And Mary came. The brother and sister were at breakfast,—the happiest which either of them had known for years,—when there came a timid pull at the front-door bell. Miss Angelina laid down her knife and fork and looked across the table at Tom.

 

"She has come. Mary has come," she said. "Norah, if it is a little girl with a package under her arm, bring her in here."

 

"Yes'm!" gasped¹ Norah, who believed she was living in a dream where everything was topsy-turvy. When had a child entered Miss Terry's dining-room!

 

Norah disappeared and presently returned ushering² in a little girl of ten, with blue eyes and yellow hair. Under her arm she carried a white-paper package, very badly wrapped.

 

Miss Terry exchanged with her brother a glance which said, "I told you so!"

 

The child seemed bashful and afraid to speak; no wonder!

 

Tom's kind heart yearned³ to her. "Good morning! Wish you a merry Christmas, Mary!" he said smiling.

 

The child gave a start. "Why, how did you know my name?" she cried.

 

Tom looked confused. How indeed did he know? But Miss Angelina, with a readiness that surprised herself, came to his rescue.

 

"We were talking of a little girl named Mary," she said. "And you look just like her. What did you come for, dear?"

 

The little girl hung her head and turned crimson⁴.

 

"I—I came to see Angelina Terry," she whispered. "I—I've got a doll that belongs to her."

 

There was a pause, then Miss Terry said, "Well, go on."

 

"I—I found her on the steps of this house last night, and I ought to have brought her right here then. But I didn't. I took her home. I hope Angelina was not very unhappy last night."

 

Miss Terry smiled upon Tom, who gave a kind, low laugh.

 

"No," said Miss Terry. "Angelina did not worry about her lost doll. She was thinking about something else,—the nicest Christmas present that ever anybody had. But you were a good girl to bring back the doll."

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