"I have the tree in my own room, because I wanted all the fun to
ourselves," she explained, as she led the way upstairs, "and downstairs we
should almost certainly be interrupted by callers, or something. But
before you go, Dr. Armstrong, I want you to meet my family, and of course
they all want to see Swot."

It was not a large nor particularly brilliant tree, but to Swot it was
everything that was beautiful. At first he was afraid to approach, but
after a little Constance persuaded him into a walk around it, and finally
tempted him, by an artful mention of what was in one of the larger
packages at the base, to treat it more familiarly. Once the ice was
broken, the two were quickly seated on the floor, Constance cutting
strings, and Swot giving shouts of delight at each new treasure.
Presently, in especial joy over some prize, the boy turned to show it to
the doctor, to discover that he was standing well back, watching, rather
than sharing, in the pleasure of the two; and, as the little chap
discovered the aloofness, he leaned over and whispered something to the
girl.

"I want to, but can't get the courage yet," whispered back Constance. "I
don't know what is the matter with me, Swot," she added, blushing.

"Like me to guv it to 'im?"

"Oh, will you, Swot?" she eagerly demanded. "It's the parcel in
tissue-paper on my desk over there."

The waif rose to his feet and trotted to the place indicated. He gave a
quick glance back at Miss Durant, and seeing that she was leaning over a