Part 28 (1/2)
”How cold they'll be,” she said pitifully.
”Not they,” said Hugh.
”I should be,” answered Minnie.
”Oh, _you_! but these poor little mites are used to be in the streets all day.”
”So they are. But I wonder if Agnes will let me bring them in?”
”Not yet,” answered John, who came in at that moment, ”wait till it strikes five; as Hugh says, they are used to it.”
Before the hand was on the hour, twelve or fourteen children crowded up the steps, and one of them, the boldest of the party, ventured to give a single 'dab' at the door, which brought Hugh to open it; and then began the disrobing, which orderly John had promised to superintend.
They were ushered into the dining-room, where tea was laid all ready, and it did not take them long to sit down and begin.
After all were satisfied, the table was pushed back into a corner, and in a few moments John and Hugh packed the children round the room so that all could see well, Minnie squeezing herself into a little corner by the sheet, where she would not have at all a good view, remarking, ”Of course it does not matter a bit about _me_.”
John smiled, but did not see where he could put her better, and, after all, was it not her little offering of love to her Master?
When it was all over, and the views had been seen, and the story told, and the oranges eaten, and the happy children gone, Hugh said:
”I _have_ enjoyed it.”
”So did everyone, I think,” remarked Alice.
”In spite of its having been a secret,” he went on, smiling; ”but another time (though I oughtn't to have been cross over it), if you want to give a fellow pleasure, don't surprise him.”
”We will not,” said Agnes, glad to see the twinkle in Hugh's eye.
And then tired-out they hastily ate some supper and hurried off to bed, too fatigued to fulfil their intention of sitting up to see the year out.
”I'll set the alarum and wake you all,” said John.
So the alarum was set, and they went to bed in peaceful antic.i.p.ations of waking just in time.
By-and-by it went off with a peal which always startled him in spite of his determination, and out John sprang and struck a match.
”Hugh, get up,” he called, ”it is ten minutes to--why it is ten minutes _past_ twelve, and no good at all!”
[Ill.u.s.tration]
[Ill.u.s.tration]
CHAPTER XIX.
_WORRIED._
”Agnes, my child, being left in charge does not agree with you.”