'Tis the Season to Come'

Beth went and knocked at the study door before she gave herself time to think. When a gruff voice called out, come in. She put both arms round his neck and kissed him. If the roof of the house had suddenly flown off, the old gentleman wouldn't have been more astonished. But he liked it amazingly. And was so touched and pleased by that confiding little kiss that all his crustiness vanished. He just set her on his knee and laid his wrinkled cheek against her rosy one,. feeling as if he had got his own little granddaughter back again. Beth ceased to fear him from that moment, and sat there talking to him as cosily as if she had