The senior member of the firm of Hawkins & Hawkins folded the letter
very hurriedly and tucked it into its envelope. There was a mist in
his eyes, and a lump in his throat--two most uncalled-for, unwelcome
phenomena. With a determined effort he cleared his throat and began to
speak.
"You see, Edith," he observed pompously, "your fears were quite
groundless, after all. This Christmas shopping, if reduced to a
system--" He paused suddenly. His wife had stopped her sewing and was
looking straight into his eyes.