Nobody

"And what special door offers most attraction to your view, of themall?"

"I don't know. I think, perhaps, for me, geology and mineralogy; butalmost every one helps in the study of the Bible."

"O, do they!" said Dillwyn somewhat dryly.

"I like music best," said Madge.

"But that is not a door into knowledge," objected Lois.

"I meant, of all the doors Mrs. Barclay has opened to us."

"Mrs. Barclay is a favoured person."

"It is we that are favoured," said Madge. "Our life is a differentthing since she came. We hope she will never go away." Then Madgecoloured, with some sudden thought, and she went back to the formersubject. "Why do you ask about the children's ages and all that, Mr.Dillwyn?"

"I was thinking – When a thing is to be done, I like to do it well. Itoccurred to me, that as Santa Claus must have something on his sledgefor each one, it might be good, if possible, to secure some adaptationor fitness in the gift. Those who would like books should have books, and the right books; and playthings had better not go astray, if we canhelp it; and perhaps the poorer children would be better for articlesof clothing. – I am only throwing out hints."

"Capital hints!" said Lois. "You mean, if we can tell what would begood for each one – I think we can, pretty nearly. But there are fewpoor people in Shampuashuh, Mr. Dillwyn."

"Shampuashuh is a happy place."

"This plan will give you an immensity of work, Mr. Dillwyn."

"What then?"

"I have scruples. It is not fair to let you do it. What is Shampuashuhto you?"

"It might be difficult to make that computation," said Mr. Dillwyndryly. "Have no scruples, Miss Lois. As I told you, I have nothingbetter to do with myself. If you can make me useful, it will be a rarechance."

"But there are plenty of other things to do, Mr. Dillwyn," said Lois.

He gave her only a glance and smile by way of answer, and plungedimmediately into the business question with Madge. Lois sat by, silentand wondering, till all was settled that could be settled that evening, and she and Madge went back to the other room.

CHAPTER XXXVII

AN OYSTER SUPPER

"Hurrah!" cried Madge, but softly – "Now it will go! Mother! what do youthink? Guess, Charity! Mr. Dillwyn is going to take our Sunday schoolcelebration on himself; he's going to do it; and we're to have, not astupid Christmas tree, but Santa Claus and his sled; and he'll be SantaClaus! Won't it be fun?"

"Who'll be Santa Claus?" said Charity, looking stupefied.

"Mr. Dillwyn. In fact, he'll be Santa Claus and his sled too; he'll dothe whole thing. All we have got to do is to dress the children andourselves, and light up the church."

"Will the committees like that?"

"Like it? Of course they will! Like it, indeed! Don't you see it willsave them all expense? They'll have nothing to do but dress up andlight up."

"And warm up too, I hope. What makes Mr. Dillwyn do all that? I don'tjust make out."

"I'll tell you," said Madge, shaking her finger at the othersimpressively. "He's after Mrs. Barclay. So this gives him a chance tocome here again, don't you see?"

"After Mrs. Barclay?" repeated Charity. "I want to know!"

"I don't believe it," said Lois. "She is too old for him."

"She's not old," said Madge. "And he is no chicken, my dear. You'llsee. It's she he's after. He's coming next time as Santa Claus, that'sall. And we have got to make out a list of things – things forpresents, – for every individual girl and boy in the Sunday school; there's a job for you. Santa Claus will want a big sled."

"Who is going to do what?" inquired Mrs. Armadale here. "I don'tunderstand, you speak so fast, children."

"Mother, instead of a Christmas tree, we are going to have Santa Clausand his sled; and the sled is to be heaped full of presents for all thechildren; and Mr. Dillwyn is going to do it, and get the presents, andbe Santa Claus himself."

"How, be Santa Claus?"

"Why, he will dress up like Santa Claus, and come in with his sled."

"Where?"

"In the church, grandmother; there is no other place. The other churchhave their Sunday-school room you know; but we have none."

"They are going to have their tree in the church, though," saidCharity; "they reckon the Sunday-school room won't be big enough tohold all the folks."

"Are they going to turn the church into a playhouse?" Mrs. Armadaleasked.

"It's for the sake of the church and the school, you know, mother.Santa Claus will come in with his sled and give his presents, – that isall. At least, that is all the play there will be."

"What else will there be?"

"O, there'll be singing, grandma," said Madge; "hymns and carols andsuch things, that the children will sing; and speeches and prayers, Isuppose."

"The church used to be God's house, in my day," said the old lady, witha concerned face, looking up from her knitting, while her fingers wenton with their work as busily as ever.

"They don't mean it for anything else, grandmother," said Madge. "It'sall for the sake of the school."

"Maybe they think so," the old lady answered.

"What else, mother? what else should it be?"

But this she did not answer.

"What's Mr. Dillwyn got to do with it?" she asked presently.

"He's going to help," said Madge. "It's nothing but kindness. Hesupposes it is something good to do, and he says he'd like to beuseful."

"He hain't no idea how," said Mrs. Armadale, "Poor creatur'! You cantell him, it ain't the Lord's work he's doin'."

"But we cannot tell him that, mother," said Lois.

"If the people want to have this celebration, – and they will, – hadn'twe better make it a good one? Is it really a bad thing?"