_Fountain_: "While you look after my office? And you think the stores are full of Christmas things in July, I suppose." _Mrs. Fountain_: "I never thought so; and now I hope you see the folly of that idea. No, Clarence. We must be logical in everything. You can't get rid of Christmas shopping at Christmas-time." _Fountain_, shouting wrathfully: "Then I say get rid of Christmas!" II MR. FRANK WATKINS, MRS. FOUNTAIN, FOUNTAIN _Watkins_, opening the door for himself and struggling into the room with an armful of parcels: "I'm with you there, Clarence. Christmas is at the root of Christmas shopping, and Christmas giving, and all the rest of it. Oh, you needn't be afraid, Lucy. I didn't hear any epithets; just caught the drift of your argument through the keyhole. I've been kicking at the door ever since you began. Where shall I dump these things?" _Mrs. Fountain_: "Oh, you poor boy! Here--anywhere--on the floor--on the sofa--on the table." She clears several spaces and helps Watkins unload. "Clarence! I'm surprised at you. What are you thinking of?" _Fountain_: "I'm thinking that if this goes on, I'll let somebody else arrange the presents." _Watkins_: "If I saw a man coming into my house with a load like this to-night, I'd throw him into the street. But living in a ninth-story flat like you, it might hurt him." _Mrs. Fountain_, reading the inscriptions on the packages: "'For Benny from his uncle Frank.' Oh, how sweet of you, Frank! And here's a kiss for his uncle Frank." She embraces him with as little interruption as possible. "'From Uncle Frank to Jim.' Oh, I know what that is!" She feels the package over. "And this is for 'Susy from her aunt Sue.' Oh, I knew she would remember her namesake. 'For Maggie. Merry Christmas from Mrs. Watkins.' 'Bridget, with Mrs. Watkins's best wishes for a Merry Christmas.' Both the girls! But it's like Sue; she never forgets anybody. And what's this for Clarence? I _must_ know! Not a bath-gown?" Undoing it: "I simply _must_ see it. Blue! His very color!" Holding it up: "From you, Frank?" He nods. "Clarence!" _Watkins_: "If Fountain tries to kiss me, I'll--" _Fountain_: "I wouldn't kiss you for a dozen bath-gowns." Lifting it up from the floor where Mrs. Fountain has dropped it: "It _is_ rather nice." _Watkins_: "Don't overwhelm me." _Mrs. Fountain_, dancing about with a long, soft roll in her hand: "Oh, oh, oh! She saw me gloating on it at Shumaker's! I do wonder if it _is_." _Fountain_, reaching for it: "Why, open it--" _Mrs. Fountain_: "You dare! No, it shall be opened the very last thing in the morning, now, to punish you! How is poor Sue? I saw her literally dropping by the way at Shumaker's."