"I didn't know you were here!" said Julia, in swift memory of their last
meeting.
"Just come." He looked at her, all kindliness. "How goes it?"
"Finely," Julia answered. When he had opened a window, he followed her
across the room. "I may stay near you, mayn't I?"
"I am just going to begin," Julia said, taking her place at the piano,
and facing the room across the top of it. Her small person seemed
suddenly fired with authority. She struck a full chord. "Children!" she
said. "_Children_! Who is talking? Some one is still talking! Keep still,
everybody, please! Keep still, every one.
"Now we are going to sing the 'Adeste'--four verses. And then we'll give
out the presents. Listen, every one! We are going to sing the 'Adeste,'
and then give out the presents. The presents, of course, go only to our
own girls and boys, do you understand that? Listen, children, please!
"But we have a box of candy for every child here, whether that child
comes to any of the classes or not! So don't go home without your candy.
And don't come up for your present until you hear your name called, do
you understand that? If I see any child coming up before Miss Pierce
calls her name, I'll send her right back to her seat! Now, the 'Adeste,'
please!"
Jim had listened in intense amusement.
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