_Watkins_, making for the door: "Well, she must have got up again. I left her registering a vow that if ever she lived to see another Christmas she would leave the country months before the shopping began. She called down maledictions on all the recipients of her gifts and wished them the worst harm that can befall the wicked." _Mrs. Fountain_: "Poor Sue! She simply lives to do people good, and I can understand exactly how she feels toward them. I'll be round bright and early to-morrow to thank her. Why do you go?" _Watkins_: "Well, I can't stay here all night, and I'd better let you and Clarence finish up." He escapes from her detaining embrace and runs out. III MRS. FOUNTAIN, FOUNTAIN _Mrs. Fountain_, intent upon her roll: "How funny he is! I wonder if he did hear anything but our scolding voices? Where were we?" _Fountain_: "I had just called you a serpent." _Mrs. Fountain_, with amusement: "No, really?" Feeling the parcel: "If it's that Spanish lace scarf I can tell her it was machine lace. I saw it at the first glance. But poor Sue has no taste. I suppose I must stand it. But I can't bear to think what she's given the girls and children. She means well. Did you really say serpent, Clarence? You never called me just _that_ before." _Fountain_: "No, but you called me a laughing hyena, and said I scoffed at everything sacred." _Mrs. Fountain_: "I can't remember using the word hyena, exactly, though I do think the way you talk about Christmas is dreadful. But I take back the laughing hyena." _Fountain_: "And I take back the serpent. I meant dove, anyway. But it's this Christmas-time when a man gets so tired he doesn't know what he's saying." _Mrs. Fountain_: "Well, _you're_ good, anyway, dearest, whatever you say; and now I'm going to help you arrange the things. I suppose there'll be lots more to-morrow, but we must get rid of these now. Don't you wish nobody would do anything for us? Just the children--dear little souls! I don't believe but what we can make Jim and Susy believe in Santa Claus again; Benny is firm in the faith; he put him into his prayer. I declare, his sweetness almost broke my heart." At a knock: "Who's that, I wonder? Come in! Oh, it's you, Maggie. Well?" IV THE FOUNTAINS, FOUNTAIN'S SISTERS _Maggie_: "It's Mr. Fountain's sisters just telephoned up." _Mrs. Fountain_: "Have them come up at once, Maggie, of course." As Maggie goes out: "Another interruption! If it's going to keep on like this! Shouldn't you have thought they might have _sent_ their presents?" _Fountain_: "I thought something like it in Frank's case; but I didn't say it."