CHAPTER X.

CHRISTMAS,

Glad christmas comes, and every hearth
Makes room to give him welcome now.

O madness, to think use of strongest wines

JOHN CLARE.

And strongest drink our chief support of health,
When God, with these forbidden, made choice to rear
His mighty champion, strong above compare,
Whose drink was only from the limpid brook.

MILTON.

HRISTMAS came at last, and came in good earnest.
A frost of some weeks had made the ground hard

and firm, and a coating of snow, just sufficient to allow of walking with comfort, added to the seasonableness of the weather. There was a bright moon looking down on the white landscape, and silvering the shadowy outline of the hills that surrounded the spacious valley in which Newburn lay, on that welcome Christmas eve.

Mrs. Hamer, in a flutter of happy expectancy, was giving the finishing touches to certain tasteful decorations, composed of misletoe and holly, which Mary Lister had spent some time in arranging. For Mary

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whose limited leisure might have been given to half-a dozen different persons, could all have had their desire, seemed to consult, next to her mother's pleasure, that of Mrs. Hamer. And Mrs. Hamer had expressed her earnest wish that Mary should spend Christmas eve at Fairfield, and await with her the arrival of Frank, who was expected early in the evening. I readily undertook to supply her place at " The Cottage," as far as I was able, and help to entertain Mrs. Bell, who had been invited to take tea with Mrs. Lister. As Mary had predicted, her mother found a most agreeable companion in that lady; and, so far from regarding her with coldness, or even with pity on account of her past errors, had come to look upon her as a woman of high principle, and true courage in the advocacy of what she believed to be right.

It will be easily believed that Mary was no less excited by the thought of Frank's coming than his mother, but her manifestations were of a quieter kind. There was a pallor on her cheek and a tremulous thrill through her whole frame, but her words were few.

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Mary dear," said Mrs. Hamer, "how pale you are! surely you are not afraid of meeting your old playfellow?" And she sat down beside the trembling girl and passed her arm lovingly around her.

Mary could only say "Oh no;" for her heart grew full at Mrs. Hamer's kind words.

The mother looked radiantly beautiful, glowing

rosily with the love and pride that sent a warm gush through all her veins. And what a sweet snow-drop Mary looked that night! The delicate tint that usually flitted over her cheek was waiting the dear one's presence to summon it from its seclusion, and her deep blue eyes, as Mrs. Hamer tried to rally her spirits, were almost continually veiled by their richly fringed lids. Love and pride were the mingled feelings of Mrs. Hamer. Yes, she was sure there was no son like hers; and as she looked upon Mary's exquisite fairness and graceful beauty, and thought of her many virtues, she was quite satisfied that the lovely girl was in every way worthy even of her Frank.

"Here he is, Mary! Oh dear! I'm almost frightened myself!" and the mother rushed to the hall door, and was folded in the embrace, not of a boy, as she still called him, but of a tall and rather largely-whiskered young man.

"Is there any one here?" he whispered, as he imprinted kiss after kiss on his mother's cheeks.

Forshame, you dissatisfied boy! Is your mother not sufficient? and you have not seen me for nearly two years!"

"It seems ten since I saw Mary, mother."

He hung up his hat and coat, and while his mother stayed to look after his luggage-two maid servants not being able to do this properly-passed with a wildly beating heart into the drawing room. He knew

she was there, he was certain his mother would sympathize with his wishes, though she had not said so in words. But he was hardly prepared to see such exceeding loveliness as now stood before him, and at which he gazed wonderingly for a moment, before heart was pressed to heart in the close embrace of which he had so long dreamed.

Mrs. Hamer was absent a whole half-hour. Impatient as she was to feast her eyes and ears, she continued to leave the young people alone for that length of time, which Frank declared, and perhaps Mary thought, on Mrs. Hamer's entrance, had not exceeded five minutes.

What a Christmas eve was that at Fairfield! unmixed happiness glistened in every eye, and dwelt in every breast within the walls of that pretty parlour festooned with its Christmas evergreens. Mrs. Hamer regarded her son with undisguised admiration, and Mary forgot all her homely cares, and almost her past sorrows in the presence of Frank.

There was much to tell him. The changes that had taken place in Newburn and its people since he was last there, were duly discussed; the Days were described and commended to his kind regard. The great house warming at "The Hall" was to take place next evening, and Frank would of course accompany his mother and Mary.

"And will it be news to you that William is a total

abstainer, Frank?" asked Mary. "He tells me so in his last letter, and I'm so glad!"

Frank looked grave in a moment.

"Have you heard from him very lately Mary, darling?" he enquired, trying to look just as he did before Mary's question, but without success.

"Yes, I had a letter yesterday containing this good news. And what is more, he intimated that he should write again in a little while, to consult mamma and me on a matter vitally affecting his future happiness. Have you heard of anything, Frank?”

"Frank! do you hear?" chimed in Mrs. Hamer, "have you heard of any lady in the case?"

“Oh, no, no—I was thinking-it over; no: I'm sure I've not heard a word. But he might have ten sweethearts in Edinburgh without my hearing of it." Mary laughed heartily at the idea of William's having ten sweethearts.

"He'll never have more than one, I'm certain," she said, "it will be first and last love with William."

"I should fancy William's lady is his business," said Frank. "He seems always engrossed with it. I know I have seen little enough of him."

"Oh I'm sure he refers to something of the kind," returned Mary. "We shall know soon. What a pity

he can't enjoy Christmas with us!"

The evening was over, "almost before it had begun," Frank said. Mary had requested Nelly to come and