Chapter IV: The Beginning of the Christmas Holidays

"THERE! No more work for a month!" And the speaker, Nellie Coker, jumped from her seat at the schoolroom table as the clock struck twelve, and was making for the door, when her governess called her back.

"Not so fast, my dear. Put away your lesson books, and help to clear the table. Why are you in such a hurry?"

"Mother and cook are making the Christmas puddings, Miss Long; and I don't want to miss my stir."

"You are not in the least likely to do so. We will all go down to the kitchen presently."

It was only a week to Christmas now; and the young people at Haldon Hall were to have a month's holiday from to-day. The weather, which had been remarkably mild during the early winter, had suddenly changed; the soft west wind had given place to a north-eastern one. And that morning at breakfast, Mr. Coker had declared there was a probability of a real old-fashioned Christmas.

Miss Long was going to her home in London on the morrow, so she was quite naturally as lighthearted and elated at the prospect of the holidays as were her pupils, and helped them to pack their books and papers away in the cupboard retained for that purpose, after which she accompanied them to the kitchen. Preparing the Christmas puddings was always a business of importance at Haldon Hall. A row of buttered moulds of various sizes stood on the big table in the centre of the kitchen, whilst the mistress of the house at a side table weighed out the ingredients which cook was mixing in a big pan.

"We are nearly ready for you," Mrs. Coker said, as the governess and the children appeared upon the scene. "Rupert, run and fetch your father. Miss Long, will you have the first stir?"

"Mind you wish hard," instructed Nellie, as the governess took the spoon.

After the governess, the little girls each had a stir, then Rupert returned with his father, and they had their turns, followed by the servants. And finally the moulds were filled and tied down with cloths, and the business was finished.

The preparations for Christmas at Haldon Hall were nearly completed now. All the various articles, useful and ornamental, for decorating the Christmas tree were finished, and Mr. Coker had decided which of the young firs in one of his plantations should be cut down. And, in short, little else was talked of but the coming festive season.

"I should like to go and say good-bye to Mrs. Wills this afternoon," said Miss Long to her young charges after the mid-day meal. "I daresay you will all accompany me?"

"Oh, yes!" cried Rupert. "I haven't seen Bob Wills for days."

The governess, with a little girl on either side and Rupert hurrying on ahead, started for the farm about three o'clock. The wind was so keen that they were obliged to walk fast in order to keep themselves warm.

"I wish you were going to spend Christmas with us, Miss Long, but I suppose you would rather be with your own people," Lilian remarked. "Yes, of course," she went on as the governess assented, "but you'll think of us all on Christmas Day, won't you? We'll be sure to think of you."

"Indeed, I shall think of you," Miss Long responded earnestly. "I shall want you to write and tell me all about the entertainment on Christmas Eve, and you must please remember to say who gets the top doll from the Christmas tree."

"Oh, yes! Mother was saying to father yesterday how good it had been of you to take so much trouble and work so hard for the Christmas tree, when you won't have any enjoyment from it," said Nellie.

"But I have had a lot of enjoyment in making the things," the governess declared. "And I shall tell my little sisters and brothers of your plans for Christmas, and they will be so interested."

"How shall you spend Christmas, Miss Long?" inquired Rupert, waiting to allow the others to come up to him.

"Very quietly, I expect—but very happily, I have little doubt. I shall not be going to any parties or entertainments, I daresay; but, you know, the joy of Christmas doesn't depend upon festivities and gaieties, but upon whether or not the angels' message of peace and goodwill finds an echo in our hearts. We shall all of us spend a happy Christmas, if we try to make those around us happy for Jesus' sake."

The children knew all about Miss Long's home, for she had often talked to them about it. She had told them it was situated in a thickly populated London suburb; but they understood it was the dearest spot in the world in her sight, for it held a wealth of love within its narrow limits not to be bought with gold.

Arrived at Westhill, Miss Long and the two little girls went into the house to see Mrs. Wills; whilst Rupert, having been informed that Bob was in the yard, joined him there.

Bob had lately become the proud possessor of a young ferret, a pretty, pink-eyed creature as white as snow, which he was taking great pains to tame. He showed the little animal to Rupert, who looked and admired, but was timid about touching it.

"You're afraid of it!" Bob exclaimed. "You need not be. I don't think it will bite."

"I never thought of keeping a ferret as a pet," remarked Rupert. "I believe it knows you, Bob."

"Of course it does. Did you say Miss Long had come to say good-bye?"

"Yes, she's going home to-morrow. Father will drive her to the station to catch the fast train to London. We're to have a month's holiday."

"Jolly! We'll see each other every day. Uncle says if the wind goes down to-night—and he thinks it will—we shall have frost. I hope it's going to be fine Christmassy weather; I don't mind how cold it is."

"The colder the better, for then the pond in the lower meadow will freeze, and we shall have skating."

"I can't skate, but I can slide."

"There's Nellie calling," said Rupert. "I suppose they're ready to leave. Why, how the light is going! You may as well walk a little way with us—that is, if you don't mind the dusk?"

"Rather not!"

Bob accompanied his friends some distance on their homeward road. And then, having wished the governess a very happy Christmas, he hurried back to the farm to be in readiness for tea.

That night Farmer Wills' prediction came true; the wind died away and it began to freeze. In the morning, the faint beams of the December sun fell on a world white and beautiful under the touch of the frost king, and everyone declared the expected spell of severe weather had set in at last.

Miss Long, well wrapped up in anticipation of a cold journey, took her departure from Haldon Hall soon after breakfast, bearing with her the heart-felt good wishes of the whole household, and the substantial gift of a big hamper, laden with good things, to enrich her mother's larder at home.

"Now we can do as we please for a whole month," said Rupert, capering with delight as the gig, driven by Mr. Coker with Miss Long at his side, disappeared from sight; "the holidays have really begun."

"One would think you are glad she is gone," Lilian told him reproachfully.

"Well, so I am!" he replied, with a laugh. "Oh, you needn't look at me like that, Nellie. I'm as fond of Miss Long as you are; but think what a whole month without lessons means, with no one to say 'You mustn't do this,' or 'You mustn't do that'! What a splendid time we'll have! The Christmas tree is to be cut afternoon. Bob and I are going to see it felled, and you girls can come too, if you like."

"I am going to the village with mother," said Lilian; "but I daresay Nellie will like to see the tree cut down."

"Oh, yes!" cried Nellie eagerly, "I'd far rather go with the boys."