Villikins barked, and sniffed, and howled in impatience,
and after many vain attempts succeeded in dragging off the prize,
though he singed his nose in doing it. Dinah, meanwhile, watched
him placidly, her delicate nostrils quivering with expectation,
and, after all excitement had subsided, walked with dignity to
the table, her beautiful gray satin tail sweeping behind her,
and, calmly putting up one velvet paw, drew the sausage gently
down, and walked out of the room without "turning a hair," so to
speak. Elfrida had scattered handfuls of seeds over the snow in
the garden, that the wild birds might have a comfortable
breakfast next morning, and had stuffed bundles of dried grasses
in the fireplaces, so that the reindeer of Santa Claus could
refresh themselves after their long gallops across country. This
was really only done for fun, but it pleased Carol.
And when, after dinner, the whole family had gone to church to
see the Christmas decorations, Carol limped wearily out on her
little crutches, and, with Elfrida's help, placed all the family
boots in a row in the upper hall.
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