`` Well , '' said Dan , yawning , `` I like that kind of a story . Nobody goes and dies in it , that 's one good thing . '' `` Did old Hugh forgive Ursula ? '' I asked . `` The story stopped there in the brown book , '' said the Story Girl , `` but the Awkward Man says he did , after awhile . '' `` 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 XXXXX distant friends were taken charge of by Aunts Janet and Olivia , not to be opened until the great day of the feast itself .
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