The brother and sister were at breakfast,--the happiest
which either of them had known for years,--when there came a timid pull at
the front-door bell. Miss Angelina laid down her knife and fork and looked
across the table at Tom.
"She has come. Mary has come," she said. "Norah, if it is a little girl
with a package under her arm, bring her in here."
"Yes'm!" gasped Norah, who believed she was living in a dream where
everything was topsy-turvy. When had a child entered Miss Terry's
dining-room!
Norah disappeared and presently returned ushering in a little girl of ten,
with blue eyes and yellow hair. Under her arm she carried a white-paper
package, very badly wrapped.
Miss Terry exchanged with her brother a glance which said, "I told you so!"
The child seemed bashful and afraid to speak; no wonder!
Tom's kind heart yearned to her. "Good morning! Wish you a merry
Christmas, Mary!" he said smiling.
The child gave a start. "Why, how did you know my name?" she cried.
Tom looked confused. How indeed did he know? But Miss Angelina, with a
readiness that surprised herself, came to his rescue.
"We were talking of a little girl named Mary," she said. "And you look just
like her. What did you come for, dear?"
The little girl hung her head and turned crimson.
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