"She has gone shopping with Mabel, who is going to Hawk's Nest for Christmas Eve." "We are all booked for Christmas Day with our families," smiled David.
"Thank goodness we have them," said Hippy with a seriousness that surprised even himself.
"Same here, Hippy," agreed David gravely.
"And here," was the united response from the others.
Jessica, who had seen Mabel Allison into the car Mrs.Gibson had sent to convey her to Hawk's Nest, was the next arrival.

Later Tom Gray appeared with a grip and a suit case.

When the real work of trimming the tree began, Hippy retired to the library table with the plea that he had not yet tagged his gifts.

To that end he wrote what seemed to Nora O'Malley, who eyed him suspiciously, a surprising amount of cards, chuckling softly to himself as he wrote.

Happening to catch her eye he looked rather guilty, then, cocking his head to one side, simpered languishingly, "What shall I say to thee, heart of my heart ?" Nora's tip-tilted little nose was promptly elevated still higher, and she walked away without observing the triumphant gleam in Hippy's blue eyes.
At one o'clock the Eight Originals halted for luncheon, which proved to be a merry meal.