"So you might," said puzzled Hugh Egerton, pleased as well as puzzled.
"And that would never have done for either of us."

"It would have been dreadful," replied Rosemary, "to have to wait for
another Christmas Eve."

"Christmas Eve seems a day for adventures," said Hugh. "One finds new
friends;--and dear little girls; and--goodness knows what I shall find
next."

"We must find Angel next," Rosemary assured him. "She'll be so glad to
see you."

"Do you really think so? By the way, who is Angel?"

"Mother. Didn't you know _that_?"

"I expect I'd forgotten," Hugh answered. She looked so reproachful, that
not for the world would he have denied all knowledge of Angel. The child
evidently took him for someone she had known; perhaps she had seen a
photograph of some long lost friend of her family, who resembled him,
and she had sprung to a conclusion, as children do. But she was an
exquisitely pretty and engaging little thing, a grand little pal, and
worth cultivating. Hugh liked children, especially girls, though he had
always been rather shy with them, not knowing exactly how they liked
best to be entertained, and finding it difficult to think of things to
say, in keeping up a conversation. But there was no such difficulty with
this child. It was really interesting to draw the little creature out,
and see what she would say next. As for finding Angel, however, when the
time came to do that, he thought he would prefer to bid Angel's daughter