for the fraction of a second he was foolish enough almost to lose
control of it, on account of a start he gave. "Evie!" he echoed.

It was years since he had spoken that name.

"She's my doll," explained Rosemary.

"Oh!" said Hugh.

"But I don't think she'd mind or be sad if you gave me a doll's house,"
went on the child, "if you _should_ have time to get it for me by and
bye; that is, if you really want to give me something for Christmas, you
know."

"Of course I do. But tell me, why did you name your doll Evie?"

He put the question in a low voice, as if he were half ashamed of asking
it; and as at that instant a tram boomed by, Rosemary heard only the
first words.

"I 'sposed you would," she replied. "Fathers do like to give their
little girls Christmas presents, Jane says; maybe that's why they're
obliged to come back always on Christmas Eve, if they've been lost. Do
you know, even if there aren't any fairies, it's just like a fairy story
having my father come back, and take me to Angel in a motor car on
Christmas eve."

"Good gracious!" exclaimed Hugh Egerton. "Did you say--father?"

"Yes," replied Rosemary. "You're almost like a fairy father, I said."