"Well, I never expected to forgive him—he was so mean and obstinate——"  
The unpleasant, treble voice of Miss Jane Pumfret was interrupted by the lower tones of Major Dale.
 
"But, my dear woman," he said, "Captain Mayberry is not responsible—he is sick, mentally and ."
 
"Well, I'll see," and she arose to go, "I am not much of a hand at making up, anyway."
 
"But if you could have seen how he begged me to send for you. He seemed to fear you would be angry with him for leaving the old place."
 
"Angry? More likely to be scared to death. I could not believe the old stage driver that you had really brought him to a hospital. Well, I must be going." She was almost at the door. "Don't mention my name to him, if you please."
 
Major Dale was at his wits' end. He feared the old captain would be beyond if he did not do as he had promised—send Miss Pumfret to him at once.
 
Dorothy was just on the stairs. At a glance she understood that her father had failed to bring about a between Captain Mayberry and his sister. She approached them.
 
"You are Miss Pumfret, I know," she began, without waiting for her father's introduction. "Isn't it splendid?—the news from Captain Mayberry, I mean. He seemed as pleased as a child when I promised him a merry Christmas, and to-morrow morning I am going into the hospital to make sure he gets it. Won't you come with me? He will be delighted to see you, I am sure."
 
Miss Pumfret looked at the impetuous girl who was going to make sure her brother had a merry Christmas.
 
"You see," hurried on Dorothy, taking advantage of the moment to further press her request, "we just had the place ready for him. We gave a play, and had a new bed at our disposal."
 
"My brother a charity patient!" exclaimed the woman. "Why, there's plenty of money in the property, but I won't touch pen to paper to sign——"
 
"Of course, we can take care of him," interrupted Dorothy; "but I thought maybe you would like to make him a little Christmas present—it is visiting day to-morrow and the day before Christmas."
 
Little Miss Pumfret glared at Dorothy. Then she stepped back and sank down on the hall seat. "Well," she exclaimed finally, "I'm an old-fashioned woman. Never was used to youngsters' interference, but I like your cheek (this was said with evident and no idea of being frivolous). I've just a good mind——"
 
"Oh, do, do, Miss Pumfret! Come with me to-morrow and tell him you will sell Tanglewood Park and—fix it all up——"
 
"How you do race on! But it's getting late. Perhaps——"
 
"I'll meet you at the ten o'clock train," went on Dorothy, while even Major Dale was forced to smile at her impetuosity. "I have so many places to go, but I am going to the hospital first."
 
Miss Pumfret put out her hand—it shook visibly.
 
"Little girl," she said, "you are right. You have said it all for me. Come to-morrow and say it all over again to—Nick."
 
Tears fell down the old pinched cheeks, but Dorothy kissed them away. She had found the path to Jane Pumfret's affection—it was cheek, just plain cheek, sometimes called courage.
 
Yes, it was late, but Dorothy still had Tavia to console—if only she could insist upon Tavia spending Christmas at The —Dorothy had faith in the magic of the day before Christmas. Nat called to her as she started up to Tavia's room.
 
"I say, Doro, maybe I—could help. I'd like to tell her it's all right. I was mean about it. You know, Tavia and I went—in it—together."
 
"Oh," replied Dorothy , "I really don't know what you mean."
 
Nat saw that he was about to betray a secret. He thought, naturally, that Tavia had in Dorothy.
 
"Oh, I just meant," he , "that if I can say anything to make Tavia feel—more at home, you know—don't hesitate to ask me."
 
Tavia was at the head of the stairs looking straight at him.
 
"Thanks!" she up, all the tears evidently gone. "But if it's all the same to both of you, I would prefer that you keep your pretty saying for Christmas. I'm just dead tired, and fully expect to be asleep in exactly ten minutes."
 
Dorothy saw that the sudden burst of gloom had been overcome, and knew that Tavia would actually be as good as her word and asleep in ten minutes.
 
"Good-night, then," called Nat, "and don't forget that to-morrow is the day before Christmas."
 
"Good-night," added Dorothy, "and don't forget you are to attend to everything to-morrow while I am in the city. See what it is to be on a charity committee! I'll have to have a substitute help with all the most important things—there's heaps to be done yet."
 
"Good—nig-h-t!" drawled Tavia with a forced yawn. "I am not sure that I will wake up until the day after Christmas."
 
"To bed! To bed, every one!" called Mrs. White, and then both troubles and pleasant for a happy ending to the queer holiday became hopelessly in the dreams of the young folks at The Cedars.
 
Dorothy's last clear thought was: "To-morrow something must happen to make it all right, for to-morrow is the day before Christmas."
 
The sun was streaming in her window when she opened her eyes. Sh............