"Oh, Toyman, you missed him--Santy was here."
"He was, was he?" the Toyman replied, "I _am_ sorry, for I'd like
to have paid my respects to the old fellow."
The funny thing about it was that he didn't seem half as disappointed
as the children--that is, Marmaduke and Hepzebiah, particularly
Hepzebiah. Jehosophat just smiled in a sort of superior way and said
nothing, but perhaps that was because he was getting older and had
lost some of his enthusiasm. As for Marmaduke, he hadn't been so
enthusiastic about seeing Santa Claus ever since Reddy Toms had told
him something, but now, after seeing Santa alive and before him--why,
he didn't care what any "ole Reddy Toms" said.
He had seen Santy--and had shaken him by the hand.