figure on the mantel-shelf. And she spoke with reverent gentleness.

The Angel smiled brightly. "The Christmas Spirit is a guardian angel to
many," he said. "Never again despise me, Angelina. Never again make light
of my influence."

"Never again," murmured Miss Terry half unconsciously. "I wish it were not
too late--"

"It is never too late," said the Christmas Angel eagerly, as if he read her
unspoken thought. "Oh, never too late, Angelina."




CHAPTER XIII

THE CHRISTMAS CANDLE


Suddenly there was a sound,--a dull reverberating sound. It seemed to Miss
Terry to come from neither north, south, east, nor west, but from a
different world. Ah! She recognized it now. It was somebody knocking on the
library door.

Miss Terry gave a long sigh and drew herself up in her chair. "It must be
Norah just come back," she said to herself. "I had forgotten Norah
completely. It must be shockingly late. Come in," she called, as she
glanced at the clock.