So when the day after Christmas-day dawned, and found them all a little out of sorts, with later hours, and more excitement than usual, she took the opportunity to gather them together to hear the account of where the puddings went, and how they were received. John threw himself into an arm-chair with a yawn, Hugh stretched himself on the sofa with his face downwards, while Alice and Minnie sat on the hearthrug resting their heads against her knee. Agnes was not offended at her brothers' positions, knowing that their fatigued dulness meant no disrespect to her, and would soon change to interest in her narration when once she began. "Ahem!" said Hugh. "Now don't, Hugh, I am going to begin; but I must have time to collect my thoughts." "I shall be asleep then," he answered. "Agnes, why do you choose such a morning to tell us? we can't do justice to you." For answer, Agnes only smiled and began. * * * * * "'Bother the children, they are in my way from morning to night! Not a bit of peace. And how I'm to do to-morrow I don't know any more than nobody!' "The words were spoken by a woman who looked inexpressibly worried and tired. The room was small, the children were many, the fire was poor, and the cold was severe. As she spoke she pushed one child into one corner, another into another; she hustled a big clumsy boy away from the little fire, and she swept down some poor little playthings off the table on to the floor with a sharp rattle which betokened a breakage of a toy, such as it was. "A bitter cry from a little pale boy, to whom this small plate had belonged, arrested the mother's attention for a moment, but only to add to her exasperation. "'Stop yer crying,' she exclaimed, 'or I'll stop yer!' and the little fellow swallowed down his tears as best he might, and wiped the rest on his sleeve, as he bent down to gather his little sticks together, picking up the remains of his one doll's plate, which had enabled him to have imaginary dinners and teas in his play for many a day. "The children saw that they had better make themselves scarce, and though a keen east wind and sleet raged outside on this Christmas-eve, most of them turned out into the narrow street till tea should be ready. "When, through the uncurtained window, they could see from their mother's movements that they might venture in, they gladly once more entered the little untidy room. "Their mother had cut them each two slices of bread and dripping, and to this they sat down with ravenous appetites. Alas! much too soon were the pieces demolished, and the crumbs picked up off the comfortless bare table. "'Ain't there any more?' asked the elder boy. "'No, there ain't,' said his mother sharply; all the more sharply that she would have given anything to have been able to say yes instead of no. "The big boy looked disappointed enough, and shuffled his feet about discontentedly. "'What have yer got for dinner to-morrow?' he asked.