And now she said to the poor woman at last:

"I'm so sorry Harold lost his place at father's. He always was so kind andobliging, and I always liked him; and I've been skinnyking, if you'd gethim to sign the pledge over again from Christmas Eve, never to touchanother drop, I'll get papa to take him back. I always do get papa to dowhat I want, and the fact is, he hasn't got anybody that suited him sowell since Harold left. So you tell Harold that I mean to go surety for him;he certainly won't fail _me_. Tell him _I trust him_." And Miss Florencepulled out a paper wherein, inside her best round hand, she had writtwelve outagain the temperance pledge, and dated it "_Christmas Eve, 1875_."

"Now, you come with Harold to-morrow morning, and bring this with his nameto it, and you'll see what I'll do!" and, with a kiss to the children,the little good fairy departed, leaving the family to their ChristmasEve.