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Merry has asked her to tea today,” said Mother.
    â€œOh, because she can’t go to the party!” they said.

    â€œIs Moppet’s cold better now?” asked Mother.
    â€œQuite, quite better,” said Mary-Mary, licking up the last of the ice-cream. “I knew it would be.”
    When New Year’s Eve came Miriam, Martyn, Mervyn, and Meg were all very excited. Mary-Mary watched them getting ready for the party and tried not to look excited too.
    She went to bed in her underclothes, with a nightie on top so that the others wouldn’t guess. (She was going to have supper on a tray when they had gone, and Mother had promised to read her a story until it was time for Mr Merry to come and fetch her.)
    When they were ready to go Miriam, Martyn, Mervyn, and Meg all came to say good-night to her. Mary-Mary hid under the blankets, because she couldn’t help laughing, and they thought she was hiding because she was sad about not going to the party. So they were all very kind to her.
    â€œNever mind, Mary-Mary,” they said. “When you’re bigger you will be able to go to a New Year party too.”
    Miriam said, “Don’t cry. I’ll give you one of my party hair ribbons tomorrow.”
    Martyn said, “Cheer up, and I’ll bring you back something nice to eat.”
    Mervyn said, “I’ll save you my paper serviette. It will make a tablecloth for Moppet.”
    And Meg said, “Go to sleep now, like a good girl, and I’ll tell you all about it in the morning.”
    Mary-Mary (still under the blankets) said, “Thank you” and “Good-bye” and “Have a nice time”; and then off they all went.
    It was a lovely party. Miriam, Martyn, Mervyn, and Meg had a very jolly time.
    A little while before midnight Miriam and Meg slipped away to put on their fairy clothes. As they ran through the hall on their way upstairs they saw Mr Merry just coming in at the front door with a great big round box in his arms.
    â€œHallo!” he said. “Are you having a good time?”
    â€œOh, yes!” they said, both together.
    â€œAnd where are the rest of your family?” asked Mr Merry.
    â€œMartyn and Mervyn are in the sitting-room with the others,” said Miriam.
    â€œAnd Mary-Mary is fast asleep in bed,” said Meg.
    â€œWhy?” said Mr Merry. “Has she been naughty?”
    â€œOh, no!” said Miriam and Meg together, “but she’s
much
too little to come to a New Year party.”
    â€œYou two are going to be the fairies, aren’t you?” said Mr Merry.

    â€œYes,” they said. “Are those the crackers in that box? Can we see?”
    â€œNot to be opened till midnight!” said Mr Merry, laughing. “You will be careful not to drop it, won’t you? It is heavier than you might think.”
    He carried the box into the kitchen and shut the door, and Miriam and Meg ran on upstairs to change.
    In the sitting-room Martyn and Mervyn were very busy. Mrs Merry had put them in charge of the games (with Billy and Bob to help them) while she went away to see to one or two things. Barbara and Bunty were seeing to the refreshments.
    They had just finished a game of Blind Man’s Buff when Mrs Merry came back, looking very jolly.
    â€œWhat time is it?” she asked.
    â€œIt’s nearly midnight!” shouted all the children, pointing at the clock.
    â€œSo it is!” said Mrs Merry. “Now, stand back, all of you, and make a way through. I believe I hear someone coming.”
    Everyone stood back. Then the door opened and in came a very old man with a long white beard. He limped across the room, leaning heavily on a stick, and peered up at the clock.
    â€œWho is he?” somebody whispered.
    Everyone started talking at once. “I know! He’s the Old Year!” “How wonderful!” “And he’s looking at the clock, because he’s only got another