Part 11 (2/2)
”Perhaps--if the coals do not burn too deep,” said Thaddeus, with a significant smile.
Christmas Eve arrived, and little Thad's tree was dressed, the gifts were arranged beneath it, and all seemed in readiness for the dawning of the festal day, when Bessie, taking a mental inventory of the packages and discovering nothing among them for the servants save her own usual contribution of a dress and a pair of gloves for each, turned and said to Thaddeus:
”Where are the hot coals?”
”The what?” asked Thaddeus.
”The coals of fire for the girls and John.”
”Oh!” Thaddeus replied, ”I have 'em in the library. I don't think they'll go well with the tree.”
”What are they?” queried Bess, with a natural show of curiosity.
”Checks?”
”Yes, partly,” said Thaddeus. ”Mary is to have a check for $16, Bridget one for $18, and John one for $40.”
”Why, Thaddeus, that's extravagant. Now, my dear, there's no use of your doing anything of that--”
”Wait and see,” said Thaddeus.
”But, Teddy!” Bessie remonstrated. ”Those are the amounts of their wages. You will spoil them, and if I--”
”As I said before, wait, Bess, wait!” said Thaddeus, calmly.
”You'll understand the whole scheme to-morrow, after breakfast.”
And she did, and when she did she almost wished for a moment that she didn't, for after breakfast Thaddeus summoned the three offenders into his presence, and the effect was not altogether free from painful features to the forgiving Bess.
”Bridget,” Thaddeus said, ”do you remember what Mrs. Perkins gave you last Christmas?”
”I do not!” replied Bridget, rather uncompromisingly; for it was a matter of history that she thought Mrs. Perkins on the last Christmas festival had shown signs of parsimony in giving her a calico gown instead of one of silk.
”Well, you won't forget next year what you got this,” said Thaddeus, dryly. ”Here is an envelope containing $18, the amount of your wages until January 1st. Mary, what did you get last Christmas?”
”A box of candy, sir.”
”Nothing else?”
”I believe there was a dress of some kind. I gave it to my cousin.”
”Good. I am glad you were so generous. Here is an envelope for you. It has $16 in it, your wages up to January 1st.”
Bessie stood in the doorway, a mute witness to what seemed to her an incomprehensible scene.
”John, what did you get?”
”Five dollars an' a day off.”
”And a two-dollar bill for Dennis, eh?”
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