Naturally it is the dining room—consecrated as it is to the distinguishing orgie of the season—which bears the brunt of what an English household knows as Christmas decorations. They consist chiefly of the branches of holly (that unyielding tree), stuck cock-eyed behind the top edges of the pictures. The one picture conspicuously not decorated is that which now hangs over the fireplace, a portrait of mr. voysey, with its new gilt frame and its brassplate marking it also as a presentation. honor, hastily and at some bodily peril, pulled down the large bunch of mistletoe, which a callous housemaid had suspended above it, in time to obviate the shock to family feelings which such impropriety would cause. Otherwise the only difference between the dining room's appearance at half past nine on Christmas eve and on any other evening in the year is that little piles of queer shaped envelopes seem to be lying about, while there is quite a lot of tissue paper and string to be seen peeping from odd corners. The electric light is reduced to one bulb, but when the maid opens the door showing in mr. george booth she switches on the rest.
phoebe. This room is empty, sir. I'll tell Mr. Edward.
She leaves him to fidget towards the fireplace and back, not removing his comforter or his coat, scarcely turning down the collar, screwing his cap in his hands. In a very short time edward comes in, shutting the door and taking stock of the visitor before he speaks.
edward. Well?
mr. george booth. [feebly.] I hope my excuse for not coming to dinner was acceptable. I did have . . I have a very bad headache.
edward. I daresay they believed it.
mr. george booth. I have come immediately to tell you of my decision . . perhaps this trouble will then be a little more off my mind.
edward. What is it?
mr. george booth. I couldn't think the matter out alone. I went this afternoon to talk it all over with my old friend Colpus. [at this news edward's eyebrows contract and then rise.] What a terrible shock to him!
edward. Oh, nearly three of his four thousand pounds are quite safe.