'He does look so
very miserable!'
And Geraldine's eyes swam in tears as she thought of the loneliness
of his Christmas, and without that Christmas joy that even her
mother's dulled spirit could feel--the joy that bore them through the
recollections of this time last year.
Lance's desire to cheer took the more material form of acting as
Fernando's special waiter at the consumption of the turkey, which Mr.
Audley had insisted on having from home, and eating in company with
the rest, to whom it was a 'new experience,' being only a faint
remembrance even to Felix and Wilmet; but Fernando had no appetite,
and even the sight of his little friend gave him a pang.
'Do you want any one to stay with you!' asked Lance. 'If Cherry
_would_ do--for Felix said he would take Fulbert and me out for a
jolly long walk, to see the icicles at Bold's Hatch.'
'No, I want no one. You are better without me.'
'I'll stay if you do want it,' said Lance, very reluctantly. 'I don't
like your not having one bit of Christmas. Shall I sing you one
Christmas hymn before I go?' And Lance broke into the 'Herald Angels'
again.
'Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Pages:
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266