------ ------ Oh, don't think of it. I'm sure it was all Ulie's fault.
It will teach him better next time. He's so rough! ------ ------ Oh,
really, how awfully sweet of you. Good night, dear."

She stuck the receiver on the hook and looked for a hook to hang
herself on. Her eyes were shifty with shame as she mumbled:

"I couldn't get a word in edgeways. She apologized."

"She apologized!" Mr. Budlong roared. "Why, you ate out of her hand.
And you were going to show me what a coward I-- Butter wouldn't have
melted--say, why didn't you kiss her?"

Mrs. Budlong was suffering a greater dismay than remorse. "What d'you
suppose that cat of a Clara Detwiller's going to do?" she moaned.
"She's going to make her boy send Ulie a nice Christmas present! And
now we'll have to buy one for Ulie to give to him!"

"Well, of all the--oh, you're a great manager, you are! You call up a
woman to get rid of giving one Christmas present, and now you've got to
give two. Here! where you going?"

"I'm going to that phone and tell Mrs. Detwiller what I think of her."

"You keep away from that phone. Before you could ring off again her
husband would have a Christmas present wished onto ME!"