122 GWENDOLINE.

Aunt Mary and Mrs. Danforth looked at each other.
“What can it mean ?” said they.

Gwendoline stood by, serenely sucking her candy cane.
“ You little mischief!” exclaimed Clare, “I believe you did it.”

“Yes,” said Gwendoline, sweetly, “I did it. I wanted to
see which was mine own. You know, it was pretty dark, and
I fought I heard Santa Claus coming back, so I had to hurry
dreffully.”

They could not help laughing, and the children rather -
enjoyed sorting out the different mixtures till each had his or
her own property.

After the stockings had been discussed and the children
were dressed, they all reassembled to see the tree and the rest
of the presents.

Aunt Mary had vainly tried to persuade Gwendoline to
give up the doll, for it bore a paper saying “ For Theo,” but no
manner of persuasion could induce her to give it up; yet there
were “ohs” and “ahs” in such number that for a while Theo
did not realize that one of her gifts had been appropriated,
and, dear, good, little girl that she was, when she did discover
it she said never a word, only stood by looking admiringly at
the doll she knew to be hers.

“Tt is Theo’s, dearie,” said Mrs. Danforth. “Santa Claus
brought you another one.”

“But I want dis one,” persisted Gwendoline, holding her
treasure closer.