Do you think so? asks SANTA CLAUS, looking around from one to the other.
Of course, they would, answers FATHER. The fact is they'd love you all the more for it, if that's possible.
Dear Santa Claus, you don't mind my laughing at you, do you? says GERTRUDE; because you were funny, you know.
Well—no—I guess I don't mind much, SANTA CLAUS answers. In fact, the more I think of it, the more I think myself that it was funny. Ho! Ho! Ho! Only so high
(he measures the height with his hand) and as fat as butter. Ho! Ho! Ho! He goes off into a roar of laughter, and everybody else begins laughing, and they laugh more and more, until they have to lean up against the wall and the table, and wipe their eyes.
When the laughing has stopped, SANTA CLAUS says, There's only one person I don't believe I can quite forgive, and that's the sly puss of a fairy, who gave me the plum pudding. She knew what would happen well enough. Where is she? He looks around for her. Why, she's gone.
So she has, says GERTRUDE, looking around. They've both gone.
And the brownies, too, says WALTER.
And I must be going this very minute, exclaims SANTA CLAUS. Goodness knows how late it is. He goes toward the door. Good-bye, everybody. Good-bye till next Christmas. Just at the door he turns, and says, By the way, I've got some more of those hazel nuts at home. What do you think I'd better do with them?
Santa Claus, says GRANDMOTHER, bring them with you next Christmas, and let's do it all over again.