And as though Father were not making them a big present by whittling the puppets for the theatre, he gave them each a book. Lucy’s was “When Mother Lets Us Cook.” Only the fact that she was not dressed kept Lucy from rushing into the kitchen and trying a receipt. Besides, Mother said quite emphatically that she wasn’t doing any “letting” at that hour in the morning. Later in the day, she would see about it. What do you think was the name of Dora’s book? She could scarcely believe her eyes. When she did believe them, she could not speak, only look at Father and then hug him hard. Father had gone to the Public Library and asked Miss Perkins which book Dora liked best. Miss Perkins remembered. Indeed, it would be strange if she did not know, for Dora had borrowed the book five times since September. Father had bought her the “Story of Doctor Dolittle.” “It _was_ the biggest surprise, Mother!” Dora said, when she had thanked Father again and again and looked at the pictures for about the fortieth time. “Oh, that isn’t the surprise,” said Mrs. Merrill. “It _isn’t_!” said Dora. “What can it be?” She got down from Father’s knee and took her limp stocking from the knob. In the toe was still a small package. In the toe of hers, Lucy had just found the white Chinese kitten and was speechless with pleasure. She liked it better than Dora’s blue one. “Because there really are white kittens,” she said. “There are blue ones, too,” said Dora. “Aunt Margaret told me so. Blue Persian cats.” “I don’t think they are just like yours,” said Lucy. Dora had never seen a Persian blue, so she did not say anything. Besides, she was wondering what Miss Chandler had given her. It was a little gold ring set with a blue stone which Mr. Merrill thought was an aquamarine. Dora didn’t care about the name, but she liked the ring exceedingly. She slipped it on her finger. It just fitted. “This must be the big surprise,” she said to Mother. “The ring is a surprise to me,” said Mrs. Merrill, “for I didn’t know what was in that package. But it is not the surprise I mean.” Dora again felt her stocking and discovered a tiny wad of tissue paper. She untwisted it and her eyes and mouth both opened. “Mother!” she exclaimed after a second, “oh, Mother! Mother! is it really Arcturus, my Arcturus? Where did he come from? Oh, Mother, my bear, my own little silver bear!” “You can never guess where we found him,” said Mrs. Merrill. “Did somebody find him at the beach? Did Uncle Dan go over again?” asked Lucy, as excited as Dora. “Arcturus came home from the beach when we did,” said Mrs. Merrill. “He has been in Westmore all the time, though not in our house.” “Where was he?” Dora asked eagerly. “He was found last week,” said Mrs. Merrill, “but I thought since it was so near Christmas he might as well come back in your stocking. You remember that I went to the church to help pack a missionary barrel?”