`` It must be rather romantic to be run away with , '' remarked Cecily , wistfully . `` Do n't you get such silly notions in your head , Cecily King , '' said Felicity , severely . CHAPTER III . THE CHRISTMAS HARP Great was the excitement in the houses of King as Christmas drew nigh . The air was simply charged with secrets . Everybody was very penurious for weeks beforehand and hoards were counted scrutinizingly every day . Mysterious pieces of handiwork were smuggled in and out of sight , and whispered consultations were held , about which nobody thought of being jealous , as might have happened at any other time . Felicity was in her element , for she and her mother were deep in preparations for the day . Cecily and the Story Girl were excluded from these doings with indifference on Aunt Janet 's part and what seemed ostentatious complacency on Felicity 's . Cecily took this to heart and complained to me about it . `` I 'm one of this family just as much as Felicity is , '' she said , with as much indignation as Cecily could feel , `` and I do n't think she need shut me out of everything . When I wanted to stone the raisins for the mince-meat she said , no , she would do it herself , because Christmas mince-meat was very particular -- as if I could n't stone raisins right ! The airs Felicity puts on about her cooking just make me sick , '' concluded Cecily wrathfully . `` It 's a pity she does n't make a mistake in cooking once in a while herself , '' I said . `` Then maybe she would n't think she knew so much more than other people . '' All parcels that came in the mail from distant friends were taken charge of by Aunts Janet and Olivia , not to be opened until the great day of the feast itself . How slowly the last week passed ! But even watched pots will boil in the fulness of time , and finally Christmas day came , gray and dour and frost-bitten without , but full of revelry and rose-red mirth within . Uncle Roger and Aunt Olivia and the Story Girl came over early for the day ; and Peter came too , with his shining , morning face , to be hailed with joy , for we had been afraid that Peter would not be able to spend Christmas with us . His mother had wanted him home with her .
`` Of course I ought to go , '' XXXXX had told me mournfully , `` but we wo n't have turkey for dinner , because ma ca n't afford it .
Cecily Felicity King Peter fulness hoards mince-meat right weeks wrathfully