"I expect nothing of the kind," said Hugh, bending down to examine it; "but I shall not hazard an opinion till the rest have ventured to say." Their grandmother looked amused. "Well?" she asked, turning to Alice. "I should say it is a fender-stool." "It is too coarse," suggested wise little Minnie. "And much too wide," said John. "Then I'll tell you," laughed Hugh; "for I believe I'm right." "As usual," stuck in Alice mischievously. "Oh, hush!" said Aunt Phyllis, looking up, "it is Christmas-day." "I'm afraid Christmas-day is not a coat of steel mail, auntie," said Hugh. "Steel mail?" she asked, wondering at his serious tone. "Doesn't make us quite invulnerable." "No, no; nothing does that while we have such a traitor inside us; but it does help us to have 'goodwill to men.'" Hugh glanced at John--a glance which was noticed but not understood by several there. "But Hugh has not told us after all what he guesses about grandmama's work," said Aunt Phyllis. "It's a mat to put in front of your stand of flowers." "You are nearest," said his grandmother, smiling, "but you are not quite right." "Then what is it, grandma?" asked Minnie. "It is a worked hearthrug for your dear mother and father, which I hope to get finished by the time they come home." "Oh!" exclaimed Minnie, opening her eyes very wide, "will it ever get done?" "Yes; if I have health and strength," answered Mrs. Headley. "I am sure they will like it very much," said Alice; "but what is Agnes to help in?" "Only to plan out the pattern at the corners for me." "You can buy these things traced out," said Hugh, "for I've seen them tied up by the corners in the fancy shops." "You have not seen _these_ things," said his grandmother, "they are far too old-fashioned to suit peoples' notions now-a-days." "Well, if it's all like the piece you've done they haven't got good taste, that's all I can say." Mrs. Headley then told Agnes where her difficulty lay, and she and the two boys were soon deep in the discussion of how the pattern was to be "mitred" for the corner, the boys going down on their knees and showing the greatest interest. Aunt Phyllis stood looking on with a smile, happy in seeing four people entirely happy, content to leave her advice out, if an hour should be passed in peaceful occupation. Minnie had turned to her beloved doll, and while the others were so busy Alice condescended to draw near her, and was soon playing with it as heartily as her little sister. All were surprised when at four o'clock the dinner bell pealed forth, and John exclaimed: "Auntie, we've accomplished it! I really thought it never was going to come." "I'm 'going to come' down to dinner," said Hugh, "so help me roll it up, John, for grandmama's awfully particular about her work, arn't you grandma?" Mrs. Headley nodded, well pleased with the compliment, and then John gave his arm to his grandmother, and they all went down.