Nell shook her head virtuously; and Molly went back to her own thoughts, which made her eyes water and smart uncomfortably. Once back at No. 35 Henley Road, Nell observed:— "Oh, you dullards, don’t you see why Ted rushed off? It was because he was afraid of the postman—his _presents_!" "By Jove, so it was!" "He wasn’t wantin’ to be thanked," said the Atom. "O dear, won’t we make him blush next time we see him!" cried Nell. "I’ll thank him and thank him and thank him!" "Nice way of showing your gratitude," observed Denis. "You know, it _is_ trying to a chap to have a pack of girls hanging around thanking you! I know I felt it this morning," he added bashfully. There was a perfect storm of laughter, and the pack of girls made for him with one accord. They had an early dinner of turkey and plum pudding; and after it Sarah went off home, wearing the new scarf, and a smile from ear to ear. They roasted chestnuts, and actually prevailed upon Miss Kezia to eat two. They played games, sang carols, and to please her, a Scotch one, whereupon she remarked there was nothing like them, and a fine argument ensued between her and Sheila Pat. They all set the supper table and all cleared away. They allowed the Atom—a sleepy Atom, who desperately tried to appear a very wide awake one—to sit up till eleven o’clock, and then with big hugs they all went off to bed. *CHAPTER XXI* One morning, about a fortnight after Christmas, Miss Kezia was called away suddenly to the bedside of an old friend in Tunbridge Wells, who was ill. She packed and got ready in a perfect hail of her own counsel which she poured into Nell’s ear. Molly, in valiant endeavours to help her aunt, hid everything she specially wanted, and poked things she didn’t want into her box, till she was banished from the room. When Miss Kezia had at last taken her departure, Nell made her way to the kitchen, smiling over Denis’s last words, "I say, Nell, make us some cakes for tea to celebrate the hap—mournful occasion!" Sheila Pat queried earnestly:— "Is the friend _very_ ill?" "No; influenza—low-spirited—wants Aunt Kezia." "Aren’t these Scotch people _queer_?" mused Sheila Pat. Ted looked in after a ride, hoping he would be in time to catch Denis. The sight of his riding things brought a lump to Nell’s throat, but she smiled on him brightly. "I’m going to make some cakes, Ted, and you’re to help eat them this afternoon!" "Oh, I say—er—I’m always here—" "If you’re tired of coming—" "You know I’m not!" "Well, then, don’t be a goose." "May I watch you make the cakes?" She laughed. "You’re like the lodge children at home. So sure as I went into the kitchen to make cakes, yellow and black heads would appear round the door, and beaming mouths would wait for bits! Come along!" He amused her greatly by wandering after her round the kitchen with a chair. "You could sit down to do that!" "I’m never tired!" she declared, laughing.