Tom rose from the table with a muttered word and began to pace the floor.
His blue eyes were full of tears.

"Mary," said Miss Terry, "will the people at home be worried if you do not
come back to dinner?"

Mary shook her head wonderingly. "No," she said. "They will not care. I am
often away on holidays. I go to the Museums."

"Then I want you to stay with us to-day," said Miss Terry. "We are going
to have a Christmas celebration, and we need you for a guest. Will you
stay, you and Miranda?"

Mary looked down at the doll in her arms, and up at the two kind faces bent
toward her. "Yes," she said impulsively, "I will stay. How good you are! I
don't want to go home."

"Don't go home!" burst out Tom. "Stay with us always and be our little
girl."

Mary looked from one to the other, half frightened at the new idea. Miss
Terry bent and pecked at her cheek, with a thrill at the new sensation.

"Yes, we mean it," she said, and her voice was almost sweet. "We believe
that the Christmas Angel has brought you to us, Mary. You have the
Christmas name. But you seem to us like the little girl we both knew best,
little Angelina with blue eyes and yellow hair, who was Miranda's mother.
Will you stay with us, Mary Angelina? Would you like to stay?"

Mary looked up with a wistful smile. "You are so good!" she said again. "I