Even the boys had been so well remembered that they felt rather embarrassed when they compared their simple gifts to Marian with those she had given them.  As for Mr. Henry Hammond, he had received a complete toilet set mounted in silver that was truly a magnificent affair, while Marian proudly exhibited a gold chain and locket set with small diamonds, which she had received from him.

When the last package had been opened, Santa Claus removed his huge white beard, slipped out of his scarlet bath robe bordered with cotton and stood forth as Hippy Wingate; while Father Time set his sickle carefully up in one corner, divested himself of his flowing beard and locks, took off David’s gray dressing gown and appeared as Tom Gray.

It was long after midnight before the guests sought their rooms, their arms piled with gifts.

“Come into my room for an after-gathering,” said Miriam to the girls, as they stood in a group at the head of the stairs.

“Wait until we deposit our spoils and get comfy,” said Grace.

Fifteen minutes later the Phi Sigma Taus, with the exception of Marian Barber, wrapped in kimonos, were monopolizing the floor space around the big open fireplace in Miriam’s room.

“Where’s Marian?” asked Grace.

“Gone to bed,” answered Eva laconically.  “She said she didn’t propose to stay up half the night to gossip.”

“The very idea!” exclaimed Jessica.  “We never do gossip, but I think she has furnished plenty of material so far for a gossiping match.”

“And it looks as though we were in a fair way to start one, now,” said Anne slyly.

“Anne, you rascal,” said Jessica laughing.  “I’ll acknowledge my sins and change the subject.”

“My presents were all beautiful!” said Miriam Nesbit, who, clad in a kimono of cream-colored silk bordered with red poppies, her long black braids hanging far below her waist, looked like a princess of the Orient.

“And mine,” echoed Grace.  “The chain Marian gave me is a dear.”

She stopped abruptly.  A sudden silence had fallen upon the group at her words.  Grace instantly divined that in the minds of her friends there lurked a secret disapproval of Marian’s extravagance in the matter of gifts.

CHAPTER XII

THE MISTLETOE BOUGH

After breakfast the next morning the judge proposed a sleigh ride, and soon the entire party were skimming over the ground in two big old-fashioned sleighs.  Though the day was fairly cold, the guests were too warmly wrapped to pay any attention to the weather, and keenly enjoyed every moment of the ride.

After lunch a mysterious council took place in the library, and directly after a visit was made to the attic, Grace having received permission to rummage there.  Later Reddy and Tom Gray were seen staggering down the stairs under the weight of a huge cedar chest, and later still the girls hurried down, their arms piled high with costumes of an earlier period.