Aunt Jane used to say she never saw the man who was worth spoiling her eyes for . But I guess I 'll have to spend Christmas at home . '' At the last moment , however , a cousin of Mrs. Craig 's in Charlottetown invited her for Christmas , and Peter , being given his choice of going or staying , joyfully elected to stay . So we were all together , except Sara Ray , who had been invited but whose mother would n't let her come . `` Sara Ray 's mother is a nuisance , '' snapped the Story Girl . `` She just lives to make that poor child miserable , and she wo n't let her go to the party tonight , either . '' `` It is just breaking Sara 's heart that she ca n't , '' said Cecily compassionately . `` I 'm almost afraid I wo n't enjoy myself for thinking of her , home there alone , most likely reading the Bible , while we 're at the party . '' `` She might be worse occupied than reading the Bible , '' said Felicity rebukingly . `` But Mrs. Ray makes her read it as a punishment , '' protested Cecily . `` Whenever Sara cries to go anywhere -- and of course she 'll cry tonight -- Mrs. Ray makes her read seven chapters in the Bible . I would n't think that would make her very fond of it . And I 'll not be able to talk the party over with Sara afterwards -- and that 's half the fun gone . '' `` You can tell her all about it , '' comforted Felix . `` Telling is n't a bit like talking it over , '' retorted Cecily . `` It 's too one-sided . '' We had an exciting time opening our presents . Some of us had more than others , but we all received enough to make us feel comfortably that we were not unduly neglected in the matter . The contents of the box which the Story Girl 's father had sent her from Paris made our eyes stick out . It was full of beautiful things , among them another red silk dress -- not the bright , flame-hued tint of her old one , but a rich , dark crimson , with the most distracting flounces and bows and ruffles ; and with it were little red satin slippers with gold buckles , and heels that made Aunt Janet hold up her hands in horror .
Felicity remarked scornfully XXXXX she would have thought the Story Girl would get tired wearing red so much , and even Cecily commented apart to me that she thought when you got so many things all at once you did n't appreciate them as much as when you only got a few .
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