“Well, I’ll be very good, aunty, and I’ve promised the boys to take a run with them over to the pond, and see them skate; and besides, we are all invited to an entertainment in a certain snow palace, which is nearly finished, and which I have promised to grace with my presence.” Just then two fine handsome boys, the pictures of health and good nature, rushed in. These were Robert and Albert Wharton, home from school for the Christmas holidays. “Mother, what will you give us for our entertainment?” they cried. “Have you a table and seats?” she asked. “Yes, all made of snow,” said Albert. “But don’t let us tell her all about it, Bob; I want to surprise her.” “I think your entertainment, to be in keeping with your furniture, ought to be of snow and icicles,” said Mrs. Wharton; “but, whatever it is, I am sorry that I cannot visit your snow palace to-day.” “Oh! that’s too bad, mother; it will spoil all our fun. But, say, will you give us something to eat?” “Yes; I leave Emily mistress of the keys for to-day, and you may call upon her for pies, cake, or anything the store-room contains; only be a little moderate, and don’t leave us entirely destitute.” “It won’t be half so pleasant without you, mother,” said Robert; “but we shall have quite as many as our palace can accommodate, if all these go. Hallo! here’s Agnes! Why, Aggy, how do you do? I didn’t see you before.” At this moment the sleigh was seen coming up the lane, and Mrs. Wharton hastened to get ready to accompany the doctor to the Hemlocks. “I want to whisper to you, dear mother, one minute,” said little Grace. “What more Christmas secrets?” asked her mother. A whispered consultation here took place, some request being urged with great eagerness by Grace; and the pleasant “Yes, yes,” from her mother, made her bright eyes dance with joy. As Mrs. Wharton was driving from the door, Albert called out: “Mother, may the baby go with us?” “Yes, if Kitty will wrap him up well,” was the answer, and the sleigh flew down the lane, and was soon out of sight. Agnes was now hurried off by her young cousins to inspect the various preparations for Christmas, and was made the repository of some most important secrets, “of which she must not give a hint for the world.” She saw the purse Effie was knitting for Albert, and the guard-chain Grace was weaving for Robert, and the mittens for Harry, and the socks for the baby, and the pen-wiper for papa, and the iron-holder for mamma; and then Effie took her aside alone, to show her something she was making for Grace; and Grace took her aside alone, to show something she had bought with “her own money” for Effie; and there was a beautiful book for Cousin Emily. “And we cannot show you yet whether we have anything for you, Agnes, because, you know, we always keep our secrets till Christmas comes,” they said.