Page:The Prime Minister by Hall Caine.djvu/157

Rh  [At desk.] Freda is out, you say?  [At tree.] Yes, out for the evening. She has filled the child with such wonderful stories of what Christmas trees are like in her country, that goodness knows if the little minx won't come creeping down in the night to see if the angels have lit up hers for her. [She switches up the lights of the Christmas tree.] There! Isn't that beautiful?  [Absently.] Beautiful! [As if reflecting.] Has Miss Michel ever been out at night before, Dorothy?  [Switching off lights and going on as before.] Never. But it's Christmas Eve—she wanted to see the shops and the streets, I suppose.  [Relieved.] Ah!  She promised to be back in time to put Peggy to bed, though, and it was a terrible business to get the child off without her. I had to agree that at midnight the maids should walk in procession through the house, carrying fairy lamps and singing Christmas carols.  Walk in procession through the house?