I went down last night and just put my arms around her and told her that I loved her as much as ever and wanted to be real close friends again . `` I gave Aunt Mary her gift this morning . I told her I was n't going to Murraybridge , that I just meant to stay home with her . She was so glad -- and I 'm glad , too , now that I 've decided so . '' `` Your gifts have been real gifts , Clorinda , '' said Aunt Emmy . `` Something of you -- the best of you -- went into each of them . '' Clorinda went out and brought her cornery armful in . `` I did n't forget you , Aunt Emmy , '' she said , as she unpinned the paper . There was a rosebush -- Clorinda 's own pet rosebush -- all snowed over with fragrant blossoms . Aunt Emmy loved flowers . She put her finger under one of the roses and kissed it . `` It 's as sweet as yourself , dear child , '' she said tenderly . `` And it will be a joy to me all through the lonely winter days . You 've found out the best meaning of Christmas giving , have n't you , dear ? '' `` Yes , thanks to you , Aunt Emmy , '' said Clorinda softly . Cyrilla 's Inspiration It was a rainy Saturday afternoon and all the boarders at Mrs. Plunkett 's were feeling dull and stupid , especially the Normal School girls on the third floor , Cyrilla Blair and Carol Hart and Mary Newton , who were known as The Trio , and shared the big front room together . They were sitting in that front room , scowling out at the weather . At least , Carol and Mary were scowling . Cyrilla never scowled ; she was sitting curled up on her bed with her Greek grammar , and she smiled at the rain and her grumbling chums as cheerfully as possible . `` For pity 's sake , Cyrilla , put that grammar away , '' moaned Mary .
`` There is something positively uncanny about a girl who can study Greek XXXXX Saturday afternoons -- at least , this early in the term . ''
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