So you must know, dear, how I really do want all those things," declared Marie, fervently.

"And now I must go.

I promised to meet Cyril at Park Street at three o'clock." And she hurried from the room--and not until she was half-way to her destination did it suddenly occur to her that she had been urging, actually urging Miss Billy Neilson to buy for her pink roses, ice cream, and lace flounces.
Her cheeks burned with shame then.

But almost at once she smiled.
"Now wasn't that just like Billy ?" she was saying to herself, with a tender glow in her eyes.
It was early in December that Pete came one day with a package for Marie from Cyril.

Marie was not at home, and Billy herself went downstairs to take the package from the old man's hands.
"Mr.Cyril said to give it to Miss Hawthorn," stammered the old servant, his face lighting up as Billy entered the room; "but I'm sure he wouldn't mind _your_ taking it." "I'm afraid I'll have to take it, Pete, unless you want to carry it back with you," she smiled.