her eyes expressed, rather a grave compassion.  Maud took a seat at the table without speaking; her aunt sat down over against her.  In perfect silence they partook of the milk and the bread.  Miss Bygrave then cleared the table with her own hands, and took the things out of the room.  Maud still kept her place.  The child’s manner was not at all constrained; she was evidently behaving in her wonted way.  Her eyes wandered about the room with rather a dreamy gaze, and, as often as they fell upon her aunt’s face, became very serious, though in no degree expressive of fear or even awe.

Miss Bygrave returned, and seated herself near the little girl; then remained thoughtful for some minutes.  The breath from their lips was plainly visible on the air.  Maud almost shivered now and then, but forced herself to suppress the impulse.  Her aunt presently broke the silence, speaking m a low voice, which had nothing of tenderness, but was most impressive in its earnest calm.

“I wish to speak to you before you go upstairs, Maud; to speak of things which you cannot understand fully as yet, but which you are old enough to begin to think about.”

Maud was surprised.  It was the first time that her aunt had ever addressed her in this serious way.  She was used to being all but ignored, though never in a manner which made her feel that she was treated unkindly.  There was nothing like confidence between them; only in care for her bodily wants did Miss Bygrave fill the place of the mother whose affection the child had never known.  Maud crossed her hands on her lap, and looked up with respectful attention upon her pale sweet little face.

“Do you wonder at all,” Miss Bygrave went on, “why we never spend Christmas like your friends do in their homes, with eating and drinking and all sorts of merriment?”

“Yes, aunt, I do.”

It was evidently the truth, and given with the simple directness which characterised the child.

“You know what Christmas Day means, Maud?”

“It is the day on which Christ was born.”

“And for what purpose did Christ come as a child on earth?”

Maud thought for a moment.  She had never had any direct religious teaching; all she knew of these matters was gathered from her regular attendance at church.  She replied in a phrase which had rested in her mind, though probably conveying little if any meaning to her.

“He came to make us free from sin.”

“And so we should rejoice at His coming.  But would it please Him, do you think, to see us showing our joy by indulging in those very sins from which He came to free us?”

Maud looked with puzzled countenance.

“Is it a sin to like cake and sweet things, aunt?”

The gravity of the question brought a smile to Miss Bygrave’s close, strong lips.