She drew a long breath before she opened the box. Of course it couldn't be a real live kitty. John and Steve were coming in at the door. "Merry Christmas!" she shouted with the boys They were not so very far ahead of her. Steve caught her under the arms and held her almost up to the ceiling, it seemed. She was so little and light. "Ten kisses before you can come down." She paid the ten kisses, and would have given twice the number. "I'm trying to guess what is in the box." She looked perplexed and a crease came between her eyes. "It's a chrononhontontholagosphorus!" "A--what?" Her face was a study. The boys shouted with laughter. "Yes, Joe sent it. Santa Claus had given his all out, and Joe had to skirmish around sharp to get one." "Is it alive?" she asked timidly, her eyes growing larger with something that was almost fright. "Oh, Steve!" said Margaret, in an upbraiding tone. "Boys, you're enough to frighten one." Steve untied the string and took off the cover. Hanny had tight hold of her sister's hand. Steve lifted some tissue paper and tilted up the box. There lay a lovely wax doll with golden hair, a smiling mouth that just betrayed some little teeth, eyes that would open and shut. She was dressed in light-blue silk and beautiful lace. Though her mother had said she was too big to have a doll, Joe knew better. She was almost speechless with joy. Then she knelt down beside it and took one pretty hand. "Oh," she said, "I wish you could know how glad I am to have you! There's only one thing that could make me any gladder, that would be to have you alive!" Steve winked his eyes hard. Her delight was pathetic. Then she had to see the boys' Christmas. Benny Frank had a new suit of clothes, Jim had a pair of boots, which was every boy's ambition then, and an overcoat. And lots of books, pencils, gloves, and the candy it would not have been Christmas without. Mr. Underhill poked up the fire and took the little girl on his knee. Mrs. Underhill put out the candles, for it was daylight, and then went down to help get breakfast. Cousin Fannie and Roseann, as Mrs. Eustis was always called, came in and had to express their opinion of everything. Then breakfast was ready. John went down in the sleigh for Aunt Patience and Aunt Nancy Archer. They were not own sisters but sisters-in-law and each had a comfortable income. It did not take very much to make people comfortable then. They owned their house and rented some rooms. Hanny had to go in and see Josie and Tudie Dean's Christmas and bring them in to inspect hers. Then Dele and Nora Whitney were her next callers. Nora had a silk dress and a gold ring with a prettily set turquoise.