“No. If I am needed anywhere, that is where
I want to be. But be sure not to worry, Betty.
Christmas Eve must be a beautiful time and if
Grandmother Ferris should slip away, it will
only be a homecoming.”

“Funny she wants _you_ Mumsy, when she has
so many older friends.” But Betty said this
with an affectionate smile. It was not new that
her mother should be wanted when people were
in trouble. Well, Lucia wanted _her;_ perhaps
she could be like her mother some day! But
oh, what a lovely time Christmas was. And
wouldn't Amy Lou love the doll they had for
her! She was glad Amy Lou liked dolls. She
still did herself, though she had stopped playing
with them -- oh, very long ago, it seemed.

The dinner was an oven dinner, already pre-
pared for cooking and easy to watch while they
did something else. The last packages were
tied up in tissue paper of the newer gay sort,
Mrs. Lee helping different ones as this one or
that one must not see. Amy Lou was allowed
to help Doris and Betty with packages for their
father and mother. Dick as usual had dis-
appeared, not to turn up till mealtime. But
Mrs. Lee knew where he was, safely working
on an aeroplane in the heated third floor attic
of a boy friend. It would probably revolutionize

[[149]]

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