II A CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION
"Why, of course," said Betty, "Christmas will be fun, whatever we do; butI mean I'd like to do something specially exciting."
"Such as?" demanded Jack, her adopted brother.
"Oh, I don't know; I can't think of anything. But we can have a partyhere any time; I'd like to go somewhere else for the day--somewhere wherethere's something to see and do."
"Restless little Betty," said her mother, smiling. "Well, what do youthink of going to Lakewood for a few days?"
Betty looked dubious.
"Lakewood is lovely," she said, "and I do want to go there againsometime; but it doesn't seem just right for Christmas. I want to dosomething more--more--"
"Rackety," suggested Jack.
"Yes, more gay and festive. I'd like to fly to the North Pole in anair-ship."
"With flags waving and bands playing?"
"Yes. Wouldn't it be fun? What could we do, Mother?"
Her mother caressed Betty's curly head and smiled indulgently at her, asshe said:
"Let me think a minute. There must be plenty of places if you're bent ongoing away somewhere. How about New York?"
"Oh, that's just right!" cried Betty. "Let's all go to New York to spendChristmas, and see the beautiful things there. Oh, _wouldn't_ we havefun!"
Betty's eyes fairly shone with delighted anticipation, and she threw asofa-pillow at Jack to stir him to greater enthusiasm.
"Wake up, Sleepyhead!" she cried. "Come on, let's plan it all."
"If you choose," said her mother, "you might invite Agnes Graham and herbrother to go with you."
"Oh, Mother! That will be grand! We'll have the greatest time anybodyever had!"
"Glorious!" said Jack, roused to enthusiasm at last. "It will be fine ifJamie, or 'Stub' as we call him, is along. When shall we start?"
"Christmas is next week, Thursday, Betty," said her mother. "Suppose westart about Tuesday and come home on Friday?"
"Just right!" said Betty. "And stay at a fine hotel and go to theshops--and the play? Oh, Mother, could we go to the play?"
"Yes, I think we'll go to a matinee," said her mother. "Do you think Mrs.Graham would spare both her children on Christmas day?"
"I don't know," said Betty, a little doubtfully, "but I'll ask her, and Iknow Agnes and Stub will be crazy to go, so prob'ly we can coax her intoit."
Wheedlesome Betty did "coax Mrs. Graham into it," though that lady wasloath to be separated from her son and daughter at the Christmas season.But the proposed trip was so tempting that permission was finally given,and the four young people were radiant with happiness at the prospect.
"I shall take Lisette," said Mrs. McGuire, speaking of her own maid, "andif I get too tired to take you children around to all the places you wantto go to, she can go with you; she is thoroughly reliable and capable."
So everything was arranged.
Tuesday proved to be a clear, cold day, and the party started off in highspirits. Of course the Grahams were Betty's guests for the whole trip.
Though Betty's large fortune, inherited from her paternal grandfather,was all her own, her mother had been appointed her guardian until sheshould come of age; and while conscientious and prudent as toexpenditures, she also was determined that Betty should be allowed agoodly number of the harmless pleasures that her large income justifiedher having.
So when the New York trip was decided upon, Mrs. McGuire made everyeffort to give the children the most enjoyable time possible.
And it was for this reason she proposed taking the two Grahams as guests.
Lisette had been with her mistress a long time, and was well versed inlooking after the luggage and all such details, so the party had nothingto do but enjoy every moment. But, noticing a tendency on Jack's part tomake himself useful and attentive, Betty's mother wisely encouraged it,knowing it was for the boy's own good.
When they reached New York, the children, used to the quiet village lifeof Greenborough, were fascinated and almost bewildered by the noise andconfusion. Jack had never been in New York before, and Betty only once,but the bustle and rush of the city appealed to them both, and manykindly people smiled as they noted the shining eyes and eager faces ofthe four friends.
"A taxicab will not hold us all," said Betty's mother, "so, Lisette, youtake the young ladies and Master James in that one, and, Jack, will youkindly call that electric hansom for you and me?"
Proud to be of service, Jack beckoned to the hansom driver, and soon thetwo vehicles were whizzing away to the Plaza Hotel, where rooms had beenengaged for the party.
"Well, if this isn't great!" said Stub Graham, who, though addressed byLisette as "Master James," was "Stub" to the others. "I say, Betty,you're the brickiest sort of a brick to ask us to this splendiferoustreat!"
Betty smiled happily. She was looking out at the hurrying throngs ofpeople, the tall buildings, the gay shop-windows, and the jam of traffic,with unspeakable delight in the novelty and excitement of the scene.
"And to think of three days of this gorgeousness! Three whole days!" saidAgnes, squeezing Betty's arm in her glee.
They soon reached the hotel and found Betty's mother and Jack alreadythere and waiting for them in the great entrance-hall.
Betty was a little awed by the splendor all about her, and Agnes and Stubwere frankly delighted, and looked around with undisguised interest.
But Jack, feeling a new responsibility as the escort of Mrs. McGuire,had, quite unconsciously, acquired a manner as of one accustomed toelaborate hotels and in no way impressed by them. He seemed quite at homeand he paid no attention to the surroundings, but in a simple,unaffected, but perfectly correct fashion, he stood by Betty's mother,carrying her wrap gracefully over his arm, and holding himself inreadiness to obey her slightest wish.
"Where did Jack get that manner?" thought Betty, in amazement, and thenshe realized that he was acquiring it merely by association with hermother, and through a natural ability to adapt to himself her innaterefinement and gracious ways.
Betty was impulsive herself and now, though secretly moved to mirth byJack's quiet elegance of manner, she resolved to try harder to improveher own demeanor.
They all went at once to the rooms reserved for them, a beautifulapartment overlooking Central Park.
It was quite a little home of itself, as there was a comfortablesitting-room, attractive dining-room, and four bedrooms withdressing-rooms and baths.
A large room with two beds was allotted to Betty and Agnes, and a similarone across the entrance-hall was for the two boys. Lisette had a smallroom opening from Mrs. McGuire's own which adjoined the girls' room. In ashort time bags and trunks were unpacked and a few individual belongingsscattered about, and the apartment seemed quite like a private home.
"Why do we have a dining-room?" asked Betty. "Can't we eat in the bigrestaurant down-stairs?"
"Sometimes, if you choose," said her mother. "But I think our Christmasdinner is a personal sort of feast, and I'd like it better here byourselves."
"So should I," agreed Jack. "Lots more fun, Betty."
"But we'll dine down-stairs to-night," went on Mrs. McGuire; "so skipaway, girlies, and put on pretty frocks for the occasion."
"Isn't it larks!" said Betty, as she and Agnes went to their room todress. "Look at the beautiful Park! To-morrow we'll take a ride in it. Iwish we could go to-night."
"I don't want to go to-night," returned Agnes. "I'd rather stay here inthis beautiful hotel. There's so much to see."
"So there is. Hurry and dress. What are you going to wear?"
"I brought my blue voile," said Agnes. "Mother thought that would beright."
"So it is; you look lovely in blue. I'm wearing this Dresden silk. Theygo nicely together."
Betty expeditiously arranged herself in the pretty light silk frock, andthe girls hooked each other up and tied each other's hair-ribbons, sothat when Lisette came to offer her services, they we
re quiteunnecessary. The boys, too, had made good time with their dressing andawaited the girls in the sitting-room.
"Oh, I wish we were going to dance!" said Agnes. "But I suppose wecouldn't in a hotel."
"We can dance up here after dinner," said Jack. "Mother will play for us,I am sure; for see, there's a piano here!"
Though an adopted son, Mrs. McGuire had asked Jack to call her "Mother,"and the boy had been only too glad to do so.
"Play for you? Of course I will," said the lady herself, entering thesitting-room. "And now we will go down to dinner. Lisette will stay herein charge of everything."
Jack sprang to open the door.
He held it open till the last of his party went through it, and then heclosed it and followed them. Somehow he was again in place to push theelevator bell, and Mrs. McGuire looked at him with pride as she noticedhis quiet quickness and graceful ways.
Dinner was a delightful experience. Betty was a little bewildered by thearray of silver and glass, and Stub frankly inquired which fork to usefirst, but Jack seemed to know by intuition.
"I'd like to live in a place like this always," said Stub, as he ate hisice-cream.
"So wouldn't I," said Jack. "A hotel is all very well for a few days, butit isn't a home."
"That's so," agreed Agnes; "I suppose we'd get tired of it if we had itall the time."
"Well, it's good enough for me," returned Stub. "When I'm a man, I'mgoing to live in one. I don't see many boys here, though," he added,looking round.
"No," said Mrs. McGuire, smiling; "most boys prefer a home."
And then dinner was over, and they all strolled through the hotelcorridor and bought some flowers at the flower-stand, and someillustrated papers at the news-stand, and then went up to their ownapartment.
Mrs. McGuire played the piano for them, and they danced a little, andthen, after some planning for the next day's entertainment, they all wentto rest.
The next day was clear and pleasant, and when breakfast was served intheir own dining-room, all the party were ready and eagerly awaiting it.
"Then it is decided," said Mrs. McGuire, "that we have our Christmas treethis evening?"
"Oh, yes," said Betty; "Christmas eve is the time for a tree, andto-morrow, on Christmas day, we'll have our feast, our real Christmasdinner. Don't you think so, Agnes?"
"Yes, indeed. And then the tree can stay here, can't it, all dayto-morrow? I love to look at a Christmas tree."
"So do I," said Betty. "And as I never had one before, I'll keep this oneas long as I can."
It was less than a year since Betty had inherited her fortune, and beforethat she had been a poor little waif, without money and without a home.
Her mother's heart thrilled with gladness to think that Betty would havea tree this year, and she resolved to do everything in her power to makeit a beautiful one.
Very soon after breakfast they started on a shopping expedition.
Two taxicabs were engaged, and the two girls, with Lisette, occupied one,while Mrs. McGuire and the boys rode in the other.
Such fun as they had shopping! They fairly tumbled out of one shop intoanother. The tree had been ordered from the hotel, but they boughtornaments and candles and festoons of tinsel rope, and Mrs. McGuirebought some other things secretly, as she wanted to have some surprisesfor the young people. Then everybody bought presents for everybody else.Betty found lovely things for the dear ones who had remained atDenniston, and for the faithful servants there, as well.
She bought presents for her young friends in Greenborough, too, and allthese things they had expressed directly home. But the fun was in buyingpresents for each other. These, of course, must be kept very secret, andBetty would urge Jack in a whisper to take Agnes to another counter andkeep her there, while Stub helped Betty choose the present for hissister.
And so with the whole four. Each must be safely removed from the scene ofaction while his or her gift was purchased.
Betty's mother cautioned the young folks that all gifts be simple andinexpensive.
So Agnes bought for Betty a pretty little white fan that she might carryto evening parties, and Betty bought for Agnes a slender gold bangle.
The boys bought knives for each other, which caused the girls muchamusement, for neither Jack nor Stub knew that each had bought a knife,and the girls knew that the knives were exactly alike. Of course Bettywished to give more valuable gifts to Jack and her mother, so, under theguidance of Mrs. McGuire, she bought a beautiful little gold watch andfob for Jack. It was a beauty, and Betty knew it would give the boy thekeenest pleasure.
For her mother she wanted to get something very nice indeed, but she hadno one with whom to consult. Jack and the Grahams were no better ablethan herself to advise on such a subject, and Lisette could not beexpected to know much about it.
But, by a fortunate occurrence, the way was made easy. Betty and hermother had gone to a great jewelry shop to buy Jack's watch, and, afterthe purchase was completed, they strolled about the shop looking at thebeautiful things displayed in the cases.
Suddenly Betty spied a lady whom she recognized. It was Mrs. Sanderson,at whose house in New York Betty had first met Grandma Kinsey.
"Mother," said Betty, speaking very quickly, "will you stay right hereand not look around for a few minutes?"
"I can't let you go away from me alone, Betty," said her mother, smilingat the earnest little face.
"But, Mother, I'm only going to the very next counter, and there's a ladythat I know."
"Very well; I trust you not to go farther than the next counter; and I'llwait for you here."
"Don't turn round."
"No, but don't be too long."
Betty hurried to Mrs. Sanderson, who was looking at jewels at the nextcounter.
"How do you do, Mrs. Sanderson?" she said, speaking politely, but veryrapidly. "Do you remember me? I'm Betty McGuire, and I was at your houselast year with Mrs. Van Court, and I found Mrs. Kinsey there, and now shelives with me."
Mrs. Sanderson looked at the excited little girl, and at last sheremembered her.
"Oh, yes," she said; "the little Irish girl who came into a fortune."
"Yes'm," said Betty. "That's me, ma'am. And since then I've found mymother, and she's here with me. But I want to buy her a Christmas presentunbeknownst to her, and I thought you'd be willing to help me a bit if Iasked you."
"What a strange child!" said Mrs. Sanderson, putting up her lorgnette tolook at Betty again.
"Yes, I am, ma'am. But will you help me buy the present, and then I'llintroduce my mother; you'll love her, ma'am, she's that sweet!"
Always when Betty was embarrassed or excited she slipped back into heralmost forgotten brogue. And perhaps it was that and the persuasivelittle voice that touched Mrs. Sanderson's sympathies, for she saidkindly:
"Why, certainly, my dear; I'll help you with pleasure. What do you wantto buy?"
"I want a small diamond brooch, please, and not too grand a one; mymother doesn't like things too grand. But a plainish one that she couldwear every day, and yet a good one at that."
Mrs. Sanderson smiled, but she seemed to understand, and as the affablesalesman showed them various styles, she selected one that seemed to fitaccurately Betty's requirements.
"This, I think, is lovely," she said; "I'm sure your mother would likeit."
"I'm sure, too," said Betty, "and it's the very one I like best myself."
The purchase was completed, and, with the little box in her hand, Bettytook Mrs. Sanderson to the next counter to meet her mother. The ladiesseemed too pleased to know each other, and Betty was very happy.
Then good-by greetings were exchanged and, as it was luncheon-hour,Betty's mother marshaled her brood together.
"I think we won't go back to the hotel for luncheon," she said; "for it'safter one o'clock, and we still have some errands to do. So we'll go overto the Waldorf and lunch there, which will give you hotel-loving childrenanother glimpse of a New York Christmas crowd."
This plan was carried out, and the young quartet watched with sparklingeyes the throngs of people on Christmas errands bent.
"Now to finish our errands, and then home," said Mrs. McGuire, afterluncheon was over.
But when they reached the hotel again, about mid-afternoon, Betty didn'twant to go in.
"Oh, Mother," she pleaded, "the streets are so gay, and the people areall going along with bundles and holly wreaths, and it's all soChristmas-evey, can't we stay out longer?"
Her mother considered.
"I must go in," she said, "and I want Lisette to help me. But, if youwish, you four may go for a ride in the Park or along the Avenue. But youmust promise not to get out of the cab. The chauffeur is entirelyreliable, and if you stay in the cab, you cannot get lost. Be back herein one hour, please."
"We will," chorused the four, so Mrs. McGuire and Lisette went into thehotel, and the four delighted young folk went for a further ride.
Their course down the Avenue was slow, owing to the crowded traffic; theyhad ample opportunity for observing the people, an amusement of whichBetty never tired. Then afterwards a short spin in the Park, where thelights had already begun to gleam through the early winter dusk.
"Now for home," said Jack decisively, when the hour had elapsed; and backthey went to their hotel.
But when they entered their own sitting-room, nobody was there,--no tree,no presents, and no sign of any human being.
Betty opened the door of her mother's bedroom, but that, too, wasunoccupied, as, indeed, were all the bedrooms.
Betty looked frightened, and said, in a half-whisper: "Oh, _do_ yousuppose anything has happened to Mother?"
Then Jack laughed outright.
"Oh, Betty," he said; "can't you guess? I'll wager Mother and Lisette arein the dining-room, and they're fixing the tree in there!"
Sure enough, the dining-room door was closed, and when Betty flew to openit, she found it was locked as well.
"Let us in, Mother; let us in!" she cried.
"Not yet, my child," said Mrs. McGuire, opening the door a tiny crack andpeeping out. "You must all amuse yourselves till dinner-time."
"Oh, can't we help fix it?" said Jack.
"No; I've plenty of help in here, and you must keep out and not bother."
Then the door was shut and locked again, and the young folks laughed tofind themselves with occupation gone.
"All right; let's get up a surprise for _her_," said Betty.
"Oh, yes!" cried Jack; "just the thing! What'll it be?"
"Wait. I'll have to think. Oh, I'll tell you, Jack; you go down to theflower place, and get a lot of white carnations--just heaps of 'em. Andthen get a lot of holly, and bring 'em all up, and I'll show you. Oh,wait--get the biggest holly wreath you can find, and a paper of pins!"
Obediently Jack went off, and as the big hotel was able to supply suchdemands, he brought back everything Betty asked for.
"It won't be much," said Betty, as she tied a big towel over her prettyfrock for an apron. "Come in my room, all of you, so she won't see it ifshe comes out."
The other three followed Betty, and she disclosed her plan. First shefilled the center of the big wreath with white carnations, having firstcrisscrossed it closely with string, to keep the blossoms in place. Thenshe set the others to work picking off the red berries from the bunch ofholly Jack had brought, sticking a pin through each. With these preparedberries Betty formed letters on the white background, and as she deftlydid her task they saw the words grow under her fingers, "Merry Christmasto Mother."
"Fine!" cried Stub. "Betty, you're a real genius! I declare it's theprettiest wreath I ever saw!"
It _was_ pretty, for the holly wreath framed the loving greeting spelledout on the white carnations, and Betty's true eye had spaced the lettersadmirably.
It was not quite finished when Mrs. McGuire emerged from the dining-room.But Betty hastily stuck in the remaining pins with their red berry heads,and Jack asked Mrs. McGuire not to peep into Betty's room.
"Indeed, I won't," was the reply. "I've only time to dress for dinner,and you young people had better scamper if you want to have any eveningleft for your tree."
Scamper they did, and soon a very hungry but jolly party made its waydown to the dining-room.
The girls were in festival dress because it was Christmas eve. Theirwhite frocks of filmy mousseline were cut out a little at the throat, andred sashes and hair-ribbons gave an air of Christmas to their costumes.Each wore a holly spray in her hair, and Jack declared himself proud ofthe visions of loveliness that graced his party.
But notwithstanding the jolly time they were having, and the excitementof it all, there was no lingering after dinner.
Though the girls would have liked to stay down-stairs and listen to themusic and watch the people, yet the tree seemed to call loudly to themeven through the closed door. So up they went, Betty's little face fairlyaglow with the happiness of her first real Christmas. She held hermother's hand tightly as, at last, Lisette threw open the door of thedining-room, and they all went in.
The tree was a marvel. Stalwart porters of the hotel had set it in place,and had assisted Mrs. McGuire to decorate it. It shimmered and glitteredwith tinsel ropes; it sparkled with shining ornaments; it trembled withtiny lighted candles, and it fairly blazed with hundreds of tiny electriclights of all colors. This was one of Mrs. McGuire's surprises. Even theGrahams had never seen a Christmas tree electrically lighted, and as forStub--he fairly whistled in ecstasy.
"Oh, _what_ a corker!" he exclaimed, for more grammatical language seemedinadequate.
Betty drew closer to her mother's side and slipped her arm around herwaist, as she stood speechless before the beautiful tree.
"For me!" she exclaimed, her eyes as bright as the electrics themselves.
"Yes," said her mother, bending to kiss the top of her child's head. "Andfor Jack," she added, holding out her other hand to the boy, who came, abit shyly, to her embrace.
"And for all of us," shouted Stub gaily; "you can't leave us out, Mrs.McGuire, and though my small sister seems for the moment to bespeechless, yet I can assure you she thinks it's a very nice tree."
"_Very nice tree!_" cried Agnes; "it's the gorgeousest, wonderfulest treethat ever was on the face of the earth! I know it is!"
After they had admired it over and over, Mrs. McGuire proposed that theytake off the gifts, assuring them that such a proceeding would not marthe effect of the tree.
So the ever polite and ready Jack, aided by Stub when the gifts wereflung high, took down the presents one by one, and delivered them tothose whose names were written on them.
Somehow there seemed to be lots of gifts. For five people, each giving toevery one else, made a good many, and then there were a lot of extra onesthat just seemed to come from Santa Claus himself.
Of course Lisette was not forgotten, and she stood in the background,delighted beyond words to see Betty's pleasure in her beautiful Christmastree.
Mrs. McGuire's present to her daughter was a gold locket containing aminiature of her own lovely face. It hung from a slender gold chain, andno gift could have pleased Betty more.
"I shall always wear it," she said, as her mother clasped it round herthroat; "and, Mother, you must always wear my gift."
Her mother was greatly surprised at the diamond brooch, and wondered howBetty had sufficient taste and judgment to select such a beauty. So Bettytold how Mrs. Sanderson had helped her, and all admired the lovely jewelwhen it was pinned at the top of its owner's delicate lace bodice.
The tables were filled with the various trinkets and knickknacks, and thefloor was strewn with tissue-papers and narrow red ribbons. Then Jack andStub brought in the big Christmas greeting Betty and the others had made,and her mother was delighted at the pretty attention.
It was late indeed when they sought their beds, for a refection of icesand cakes had to be attended to, and some Christmas carols sung, and aChristmas dance indulged in. But at last all the ligh
ts were out, and thestars twinkled down on one of the happiest girls in the great city, agirl who was restfully sleeping after the joys of her first realChristmas.