It was just dusk when they got back , having driven the Rolands and the French Joes and Sammy and Tillie to their respective homes . `` This has been the jolliest Christmas I ever spent , '' said Frank , emphatically . `` I thought we were just going to give the others a good time , but it was they who gave it to us , '' said Ida . `` Were n't the French Joes jolly ? '' giggled the twins . `` Such cute speeches as they would make ! '' `` Me and Teddy Roland are going to be chums after this , '' announced Darby . `` He 's an inch taller than me , but I 'm wider . '' That night Frank and Ida and Cousin Myra had a little talk after the smaller Osbornes had been haled off to bed . `` We 're not going to stop with Christmas , Cousin Myra , '' said Frank , at the end of it . `` We 're just going to keep on through the year . We 've never had such a delightful old Christmas before . '' `` You 've learned the secret of happiness , '' said Cousin Myra gently . And the Osbornes understood what she meant . The Romance of Aunt Beatrice Margaret always maintains that it was a direct inspiration of Providence that took her across the street to see Aunt Beatrice that night . And Aunt Beatrice believes that it was too . But the truth of the matter is that Margaret was feeling very unhappy , and went over to talk to Aunt Beatrice as the only alternative to a fit of crying . Margaret 's unhappiness has nothing further to do with this story , so it may be dismissed with the remark that it did not amount to much , in spite of Margaret 's tragical attitude , and was dissipated at once and forever by the arrival of a certain missent letter the next day . Aunt Beatrice was alone . Her brother and his wife had gone to the `` at home '' which Mrs. Cunningham was giving that night in honour of the Honourable John Reynolds , M.P. .
The children were upstairs in bed , and XXXXX Beatrice was darning their stockings , a big basketful of which loomed up aggressively on the table beside her .
Aunt Mrs. attitude brother day home honour nothing unhappiness wife