Budlong's Christmas
presents. It would tell the complete story of all the darned fool
fads that American women have been up to for twenty years."
But foolish soever, Mrs. Budlong was fair. A keen sense of
sportsmanship led her to give full notice to such people as she
planned to honor with her gifts. She knew how embarrassing it is to
receive presents from one to whom no present has been sent, and she
made it a point of honor somehow to forewarn her prospective
beneficiaries betimes. Her favorite method was the classic device of
pretending to let slip a secret. For instance:
"Yesterday morning, my dear, I had the Strangest exPerience. It was
just ten o'clock. I remember the hour so exactly because for the
last few days I have made it a rule to begin work on your Christmas
present just at ten--Oh, but I didn't mean to tell you. It was to be
a surprise. No, don't ask me, I won't give you an inkling, but I
really think it will please you. It's something you've been needing
for Such a long time."
And she left the victim to writhe from then on to Christmas, trying
alternately to imagine what gift was impending and what would be an
appropriate counter-gift.
III
MISTRESS OF THE REVELS
In more ways than one Mrs. Budlong kept Carthage on the writhe.
Christmas was merely the climax of a ceaseless activity.
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