First came the "break," driven by Le, and loaded with little people presided over by one big one. They scrambled and tumbled out in a hurry, and ran pellmell into the open door of the hall, where the girls were received with rapture by Wynnette and Elva, who took them upstairs to a well-warmed spare room, where they could lay off their wraps. The boys were conducted by Le to his own room, to take off their mufflers and to brush their hair. The simple toilets of the young people took but a short time to arrange, and in fifteen minutes from the time of their arrival they all filed into the drawing room and paid their respects to their host and hostess. It was now half-past five, and growing dark outdoors. There was no gas at Mondreer, but there were fine, large chandeliers in every room, and these were all fitted with wax candles, just lighted. Three very large chandeliers, with quite a grove of wax candles, hung from the ceiling, and filled the drawing room with a mellow light that showed off to the best advantage the youthful beauty assembled there. Besides the three lovely Force girls, there were the Grandieres--Sophy, Nancy, Polly and Peggy--four blooming lasses of ages ranging from ten to fourteen, and bearing to each other so strong a family likeness that they may collectively be described as plump, fair, rosy, blue-eyed and brown-haired. They all wore bright, blue merino dresses, trimmed with swan's-down, and white carnelian necklaces. With them were their brothers, Ned and Sam, two fine, well-groomed lads, respectively fifteen and sixteen years of age, rosy, blue-eyed and brown-haired, like their sisters. These two handsome lads, after making their bows to Mr. and Mrs. Force, went to find Wynnette and Elva, to engage them for the first dance, to be in good time, although the negro fiddlers had not yet taken their places. CHAPTER XXXVIII AN OLD-TIME CHRISTMAS DANCE "Where is Rosemary Hedge?" inquired Odalite, as soon as she could get a chance to speak to Le. "She is coming. Oh, she would not miss it! Roland Bayard is to bring her on, with her Aunt Susannah and Miss Sibby. "With those grown people! Why, how is that? Not but what we shall be very glad to see them, you know." "Of course. I know that, or I shouldn't have asked them." "Oh, Le, you know you can always ask whoever you please to this house. You know it, Le!" "Oh, yes, of course I do. I only meant to say that I would not have asked those two ladies if I had not known that they would be welcome. But I am going to tell how it was that I did ask them." "Yes! Very well." "You see, I went to Grandieres' first, and gave the pressing invitation, and, I tell you, the young ones jumped at it. They did not keep me waiting long while they got ready, and girls and boys soon tumbled up into the break." "Yes, I will warrant that they did," said Odalite.