a phrase. The same brevity must apply to the campaigns, the
stratagems, ballistics and tactics of Mrs. Budlong: numberless efforts
at secession ended as a lost cause.

There was one more desperate struggle. While only a few days stood
between her and her famous Christmas afternoons, she and her dour
husband were having a bitter council of war. She had another attack of
inspiration.

"I have it! the very thing! Why haven't we thought of it before?
Quarantine!"

"Quarantine?" echoed Mr. Budlong as if the word were gibberish.

"Yes. If we had something contagious in the house and a quarantine on,
people couldn't come here with their odious gifts and they would be so
afraid to get ours that they'd be much obliged to us for not sending
them any."

For the first time in years Mr. Budlong paid Mrs. Budlong a sincere
homage:

"You're a genius. It takes a woman to squirm out of a difficulty after
all."

He was so excited he actually kissed her--and he hadn't finished his
evening paper at that!

This overjoyed her so far that she fairly glowed.