_Fountain_, taking the card which she mechanically stretches out to him: "And a man sends it--old Fellows. Can't you read print? Ambrose J. Fellows, and a message in writing: 'It was a toss-up between this and a cigar-case, and the bath-robe won. Hope you haven't got any other thoughtful friends.'" _Mrs. Fountain_: "Oh, very brilliant, giving me a start like this! I shall let Mr. Fellows know-- What is it, Maggie? Open the door, please." _Maggie_, opening: "It's just a District Messenger." _Fountain_, ironically: "Oh, only a District Messenger." He signs the messenger's slip, while his wife receives from Maggie a bundle which she regards with suspicion. XII MRS. FOUNTAIN, FOUNTAIN _Mrs. Fountain_: "'From Uncle Philip for Clarence.' Well, Uncle Philip, if you have sent Clarence-- _Clarence!_" breaking into a whimper: "It is, it is! It's another." _Fountain_: "Well, that only makes the seventh, and just enough for every day in the week. It's quite my ideal. Now, if there's nothing about a cigar-case-- Hello!" He feels in the pocket of the robe and brings out a cigar-case, from which a slip of paper falls: "'Couldn't make up my mind between them, so send both. Uncle Phil.' Well, this is the last stroke of Christmas insanity." _Mrs. Fountain_: "His brain simply reeled under it, and gave way. It shows what Christmas really comes to with a man of strong intellect like Uncle Phil." _Fountain_, opening the case: "Oh, I don't know! He's put some cigars in here--in a lucid interval, probably. There's hope yet." _Mrs. Fountain_, in despair: "No, Clarence, there's no hope. Don't flatter yourself. The only way is to bundle back all their presents and never, never, never give or receive another one. Come! Let's begin tying them up at once; it will take us the rest of the night." A knock at the door. "Come, Maggie." XIII JIM AND SUSY, MRS. FOUNTAIN, FOUNTAIN _Jim and Susy_, pushing in: "We can't sleep, mother. May we have a pillow fight to keep us amused till we're drowsy?" _Mrs. Fountain_, desolately: "Yes, go and have your pillow fight. It doesn't matter now. We're sending the presents all back, anyway." She begins frantically wrapping some of the things up. _Susy_: "Oh, father, are you sending them back?" _Jim_: "She's just making believe. Isn't she, father?" _Fountain_: "Well, I'm not so sure of that. If she doesn't do it, I will." _Mrs. Fountain_, desisting: "Will you go right back to bed?" _Jim and Susy_: "Yes, we will." _Mrs. Fountain_: "And to sleep, instantly?" _Jim and Susy_, in succession: "We won't keep awake a minute longer." _Mrs. Fountain_: "Very well, then, we'll see. Now be off with you." As they put their heads together and go out laughing: "And remember, if you come here another single time, back go every one of the presents." _Fountain_: "As soon as ever Santa Claus can find a moment for it."