take refuge with Joy, who hovered about, eying me as if she still
suspected some ruse on the part of Santa Claus.

"Joy, you know Cousin Nelly?" I said; and at sound of my voice, they all
looked again at each other and then at me.

"Why, I can't believe my eyes, though Bake here said you'd altered.
Altered!" twittered Aunt Frank. She turned indignantly upon the Judge, who
wisely attempted no defense. "I didn't dream--Bake, here, never can tell a
story straight. Have you--what is it? Nelly, dear, it's two years since
I've seen you; of course you've--grown!"

But no amazement could long curb her hospitable instincts. Her incoherence
vanished as she grasped at a practical consideration.

"But let Milly take you up stairs and get your things off," she said with
an air as of one who solves problems.

"Are you truly Cothin Nelly?" Joy lisped. "All wight; come thee my twee."

Though she couldn't recognise me as the cousin of a few weeks earlier, the
child was eager to claim me as a new friend. So I escaped with her and
Milly to the nursery, where I stayed as long as I dared, letting my cheeks
cool.

"The twee ith mine and Mamma'th," said Joy; "we're the only oneth young
enough to have Christhmath twees, Papa thayth."

"Hoh, guess I'm younger'n Mamma, ain't I?" scoffed my other little cousin
who had been sent to inquire into our delay. He is perhaps a dozen years