“You’re all to be Christmas fairies, in costume, Miss Beth,” announced Frieda in high glee. “Your aunt planned it as a surprise to you and your cousins, and to make the party more wonderful to the poor children. Yours is white and gold, as you see; Miss Natalie’s is red with bits of pink, the way some roses are shaded. And Miss Alys has the most splendid green, a shade that shows by electric light. Master Dirk is to wear blue velvet and white, half and half, with cap and bells, like the pictures you see of the men that made jokes for kings----” “Jesters,” murmured Beth in a stunned way. “And--but I mustn’t tell about your uncle and aunt!” Frieda stopped herself. “Please bend quite low, Miss Beth. I must try not to muss your hair and gown when I put on the costume.” Beth bent her head, too overcome to say a word, and Frieda dropped into place the loose gown, all in one piece, that fell to her feet, completely covering her own gown. It was a golden silk, overshot with white; it shimmered at every motion, and it was girdled and trimmed across the breast with rhinestone chains that were almost as brilliant as diamonds. A pointed cap of gold, like a big extinguisher, crowned Beth’s golden head next, and from it floated a veil of the thinnest gauze, all spangled over with tiny beads that took the light and gave it back like dewdrops in the sun. “I have to blink at myself!” cried Beth, swaying and prancing before the glass. “Did you ever, ever see anything so sweet! And so shiny? Frieda, how can Aunt Alida do such things, how _can_ she? I’m a fairy, myself, Beth! I’ve been in fairy-land all this time and now I’m one! I’ll never get over this, never! I don’t know who I am, but I’m splendider than Beth was and prettier, and----Oh, dear, oh, dear! Talk about Merry Christmas!” There really seemed to be danger of Beth’s going off into a sort of swoon of joy; her shining marvels so overcame her. But at that instant Natalie and Alys came hurrying to Beth’s door, calling her excitedly, and Beth came to life with a shout that would have done credit to Dirk and a loud: “Come in, come in!” Natalie and Alys opened the door and stood for an instant within it. “My goodness me!” gasped Beth. “My goodness gracious!” she added as Dirk joined them.