“Well look and see what they’ve run you about, for you won’t escape, I’ll wager,” laughed Peggy as merrily as though it were broad daylight instead of five A.M.

Polly dove into her stocking to fish out a tiny rocking horse with a doll riding astride it.  The horse was to all intents and purposes on a mad gallop, for his rider’s hair, dyed A vivid red, was streaming out behind, her collar was flying loose, her feet were out of the stirrups and one shoe was gone.  The mad rider bore the legend: 

“Lady Gilpin.”

A dozen other nonsensical things followed, but down in the toe of each was a beautiful 19—­ class pin for each of the girls, with “Co-ed 19—­” engraved on them and cards saying “with the compliments of the bunch.”

By the time the stockings’ contents were investigated it was time to dress and go with Mrs. Harold to see the Christmas Parade, always given before breakfast in Bancroft Hall and through the Yard.  Mrs. Harold tapped upon the girls’ door and was greeted with “Merry Christmas!  Merry Christmas!” She entered, taking them in her arms and saying: 

“Dozens and dozens for each of you, my little foster-daughters.  I am so glad to have you with me, for Christmas isn’t Christmas without young people to enjoy it, and I think I’ve got some of the very sweetest and best to be had—­both daughters and sons.  There are no more children like my foster-children.  I am one lucky old lady.”

“Old!” cried Peggy indignantly, “Why you’ll never, never seem old to us, for you just think, and see, and feel every single thing as we do.”

“That’s a pretty compliment,” replied Mrs. Harold, sealing her words with a kiss which was returned with earnest warmth, for Peggy was learning to love this friend very dearly.

The Christmas Parade was funny enough, for the midshipmen had sent to Philadelphia for their costumes and every living thing, from Fiji Islanders, to priests, bears, lions, ballet girls or convicts raced through the Yard to the music of “Tommy’s band” as they called the ridiculous collection of wind instruments over which one of the midshipmen waved his baton as bandmaster.

When this great show ended, all hurried away to dress for breakfast formation, for many were the invitations to breakfast with friends out in town, legal holidays being the only days upon which such privileges were allowed.  Mrs. Harold had a party of five beside Polly and Peggy and the griddle cakes which vanished that morning rivaled the number of waffles which had disappeared at Severndale.  When breakfast ended Mrs. Harold said: 

“Can you young people give me about two hours out of your day?  Polly and I have laid a little plan for someone’s pleasure, which we know will be enhanced if you boys cooperate with us.”

“Count on us, Little Mother.”

“We’ll do anything we can for you, for you do enough for us.”

“Sure thing,” were the hearty replies, while Peggy slipped to her side to whisper:  “I’d almost be willing to give up my ‘Co-ed’ class pin if you asked me to.”