Jean 's brother had sent them to her from Montreal , and all the girls were enjoying them in common . No. 16 Chestnut Terrace was overrun with girls generally . But just now only five were left ; all the others had gone home for Christmas , but these five could not go and were bent on making the best of it . Belle and Olive Reynolds , who were sitting on the bed -- Jean could never keep them off it -- were High School girls ; they were said to be always laughing , and even the fact that they could not go home for Christmas because a young brother had measles did not dampen their spirits . Beth Hamilton , who was hovering over the roses , and Nellie Preston , who was eating candy , were art students , and their homes were too far away to visit . As for Jean Lawrence , she was an orphan , and had no home of her own . She worked on the staff of one of the big city newspapers and the other girls were a little in awe of her cleverness , but her nature was a `` chummy '' one and her room was a favourite rendezvous . Everybody liked frank , open-handed and hearted Jean . `` It was so funny to see the postman when he came this evening , '' said Olive . `` He just bulged with parcels . They were sticking out in every direction . '' `` We all got our share of them , '' said Jean with a sigh of content . `` Even the cook got six -- I counted . '' `` Miss Allen did n't get a thing -- not even a letter , '' said Beth quickly . Beth had a trick of seeing things that other girls did n't . `` I forgot Miss Allen . No , I do n't believe she did , '' answered Jean thoughtfully as she twisted up her pretty hair . `` How dismal it must be to be so forlorn as that on Christmas Eve of all times . Ugh ! I 'm glad I have friends . ''
`` I saw Miss Allen watching us XXXXX we opened our parcels and letters , '' Beth went on .
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