It was proposed that the applicants should meet Mr. Bingle and the
children at the offices of the Society on the Saturday before
Christmas, which fell on a Thursday.
Mr. Bingle objected. He said he couldn't think of letting them go
before Christmas. These people would have to wait until after
Christmas Eve, and that was final. President Force, coming to his
wife's rescue, ironically suggested to the little bookkeeper that it
was barely possible that other people were in the habit of inflicting
children with "The Christmas Carol." He flushed, however, under the
mild stare with which Mr. Bingle favoured him, and proceeded to change
his tune with considerable alacrity. A happy thought seemed to have
struck him with some suddenness.
"By Jove, Bingle, I have a splendid scheme. What could be more fitting
than that these child-seekers should receive just what they want on
Christmas morning? That's the ticket, my dear," he said, turning to
his wife. "Fix it so that a child is delivered bright and early on
Christmas morning--in its own stockings, of course--and there you are!
A Merry Christmas for everybody, and perhaps a Happy New Year.
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