On Christmas Eve, he and Jane were sitting over the fire in the twilight. He could come downstairs now; indeed, he did not appear to be so ill as he really was. The surgeon who attended him in the fever had been discharged long ago. "There's nothing the matter with me now but debility; and, only time will bring me out of that," Mr. Halliburton said, when he dismissed him. Jane was hopeful; more hopeful by fits and starts than continuously so; but she did really believe he might get well when winter had passed. They were sitting beside the fire, when a great bustle interrupted them. All the children trooped in at once, with the noise it is the delight of children not to stir without. Frank, who had been out, had entered the house with his arms full of holly and ivy, his bright face glowing with excitement. The others were attending him to show off the prize. "Look at all this Christmas, mamma!" cried he. "I have bought it." "Bought it?" repeated Jane. "My dear Frank, did I not tell you we must do without Christmas this year?" "But it cost nothing, mamma. Only a penny!" Jane sighed. She did not say to the children that even a penny was no longer "nothing." "You know that penny I have kept in my pocket a long while," went on Frank in excitement, addressing the assemblage. "Well, I thought if mamma would not buy some Christmas, I would." "But you did not buy all that for a penny, Frank? We should pay sixpence for it in London." "I did, though, mamma. I had it of that old man who lives in the cottage higher up the road, with the big garden to it. He was going to cut me more, but I told him this was plenty. You should have seen the heaps he gave a woman for twopence: she wanted a wheelbarrow to carry it away." Janey clapped her hands, and began to dance. "I shall help you to dress the rooms! We must have a merry Christmas!" Mr. Halliburton drew her to him. "Yes, we must have a merry Christmas, must we not, Janey? Jane"--turning to his wife--"can you manage to have a nice dinner for us? Christmas only comes once a year." He looked up with his haggard face: very much as though he were longing for a nice dinner then. "I will see what I can do," said Jane in reply, smothering down another sigh. "I am going out presently to the butcher's. A joint of beef will be best; and though the pudding's a plain one, I hope it will be good. Yes, we must keep Christmas." Christmas-day dawned, and in due time they assembled as usual. Jane intended to go to church that day. During her husband's illness she had been obliged to send the children alone. They had been trained to know what church meant, and did not require some one with them to keep them in order there. A good thing if the same could be said of all children! It was a clear, bright morning, cold and frosty. Mr. Halliburton came down just as they were starting.