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The women were rapidly setting things to rights, and bright fires burned in all the rooms, throwing a ruddy glow over the clean new furniture.

"This looks very pleasant!" said Mr. Mordaunt approvingly. 'When do you mean to

fill it?"

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"I hope to see the home open the first week in January, if you and Sir James will consent to my going up to collect the poor little scattered inmates?" said Violet, inquiringly.

"You have mine in full; and after your triumph lately, I feel sure you may count on Sir James. What about a matron?"

"Both matron and teacher are engaged and have the highest recommendations."

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Bravo! Then I will help you through your London work with pleasure."

Violet thanked him, and entered into some discussion of the arrangements for a dinner to be given to the tenants at Christmas.

"I want the whole place to feel it is Christmas, Mr. Mordaunt," exclaimed Violet earnestly," a real old English Christmas, you know, because I have not been old enough or wise enough to understand these things before."

"Things shall be on a royal scale then," he answered, smiling down at the beautiful face. "Shall we roast a whole ox ?"

"Yes, if that makes people feel happy."

Then in the dusk they took tea in the old kitchen, and after tea went back through the frosty lanes to Glenmore.

CHAPTER XXIV.

In this chapter I have to speak of three Christmas dinners. First at Glenmore, where the great hall, that had not been used since Violet's father came of age, was thrown open, and decorated with evergreens and joyous words of greeting; there long tables were set, adorned with good English cheer, and at these tables sat Violet's tenants, their wives and children; and when the beautiful girl came into their midst, there were ringing cheers and hearty good wishes for Violet, Countess of Glenmore.

Secondly, in a large room in London, where bare walls were garnished with holly, and a savoury smell arose that was very good, crowds were seated to feast. Men, women, and children, till the enormous room would hold no more-were made welcome. The giver of the

feast had instructed those who administered her bounty to feed the hungry poor.

"Would not your ladyship wish the deserving poor selected?" had been asked; and eyes full of tender pity had conveyed reproof as she answered,

"Nay, I said the hungry; for on Christmas day I would like to remember others as Christ remembered us."

And so the room was crowded, emptied, and filled again. Had a passport of respectability been needed, the revels would have been shorter, for sin too often goes hand in hand with misery; but where all that was needed was that the man, woman, or child should be hungry, who will doubt that guests were found for the table? And I for one believe that of the sinners who feasted that day there were many who only lacked our opportunities to be as respectable as either of us; and that their wickedness will not be increased because they were not turned away empty from the door, whence the good odours came out, and where their eyes were mocked by painted words of welcome and the heaven-sent message, "On earth peace, good will towards men."

Then the third Christmas feast was in Cumberland. Mrs. Gregory had summoned her tenantry to rejoicings, celebrating both Christmas-tide and the coming of age of her

heir.

That un

"Who be her heir?" asked one old man, and many others echoed the question. To answer it fully I must describe certain events that took place. First came Miss Priscilla Clayton's engagement to the rector. expected disturbance of the quiet household set Mrs. Gregory thinking; and the result of her thoughts was that she went up to London (leaving strict injunctions to Miss Prissy that she was not to receive her affianced husband in her absence).

One whole day Mrs. Gregory devoted to lawyers and parchments; the next she sent for the Vicar of Cray, who arrived at her hotel in considerable wonderment. She met him with the inquiry,

"How old is Alick?"

"Alick ?—twenty-one on Christmas Day." That is what I thought. Now sit down, Edward." He obeyed, and waited for further news or orders.

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