"There!" said Mr. Bingle proudly. "They did it very nicely, didn't
they, nurse?" He addressed the four nurses, who beamed as one. "Diggs,
you may summon the servants. I hear Mrs. Bingle and our guests in the
hall--or is it the--er--ahem!"

"The servants 'ave congregated in the 'all, sir. It is them that is
whispering," said Diggs, who had been scowling in the direction of the
door. "I shall speak to them, sir. They should be made to understand--
"

"Don't lecture them to-night, Diggs," broke in Mr. Bingle hastily.
"Not on Christmas Eve. Let 'em whisper. Tell 'em to come right in. You
see, Mr. Flanders, we have the servants in to hear the Christmas
Carol. It's my rule. They enjoy it. They--Ah, my dear! Here we are!
This is Mr. Flanders, Mary--my wife, sir. Come right in, Mrs. Forced.
Permit me to introduce my old friend Flanders of the Banner. Mr.
Force, shake hands with Mr. Flanders. Now--er--ahem! All right, Diggs--
call 'em in."

The servants--a horde of them--stalked into the room, each one being
formally, but perfunctorily announced by the butler, and each one
flushing painfully in return for the attention. There was Delia, the
cook, and Christine, her assistant; Swanson, the furnace man;
Lockhart, the chauffeur, and Boyles, the washer; Cora, the laundress;
Georgia, the scullery-maid; Edgecomb, the gardener, and his four
helpers; Beulah and Emma, the upstairs-maids; Bliss, the lodge-keeper,
and Jane, his daughter; Frank, the pony-cart driver, and Joe, the
coachman; Matson, the stable-boy; Fannie, the seamstress; Rudolph, the
carpenter; Miss McLeish, the stenographer and telephone operator;
Throckinorton, the dairy-man; Scott, the stockman; John Butts, the