Then they all sobered down, and the busy ones went off to the various duties of the day, leaving the young invalids to repose and enjoy themselves together.

“How nice you look,” said Jill, when they had duly admired the pretty room.

“So do you,” gallantly returned Jack, as he surveyed her with unusual interest.

They did look very nice, though happiness was the principal beautifier.  Jill wore a red wrapper, with the most brilliant of all the necklaces sparkling at her throat, over a nicely crimped frill her mother had made in honor of the day.  All the curly black hair was gathered into a red net, and a pair of smart little moccasins covered the feet that had not stepped for many a weary day.  Jack was not so gay, but had made himself as fine as circumstances would permit.  A gray dressing-gown, with blue cuffs and collar, was very becoming to the blonde youth; an immaculate shirt, best studs, sleeve-buttons, blue tie, and handkerchief wet with cologne sticking out of the breast-pocket, gave an air of elegance in spite of the afghan spread over the lower portions of his manly form.  The yellow hair was brushed till it shone, and being parted in the middle, to hide the black patch, made two engaging little “quirls” on his forehead.  The summer tan had faded from his cheeks, but his eyes were as blue as the wintry sky, and nearly every white tooth was visible as he smiled on his partner in misfortune, saying cheerily,—­

“I’m ever so glad to see you again; guess we are over the worst of it now, and can have good times.  Won’t it be fun to stay here all the while, and amuse one another?”

“Yes, indeed; but one day is so short!  It will be stupider than ever when I go home to-night,” answered Jill, looking about her with longing eyes.

“But you are not going home to-night; you are to stay ever so long.  Didn’t Mamma tell you?”

“No.  Oh, how splendid!  Am I really?  Where will I sleep?  What will Mammy do without me?” and Jill almost sat up, she was so delighted with the new surprise.

“That room in there is all fixed for you.  I made Frank tell me so much.  Mamma said I might tell you, but I didn’t think she would be able to hold in if she saw you first.  Your mother is coming, too, and we are all going to have larks together till we are well.”

The splendor of this arrangement took Jill’s breath away, and before she got it again, in came Frank and Ralph with two clothes-baskets of treasures to be hung upon the tree.  While they wired on the candles the children asked questions, and found out all they wanted to know about the new plans and pleasures.