Anna Chapin Ray

“ He is here alone, doesn't know a soul but us and another little chap." Rob paused to giggle, before he went on, "He's out here to see the world outside of London, and he hasn't a particle of sense about getting at it, still less about getting acquainted. He's lonely, and it's Christmas, and he wants to have a party. He asked us for Christmas night, on a general theory that children ought to have a Christmas party." ”

“ I want a light frock for dinners, and I know we'll go to the theatre. Father always takes us. My packing will wait; but not Sir George Porteous. Rob, do show mother how he dangles his jaw when he talks. ”

“ Then get a bunch of assorted hat-pins for the Ross tribe, and come along home to lunch. I'll give you ten minutes to shop. Out you go, ma'am, and be quick!" And Rob flapped open the robe and curled up his legs to let her pass him.
"Oh, how do you do? I was hoping I'd see you about, somewhere."
Day sat down again and drew the robe across her knees. Miss a chance to converse with Sir George Porteous she would not.
"How do you do?" she answered blithely. "Isn't it cold?"
"Beastly. It makes a fellow feel quite uncomfortable. How is your brother's leg?" ”

“ Before she could speak, Rob had cut in.
"All right, Sir George," he said jovially. "Thank you. You can count on us for the night after Christmas."
Sir George nodded in obvious self-approval.
"1'm very glad," he said. "I made sure you would enjoy it. There's another fellow I think I'll ask, too."
"Another little chap?" Day queried, with an apparent innocence which wellnigh wrecked her brother's gravity.
"No; he's older, quite a man. I only just met him, yesterday; but I fancy he'd like to come. We'll have some bonbons, you know, and a plum pudding, and make quite a thing of it. Good-by." ”

“ The twenty-seventh. I'll be back by the middle of the month, by the latest; and, mind you, Day, you're to come over to meet me at Levis. No shutting yourself up to peek down at me, this time, when I come in the house! ”