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you’d better go with Bingham yourself, to make sure there’s no mistake.”
    â€œOh, certainly, Sir Osmond! I am quite sure it will be all right. We may even get two , the other one coming by a later post.”
    â€œMake it quite clear that I’m only paying for one. They had plenty of notice and they know quite well that it’s Christmas time! They should allow for postal delay.”
    â€œOh, certainly, Sir Osmond. Shall I order the car for you now? I think you have some more calls to do? We shall hardly need it for the station until the 2.26.”
    â€œYes, yes. But what about Eleanor and her husband and the children? They’re coming before lunch.”
    â€œI rather think, Sir Osmond, that Mr. and Mrs. Stickland have arranged for Ashmore to meet them, doubtless thinking that you would be needing the car at such a time.”
    â€œHm! Very well! See to that, then I’ll look through these letters before I go.”
    Our parcels were packed away and we returned to the hall, to be greeted by George, who had just finished his breakfast, with, “What’s all this to-do about a parcel which hasn’t come for Father?”
    I thought they’d better hear about it, but I warned them not to say I’d told them, because Father was probably planning a dramatic announcement.
    I explained his idea that Santa Klaus should distribute the presents to the children from the Christmas tree on the evening of Christmas Day. He had decided on this last week, and sent for a Santa Klaus outfit from Dawson’s. It was supposed to arrive on Saturday, but when it didn’t turn up he was persuaded by the Portent to wait until Monday morning. Now, of course, he was thoroughly annoyed at this hitch in his plan, but doubtless the thing would turn up later, and the Portent would also secure a second one, and Father would be rather pleased that Dawson’s had the trouble of sending two and would only be paid for one.
    â€œAnd who’s to have the honour of putting on the beard and the cotton wool?” George inquired. “You don’t mean to say I’m cast for the part? Or does the old man do it himself?”
    I told them I thought it was to be Oliver, though first of all Father had suggested that Philip should do it. Then I think it occurred to him that Philip, who is good at amateur theatricals, might make a great success of it and walk away with the honours, so he fixed on Oliver, who is such a stick and can’t act for nuts. It wasn’t to be one of the family, because Father thought the children would then identify him at once.
    â€œYou’d better coach the children a bit, Patricia,” George advised his wife. “It would be just like Kit to spoil the game by blurting out that he can see Mr. Witcombe’s trousers!”
    â€œIf it was to be done at all, it ought to have been done years ago, when the children were babies,” said Dittie. “Children of eight and nine nowadays know that it’s all rubbish, and I don’t think they ought to be brought up in this atmosphere of shams.”
    â€œThe kiddies will enjoy it all right,” George assured her easily. “If they’re told they’ve got to pretend, they’ll pretend, won’t they, Patricia?”
    â€œI only hope so,” she replied. “But Kit is so naughty. Of course, I like these old-fashioned customs, but governesses and schools are so very up-to-date and the children do seem to get such a grown-up point of view and know all about aeroplanes and which car you ought to buy; one can’t keep pace with them. But I only hope it won’t interfere with their bedtime.”
    Carol came bounding downstairs, ready to go out. She looked charming. I think that’s partly why Patricia likes taking her about and patronising her a bit. Carol looks so distinguished; tall and with movements which I can only describe as well-sprung. She has Hilda’s fine