"I know my sister-in-law's Christmas puddings of old! You can't beat them! Mrs. Metherell, I shall never eat that huge turkey all by myself, although I have such an excellent appetite, and I'm going to dine with our senior house surgeon on Christmas Day. I want you to cook the turkey for your little visitors, and have the cake as well. If you are going to have a high tea, as I think you told me you intended, cold turkey would come in nicely, wouldn't it?"
"Yes, it would," Mrs. Metherell acknowledged, "but I don't like to take it from you, sir. The turkey will keep several days, and you might have it hot for dinner one night, and as to the cake—why, I don't suppose your sister-in-law meant you to eat all these good things at once!"
"Well, no," he responded, laughing, "but I'd so much rather the children shared them with me."
"I'm sure, sir, if that's the case, I'm quite agreeable, and I'm very much obliged to you for wishing it."
"And, Mrs. Metherell, I've bought a few things to help decorate your Christmas tree. I passed a toy shop on my way home from the hospital to-night, and the toys were so enticing, I couldn't possibly resist buying some. The fact is," he explained, speaking in confidential tones, "my godfather has sent me a five pound note for a Christmas box!"
"Oh, Mr. Blewett, you ought not to have spent your money in that way!"
"Only a small part of it—there's a lot left, I assure you. I've bought a beautiful doll for my little niece, Nellie—such a grand doll! And a Russia leather pocket-book for my brother, dear old chap! And half-a-dozen pairs of gloves for my sister-in-law. And look here, Mrs. Metherell, what do you think of this?" Drawing a small jeweller's box from his breast pocket, and exhibiting therein a pretty silver brooch.
"For Clara," he explained, "only I shall not give it to her till Christmas Day. Do you think she will like it?"
"I am sure she will, sir! I believe you are the only one of my lodgers who ever shows her the least consideration, and I'm sure you'll be the only one to give her anything for Christmas."
Clara was the indefatigable maid-of-all-work of the establishment, a good-natured girl who had imbibed some of her mistress's qualities of mind and heart.