Tales From High Hallack, Volume 2 by Andre Norton

Author:Andre Norton [Norton, Andre]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Anthologies (Multiple Authors), Fantasy, Collections & Anthologies, Science Fiction
ISBN: 9781624672422
Google: T-1gngEACAAJ
Amazon: 1624672426
Goodreads: 21450810
Publisher: Premier Digital Publishing
Published: 2014-05-19T14:00:00+00:00

A Very Dickensy Christmas

The Magic of Christmas (1992) Penguin/Roc

“It is to be,” Mrs. Hotchkiss stated with the inflexibility of one who refused to accept opposition from either mankind or the weather, “a regular old-fashioned Southern Christmas—very Dickensy.”

“Dickens was English,” Sara said in her mind. She kept her lips firmly closed, however.

“Laurel Hall is perfect, of course”—Mrs. Hotchkiss would have seen to it speedily if her guidebook enshrined Maryland manor house, three times lauded for its super-fine bed and breakfast rating, was not— “if we can just have snow.” She paused, suggesting that she would put in an order for that with a higher authority. “Then Jed will bring out the sleigh.”

“Of course, the drag hunt will meet here on Boxing Day—”

Sara so forgot herself as to murmur inquiringly “Boxing Day?”

“Yes.” Mrs. Hotchkiss brought her hand firmly down on a section of the Christmas issue of the London Illustrated News. It was opened to a well-worn page listing the delights of spending a Christmas in a country mansion. “Boxing Day, the day after Christmas, is time for a fox hunt. We have arranged for a special meeting of the Rex Hall Hounds—it is only drag hunting, but they say the huntsman who lays the trail is very good, and last season’s hunt was most exciting—quite the leading local event of the winter. So this year Willard Grayson, he’s master, has agreed to assemble the hunt here.” Her eyes shown with that glare of a collector finding some treasure in a trash heap.

“Of course, we weren’t open to the public before—not,” she declared firmly, “that we are open to the general public now The guest list has been very carefully selected—we even have an acceptance from Ambassador Willard and his family. That is why we must have the ghosts.” She stared over Sara’s shoulder into the wide entrance hall. “Mrs. Willard is very interested in local history; she particularly mentioned the ghosts, her secretary said, when she finally decided they would come. It must be very carefully arranged. Jed will pick you up at the bus stop and bring you in the side way. The west wing has always been kept for only family, and you will have a room there. You must make very sure that you are not seen by any of the guests; it will spoil everything if you are. You will arrive the afternoon of Christmas Eve. Your first appearance will be that night at five minutes after midnight. You will walk along the upper hall where it is part balcony, with your partner. Both of you will stand at the top of the stairs.

“The lighting will be candlelight, and Lorenz has set up a most ingenious veil-like hanging through which you will pass and so return unseen to your own quarters.” Mrs. Hotchkiss transferred her attention to Sara completely for the first time. It was a critical and very piercing pair of eyes the girl now faced.

“You’ll do.” The tone suggested that that should he modified by “barely.

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