"Of course I ought to go," Peter had told me mournfully, "but we
won't have turkey for dinner, because ma can't afford it. And ma
always cries on holidays because she says they make her think of
father. Of course she can't help it, but it ain't cheerful. Aunt
Jane wouldn't have cried. Aunt Jane used to say she never saw the
man who was worth spoiling her eyes for. But I guess I'll have to
spend Christmas at home."

At the last moment, however, a cousin of Mrs. Craig's in
Charlottetown invited her for Christmas, and Peter, being given
his choice of going or staying, joyfully elected to stay. So we
were all together, except Sara Ray, who had been invited but whose
mother wouldn't let her come.

"Sara Ray's mother is a nuisance," snapped the Story Girl. "She
just lives to make that poor child miserable, and she won't let
her go to the party tonight, either."

"It is just breaking Sara's heart that she can't," said Cecily
compassionately. "I'm almost afraid I won't enjoy myself for
thinking of her, home there alone, most likely reading the Bible,
while we're at the party."

"She might be worse occupied than reading the Bible," said
Felicity rebukingly.

"But Mrs. Ray makes her read it as a punishment," protested
Cecily. "Whenever Sara cries to go anywhere--and of course she'll
cry tonight--Mrs. Ray makes her read seven chapters in the Bible.
I wouldn't think that would make her very fond of it. And I'll