sleigh jingling so hysterically about on secret errands and his kindly
face so full of boyish mystery that Roger, with the key to all this
Christmas intrigue locked safely in his heart, had whispered a shy
little warning in the culprit's attentive ear.

And presently--Roger caught his breath and furtively eyed the
grandfather's clock, ticking boastfully through a welter of
holly--presently it would be time for the Doctor's masquerade, and
later, when the clock struck twelve and the guests unmasked, that great
surprise which the doctor had planned so carefully by telegram!

But now from the kitchen came the sound of the Doctor singing:

"Come bring with a noise,
My merry, merry boys,
The Christmas log to the firing!"

Roger clapped his thin little hands with a cry of delight, for old Asher
and the Doctor were bringing in the Yule-log to light it presently with
the charred remains of the Christmas log of a year ago. To-morrow
another Yule-log would crackle and blaze and shower on the hearth, for
the old Doctor molded a custom to suit his fancy. And here was Annie
splendidly aproned in white, following them in, and Aunt Ellen in a
wonderful old brown-gold brocade disinterred for the doctor's party from
a lavender-sweet cedar chest in the garret. And _Sister Madge_!--Roger
stared--radiant in old-fashioned crimson satin and holly, colorful foils
indeed for her night-black hair and eyes! As for the doctor himself,
Roger now began to realize that with his powdered wig, his satin
breeches and gaily-flowered waistcoat--to say nothing of silken hose and
silver buckles--he was by far the most gorgeous figure of them all!