"Mary'
looking extremely fit," '4 volunteered George, throwing himself into our only easy chair with an impetus that threatened to wreck "Mary who?" we demanded absent-mindedly, secretly resenting the interruption to our writing.
"Mary Christmas," he flashed There was nothing to be of course, We had fairly bought it. When our indignation which was directed principally at ourself for having risen to the bait had subsided, we asked George where ko had been keeping himself. ye been busy writing a play, jeame his answer, in apparent seriousness. "The principal character is a nobleman, Count Thatdaylost, who is cursed with a low, descending son. Hold on a minute,"
added hastily, as ko saw us reach for the ink bottle; "I mean to say the son is a bit of a rounder. There is 4 fortune at stake, which is sup-Posed to fall to the rounder. It's an historical play, you see, skowin the origin of round steak and..."
"For the love of Pete!" we finally naged to gasp; "How on earth id you get this way?"
't's joy, pure, unalloyed Christmas joy," he assured us. "This is the time to throw dull care to the winds, and be merry and bright. It doesn't matter so much about the brightness so long as one is merry. Be sure to make some child happy. If you haven't a child,.procesd w: th-out delay to get.
"That will do," we interrupted; "Just what brand of pure, unadulte-Fated Christmas joy have you been absorbing so early in the day?"
"I was merely going to say, proceed without delay to get hob} of a neighbour's child,' he protested. "Haven't had a drop. In fact, T've looked in on you for my morning's morning.'
"For a budding drat poor idea of the unit formed him; "This is Christmas Shanghai, not New Year's in Glasgow and environs."
"Give you three guesses as to what is making me specially happy," said George.
"You've had a cable to say Mrs. George has sailed," we suggested. specifically said that I'm happy," he retorted. leave the sixpenny us," we warned him. (Their friends know that there is not 2 more affectionate couple in the world than Mr. and Mrs. George).
'"Aunty's popped off at last, and) you profit thereby," was our next conjecture, he answered; "Td better reveal the cause of my rejoicing before you think up something even more exhilarating. No presents from the compradore's, year. That's why I'm giddy.
"Sour grapes:" we'told him, "If you'd said sour port, or sour claret, it would be more to the Poitit," he retorted; "The reason I'm gleeful is because I shall now be able gradually to work off that collection of "H" whisky I showed you a year ago. Now that annual supplies are cut off, the stuff may acquire some value. Perhaps I can sell it back to the compradore."
"You're probably not tle orly one why has collected it," we ree minded him; "Others "may work theirs off on you."
"No fear," he answered, confidently, "Little George is far too shrewd. Td recognize the bottle a mile off. By the way, what compradore's Christmas relies have you collected You've never told me."
"None," we assured him.
"Blow come?" he asked in amazement.
"Never buy anything, so have been immune from so-called presents."
George waxed indignant, "Do you mean to say that you never have to pay for food supplies, and you've Kept it a secret all this time? You might at least let your friends know how you wangle it.
"Oh, calm down," we told hi "You know we don't keep house. Paying so much per month for prepared fodder doesn't include Christ, 8 presents of "HI" whisky, ete'
"But how can one be truly said to live unless he has a chance to run up an account with pradore?" asked Georg the excitement of staving off the shroff. You miss all that, "Glad to," we assured appeared to scoff this.
"Better let me have that drink," he suggested; "I'm faint after your confession."
"Go help yourself, you know who it's Kept. And please leave som hing for the next lunatic who barges in, pretending he's overjoyed because he's lost a graft."
"Is this your idea of the Christmas spirit?" demanded George appearing a moment later from the other room, decanter in hand, didn't know they had stuff like thi even in-Shanghai, Where did you get it?"
"It was presented to us," was all we would say.
"A present: Who on earth hates you enough to hand you such a dose of poison?"
"Well, if you must know," we hesitatingly informed him, it's that "AT whisky you worked off on us last year. It's been kept specially for you on this joyous occasion. Sorry you don't like it. Don't slam the door, please, and be sure to give our regards to your friend Mary."
RR
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.