Guy kept his temper, though it was hard work. "It doesn't seem to me I am," he answered quite gently. "It's only for once. I really don't think father and mother would care much what sort of presents we brought them, if we only came ourselves. Of course, I know I'm asking a sacrifice of each family, and it may seem almost an insult not to invite the children and all, yet--perhaps next year we'll try a gathering of all the clans. But just for this year--honestly--I do awfully wish you'd give me my way. If you'd seen those two last Christmas--" He broke off, glancing appealingly at Oliver himself. To his surprise, that gentleman shifted his pipe to the corner of his mouth and put a few pertinent questions to his younger brother. Had he thought it all out? What time should they arrive there? How early on the day after Christmas could they get away? Was he positive they could all crowd into the house without rousing and alarming the pair? "Sure thing," Guy declared, quickly. "Marietta--well, you know I've had the soft side of her old heart ever since I was born, somehow. I talked it all over with her last year, and I'm solid with her, all right. She'll work the game. You see, father's quite a bit deaf now--" "Father deaf?" "Sure. Didn't you know it?" "Forgotten. But mother'd hear us." "No, she wouldn't. Don't you know how she trusts everything about the house to Marietta since she got that fall--" "Mother get a fall?" "Why, _yes_!" Guy stared at his brother with some impatience. "Don't you remember she fell down the back stairs a year ago last October, and hurt her knee?" "Certainly, Oliver," his wife interposed. "I wrote for you to tell her how sorry we were. But I supposed she had entirely recovered." "She's a little bit lame, and always will be," said Guy, a touch of reproach in his tone. "Her knee stiffens up in the night, and she doesn't get up and go prowling about at the least noise, the way she used to. Marietta won't let her. So if we make a whisper of noise Marietta'll tell her it's the cat or something. Good Lord! yes--it can be worked all right. The only thing that worries me is the fear that I can't get you all to take hold of the scheme. On my word, Ol,"--he turned quite away from his sister-in-law's critical gaze and faced his brother with something like indignation in his frank young eyes--"don't we owe the old home anything but a present tied up in tissue paper once a year?" Marian began to speak. She thought Guy was exceeding his rights in talking as if they had been at fault. It was not often that elderly people had so many children within call--loyal children who would do anything within reason. But certainly a man owed something to his own family. And at Christmas! Why not carry out this plan at some other-- Her husband abruptly interrupted her. He took his pipe quite out of his mouth and spoke decidedly.