"I don't mind a bit."
The evening was dark and rather foggy, so that the strange couple
attracted little attention, except when passing beneath the street
lamps. Then certainly people stood still and looked at William and his
cart in open-mouthed amazement.
At last they turned down a back street towards a door that stood open
to the dark, foggy night. Inside the room was a bare table at which
sat a little girl, her blue, anxious eyes fixed on the open door.
"I hope he gets here before Dad," she said. "I wouldn't like Dad to
come and find it not ready!"
The woman on the bed closed her eyes wearily.
"I don't think he'll come now, dearie. We must just get on without
it."
The little girl sprang up, her pale cheek suddenly flushed.
"Oh, _listen_!" she cried; "_something's_ coming!"
They listened in breathless silence, while the sound of wheels came
down the street towards the empty door. Then--an old hand-cart
appeared in the doorway and behind it William in his strange attire,
and Joan in her fairy-like white--white cloak, white dress, white
socks and shoes--her bright curls clustered with gleaming fog jewels.
The little girl clasped her hands. Her face broke into a rapt smile.
Her blue eyes were like stars.
[Illustration: FIRST THE JELLIES AND BLANC MANGES--THEN THE MEAT PIES
AND TRIFLES.]
"Oh, oh!" she cried. "It's Father Christmas and a fairy!"
Without a word William pushed the cart through the doorway into the
room and began to remove its contents and place them on the table.
Pages:
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194