As for closing their eyes again, they would have scorned the idea.

It would be a pity indeed to fall asleep, and lose the pleasure of saying "Merry Christmas" to everybody.

Norah, the Irish servant, had said she should be up very early to attend High Mass: they must certainly waylay her on the stairs.

How astonished she would be, when she supposed they were both soundly asleep! "Let me do it myself," said Susy: "you stay here, Prudy, for you'll be sure to make a noise." "I'll go on my tippy toes," pleaded Prudy, her mouth half filled with chocolate drops.
So through their mother's room they stole softly, only throwing over one chair, and hitting Dotty's crib a little in their haste.

Dotty made a sleepy sound of alarm, and Prudy could not help laughing, but only "in her sleeve," that is, in her "nightie" sleeve, which she put up to her mouth to smother the noise.
When they had reached the back-stairs Susy whispered, "O, Norah is up and gone down.