The summer tan had faded from his cheeks, but his eyes were as blue as the wintry sky, and nearly every white tooth was visible as he smiled on his partner in misfortune, saying cheerily,-- "I'm ever so glad to see you again; guess we are over the worst of it now, and can have good times.

Won't it be fun to stay here all the while, and amuse one another ?" "Yes, indeed; but one day is so short! It will be stupider than ever when I go home to-night," answered Jill, looking about her with longing eyes.
"But you are not going home to-night; you are to stay ever so long.
Didn't Mamma tell you ?" "No.

Oh, how splendid! Am I really?
Where will I sleep?
What will Mammy do without me ?" and Jill almost sat up, she was so delighted with the new surprise.
"That room in there is all fixed for you.

I made Frank tell me so much.
Mamma said I might tell you, but I didn't think she would be able to hold in if she saw you first.

Your mother is coming, too, and we are all going to have larks together till we are well." The splendor of this arrangement took Jill's breath away, and before she got it again, in came Frank and Ralph with two clothes-baskets of treasures to be hung upon the tree.