"He has generally been here before this," said the Imp. "I can remember your great-aunt sleeping in this very bed and being in just the same fuss. I got down and danced about all night, and she thought I was earwigs."
"I should never think you were an earwig—you're too pink and green—but don't talk, I can hear something buzzing."
"Santa Klaus doesn't buzz," said the Chintz Imp. "He comes down flop! Once in your aunt's time, I knew him nearly stick in the chimney. He had too many things in his sack. You should have heard how he struggled, it was like thunder! Everyone said how high the wind was."
"I hope he won't do it to-night," said Marianne, "I could never pull him down by myself!"
As she spoke the room seemed to be violently shaken, and there was a sound of falling plaster, followed by some loud kicks.
"Whew—w!" cried the Chintz Imp, "he's done it again!"
Marianne started up in great excitement. She sprang from her bed, and ran towards the old-fashioned fireplace.
Nothing was at first to be seen; but as the fire had died down to a few hot embers, Marianne could, by craning her head forwards, look right up into the misty darkness of the great chimney.
There, to her astonishment, she saw a pair of large brown-covered feet hanging down helplessly; while a deep voice from above cried—
"Get me out of this, or I shall break down the chimney!"