Christmas Day dawned bright and frosty, and passed off far more pleasantly than Jim had anticipated. Those for whom Jim had bought presents were genuinely surprised and pleased by Jim’s thoughtfulness. Mrs Maybury scrutinised Dora’s face keenly as the girl opened the packet addressed to her in Jim’s handwriting. But Dora simply thanked Jim as her sister had thanked him. She did not appear at all self-conscious, and so Mrs Maybury, who had begun of late to regard Jim and Dora with some suspicion, felt distinctly puzzled. Frank was delighted with the knife, and for several days kept a sharp look-out for a limping horse that might require a stone removed from its hoof. But, as he afterwards told Jim, he didn’t have any luck--probably because "nearly all the streets were made of beastly wood." By the first post on Christmas morning there arrived for Dora a magnificent diamond brooch--Mr Jefferson’s gift. At the same time Mr Jefferson reminded her that he would be calling about seven o’clock on Boxing Night to take her to the pantomime at Drury Lane. At breakfast on Boxing Day Jim produced some yellow tickets. "There’s a big show on for children in the Mount Street Church Room to-night," he said, "and I’m going to sing. Anyone care to come? It’s a free show." Mr Maybury quietly said that he would like a ticket, but nobody else accepted Jim’s offer, so, as he had several tickets at his disposal, Jim gave one to Mary, and, later on, one to the old woman who looked after his surgery. Mr Cleave and Miss Bird, it should be mentioned, were spending Christmas with relations--a fact which filled Jim with a feeling of devout thankfulness. There was a very early dinner at No. 9 that evening, as Mrs Maybury, Miss "H.R.," and Frank were going to the pantomime at the Surrey Theatre. Punctually at seven, Mr Jefferson arrived and bore Dora, radiant and blushing, off to Drury Lane. The others went out about the same time, Mary trotting off to the Church Room in advance of Mr Maybury and Jim in order to secure a good seat. So No. 9 remained locked up and tenantless until a quarter past eleven, when Mr Maybury arrived home. The others trailed in half an hour later, Frank bursting with laughter over the antics and wheezes of the principal low comedian. Between twelve and one Dora and Mr Jefferson came. Dora, strangely silent, went to her room at once. Mr Jefferson, on the other hand, seemed much elated, and chatted gaily for some minutes before he took his departure. Dora had not been in her room long before there came a little tap at her door, followed by the entrance of Mary. "Oh, Miss, I’m sure you must be tired," said Mary; "may I help you?" "If you like, Mary; yes, I am very tired."