As noiselessly as possible the key was now inserted, the lock turned, and the door thrown quickly open; and there on the threshold of the forbidden room, the children gasped--baffled--gazing into total darkness! The coals of mystery forever glow even under the ashes in the human soul; and these coals now sent up in faint wavering flashes of a burnt-out faith: they were like the strange delicate wavering Northern lights above a frozen horizon: after all--in the darkness--amid the hush of the house--at the hour of midnight--with the perfume of wonderful things wafted thickly to their sense--after all, was there not some truth in the Legend? Then out of that perfumed darkness a voice sounded: "Come in if you wish to come in!" And the voice was wonderful, big, deep, merry, kind--as though it had but one meaning, the love of the earth's children; it betokened almighty justice and impartiality to children. And it betrayed no surprise or resentment at being intruded upon. After a while it invited more persuasively: "Come in if you wish to come in." And this time it seemed not so much to proceed from near the Tree as to emanate from the Tree itself--to be the Tree speaking! The children of the house at once understood that the nature of their irruption had shifted. Their father in that disguised voice was issuing instructions that they were not to dare question the ancient Christmas rites of the house, nor attack his sacred office in them. For this hour he was still to be the Santa Claus of childish faith. Since they did not believe, they must make-believe! The scene had instantly been turned into a house miracle-drama: and they were as in a theatre: and they were to witness a play! And the voice did not hesitate an instant in its exaction of obedience, but at once entered upon the rôle of a supernatural personage:-- "Was I mistaken? Were not children heard whispering on the other side of a door, and was not the door unlocked and thrown open? They must be there! If they are gone, I am sorry. If they are still there--you children! I'm glad to see you. Though of course I don't _see_ you!" "We're glad to see you--though we don't see _you_!"