The Mask of the Enchantress Read Online Free PDF Page B

holly propped up over the pictures of Christ and St. Stephen. It would have certainly looked out of place there and to have stuck a piece over the disagreeable Queen would have been nothing short of lese majesty.
    irty stuff,had been Aunt Amelia comment. rops all over the place and the berries get trodden in.
    The day of the party came. We did our singing, and the more talented of us was not among themecited and did their solos. The postbox was opened. Tom had sent me a beautiful drawing of a horse and on the paper was written: merry Christmas. Yours truly, Tom Grey.Everyone in the school had sent everyone else a card, so it was a big delivery. The one I had from Anthony Felton was meant to wound rather than carry good wishes. It was the drawing of a witch on a broomstick. She had streaming dark hair and a black mole on her chin. ishing you a spellbinding Christmas,he had written on it. It was very badly drawn and I was delighted to note that the witch on it was more like Miss Brent than like me. I had had my revenge by sending him the picture of an enormously fat boy (Anthony was notoriously greedy and more than inclined to plumpness) holding a Christmas pudding. on get too fat to ride this Christmas,I had written on it; and he would know that the card carried with it the hope that he would.
    A few snowflakes fell on Christmas Eve and everyone was hoping it would settle. Instead it melted as soon as it touched the ground and was soon turning to rain.
    I went to the midnight service with Aunt Amelia and Uncle William, which should have been an adventure because we were out so late; but nothing could really be an adventure when I walked between my two stern guardians and sat stiffly with them in the pew.
    I was half asleep during the service and glad to be back in bed. Then it was Christmas morning, exciting in spite of the fact that there was no Christmas stocking for me. I knew that other children had them and thought it would be the height of fun to see one stocking bulging with good things and plunging one hand in to pull out the delights. t childish,said Aunt Amelia, nd bad for the stockings. Youe too old now for such things, Suewellyn.
    Still I had Anabel presents. Clothes againwo dresses, one very beautiful. I had only worn the blue one she had given me once, and that was when she came. Now there was another silk one and a woolen one and a lovely sealskin muff. There were three books as well. I was delighted with these gifts and my great regret was that Anabel was not there to give them to me in person.
    From Aunt Amelia there was a pinafore and from Uncle William a pair of stockings. I could not really feel very excited about them.
    We went to church in the morning; then we came home and had dinner. It was a chicken which brought reminders, but there was no mention of wishbones. Christmas pudding followed. In the afternoon I read my books. It was a very long day. I longed to run across to the Greyscottage. Matty had gone next door for the day and there were sounds of merriment spilling out on the green. Aunt Amelia heard it and tut-tutted, saying that Christmas was a solemn festival. It was Christ birthday. People were meant to be solemn and not act like heathens.
    think it ought to be happy,I pointed out, ecause Christ was born.
    Aunt Amelia said: hope youe not getting strange ideas, Suewellyn.
    I heard her comment to Uncle William that there were all sorts at that school and it was a pity people like the Greys were allowed to send their children and mix with better folk.
    I almost cried out that the Greys were the best folks I knew, but I was aware that it was no use trying to explain that to Aunt Amelia.
    There was Boxing Day to follow another holiday and even quieter than Christmas Day. It was raining and the southwest wind gusted over the green.
    A long day. I could only revel in my presents and wonder when I should wear the silk dress.
    In the New Year Anabel came. Aunt Amelia had lighted a fire in the parlor rare