"Charming, Mrs. Mills, but I don't quite see——"
"Oh, look at the words, sir! They're what I call so appropriate! Do read them."
He read the beautiful words—
Wishing you a blithe and gladsome Yule.
"Well, sir, I only thought they was pretty, and pre-aps you'd like to keep it, sir, or send it to one of your young ladies; but I'll take it away if you don't like it." She put it back in her pocket.
"Frankly, I don't. What a genius you have for the wrong thing! Are you going to give me plum pudding and turkey on Midsummer Day?"
"I shouldn't dream of such a thing, sir."
Gillie had scribbled a letter.
"Go and ring up a messenger boy, will you?"