"Yes, and when royalty comes on a visit, where would you put them? They'd have to pig it in the box-room. If we're going to have a palace, let's have a good one." "Very well. What do your children hang up? Stockings or pillow-cases?" We went downstairs again. "Having provided for the engineer and the architect," I said, "we now have to consider the gentleman in the dairy business. I want a milk-cart." "You want a milk-cart! You want a milk-cart! You want a--Why not have a brewer's dray? Why not have something really heavy? The reindeer wouldn't mind. They've been out every day this week, but they'd love it. What about a nice skating-rink? What about--" I put him head downwards in my pocket and approached an official. "Do you keep milk-carts?" I said diffidently. He screwed up his face and thought. "I could get you one," he said. "I don't want you to build one specially for me. If they aren't made, I expect it's because mothers don't like them. It was just an idea of mine." "Oh yes, they're made. I can show a picture of one in our catalogue." He showed it to me. It was about the size of a perambulator, and contained every kind of can. I simply had to let Father Christmas see. "Look at that!" I exclaimed in delight. "Good lord!" he said, and dived into the pocket again. I held him there tightly and finished my business with the official. Father Christmas has never spoken since. Sometimes I wonder if he ever spoke at all, for one imagines strange things in the Children's Shop. He stands now on my writing-table, and observes me with the friendly smile which has been so fixed a feature of his since I brought him home. MISS MIDDLETON I.--TAKING A CALL "MAY I come in?" said Miss Middleton. I looked up from my book and stared at her in amazement. "Hullo," I said. "Hullo," said Miss Middleton doubtfully. "Are you going to have tea with me?" "That's what I was wondering all the way up." "It's all ready; in fact, I've nearly finished. There's a cake to-day, too." Miss Middleton hesitated at the door and looked wistfully at me. "I suppose--I suppose," she said timidly, "you think I ought to have brought somebody, with me?" "In a way, I'm just as glad you didn't." "I've heaps of chaperons outside on the stairs, you know." "There's no place like outside for chaperons." "And the liftman believes I'm your aunt. At least, perhaps he doesn't, but I mentioned it to him." I looked at her, and then I smiled. And then I laughed. "So that's all right," she said breathlessly. "And I want my tea." She came in, and began to arrange her hat in front of the glass. "Tea," I said, going to the cupboard. "I suppose you'll want a cup to yourself. There you are--don't lose it. Milk. Sugar." Miss Middleton took a large piece of cake. "What were you studying so earnestly when I came in?" she asked as she munched. "A dictionary." "But how lucky I came. Because I can spell simply everything. What is it you want to know?"