He frowned impatiently. "I’m not!" "There, I knew you’d get grumpy!" she replied pathetically; "boys are so prickly." He smiled. "I’ll promise, Nell." She dimpled joyfully. "That’s a good boy!" "Nell," wailed Molly, "this trumpet for the milkman’s little boy has gone wrong! It won’t make a sound." "Let me try," said Ted. Denis reappeared with winks and nods. "Let’s have a concert," he suggested. "Where’s the milkman’s drum?" They mustered between them the trumpet (which wheezed a good deal, but did squeaks as well), the drum, and a mouth organ. Nell and Denis procured combs, put paper over them, and led the concert. Ted sat through it bravely, even contributing squeaks and wheezes from the trumpet; but Denis gave a yell suddenly. "I forgot he was real musical—a composer and all sorts of things!" "Stow that!" Ted came at him, blaring the trumpet. When he had gone Nell began at once:— "Did you hang the stocking up, Denis?" "I did." "I hope you put it so that the paper showed?" said Molly. "I did." "I hope you told that butler to tell everyone not to touch it?" said Sheila Pat. "For the third time—_I did_!" "What are you laughin’ at?" the Atom demanded. "I bought something for Aunt Kezia this evening." "Oh, Denis, you know her strong objection to Christmas presents!" exclaimed Nell. "She thinks we’re wild savages because we hang out our stockin’s," observed Sheila Pat. "She said she thought no one older than three years did it." Denis had gone across to his overcoat, and was rummaging in a pocket. "Behold!" He held forth a long white canvas stocking filled with little infantile toys and sweets. "Oh, Denis!" Nell and the Atom were gleeful; Molly’s glee was tempered. "She’ll be awfully cross!" "I’m going to write that it’s from Santa Claus with compliments and respect, and then I’m going to hang it on her bed." At about half-past ten they prepared to go to bed. The "this-time-last-year" imps were rather busy, but found themselves combated fiercely. Nell hugged Sheila Pat a little harder than usual. "Good night, asthore." "I like you in your nightie, Nell," the Atom said.