"It is good of you and Watson to come down this evening, Diggs," said
Mr. Bingle, speaking with difficulty. "This must be the busiest night
of the year for you. How could you afford to get away?"
"Well, sir," said Diggs, after looking to Melissa for approval or
inspiration, "we decided as how Christmas comes but once a year, and
as the boys in the shop can manage very nicely without us for a couple
of hours, we says to ourselves we would come down and 'ear the
'Christmas Carol' if you don't mind, sir, for old times' sake. Miss
Stokes--I mean to say, Mrs. Watson, will be along presently, sir. She
stopped for a spell, to relieve the cashier while she went to supper.
And--"
"That's enough, Mr. Diggs," interrupted Melissa. "You'll spoil it if
you go on."
"Oh, I say, Melissa--"
"Out to the kitchen with you, and get out of that fur coat. You are
perspiring like everything."
Mr. Bingle called Diggs back just as he was on the point of
disappearing through the door.
"By the way, Diggs," he said, smiling broadly, "have you heard the
news?"
"The news, sir? Is--is Mrs.
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