eleven o'clock
The moment that dinner was over the judge was hustled into the library by Nora and Miriam , and informed by them that they constituted a committee of two to amuse him until eleven o'clock . He was their prisoner and they dared him to try to escape . Next to Grace , Nora , with her rosy cheeks and ready Irish wit was perhaps the judge 's favorite , while he had a profound admiration for stately Miriam ; so he was well satisfied with his captors , who triumphantly conducted him to the drawing room , where Miriam played and Nora sang Irish ballads with a delicious brogue that completely captivated the old gentleman . At eleven o'clock there was a great jingling of bells and into the room dashed Santa Claus , looking as fat and jolly as a story-book Kris Kringle . `` Merry Christmas , '' he cried in a high squeaky voice . `` It 's a little early to wish you Merry Christmas , judge , but I 've an engagement in China at midnight so I thought I 'd drop in here a trifle early , leave a few toys for you and your little playmates and be gone . I always make it a point to remember good little boys .