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Authors: Mavis Doriel Hay
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arrangements, which heâd heard about from Sir Osmond when he was out driving, as if he was quite looking forward to it.
â Santa Klaus , weâre to call the old buffer,â he said, in a joking sort of way. I knew Sir Osmond was particular about us saying Santa Klaus; said we gave it up in the War, because it was German, but we oughtnât to mind that now and Father Christmas was just silly. The other meant Saint Nicholas, and thatâs who the old man with the reindeer sleigh really was. Harry had got it all pat.
Of course this Santa Klaus idea nearly didnât come off at all, with the costume not turning up on Saturday nor on Monday morning. I was very upset when it didnât arrive on Monday, having advised Sir Osmond to wait till then. He had set his heart on having this affair, and I knew heâd be very put out if the plan was spoilt. I made up my mind that if they didnât send the costume by train on Monday Iâd buy some stuff in Bristol and run something up myself, though the beard would be a bit of a puzzle. I thought I might get one in Bristol. However, there was no need, for the costume came sure enough by the afternoon train. I went in with Harry and collected it and brought it back. The people said when I telephoned that theyâd sent if off by post on Friday morning, but I dare say, with the Christmas rush, they didnât post it at all. Anyway, the one first ordered never turned up, so it was a good thing weâd got another sent down by train.
Christmas morning went off better than Iâd expected. It was a nice fine day, though not exactly Christmassy, being quite warm for the time of year. It was Sir Osmondâs wish that all should go to church and make a good family show at this season, and the family party being nearly as many as all the rest of the congregation put together, they certainly did liven up the village church.
There was some talk about whether the two youngest children, Mrs. Sticklandâs Anne and Mrs. George Melburyâs Clare, should be left behind, but Sir Osmond said it was time they learnt to behave in church and both the nurses should go too. But it turned out that Mrs. Sticklandâs new nurse was some sort of a free-thinker and had no wish to go. In fact, she was quite nasty about it, saying she was engaged to look after children and that she would do, she said, but not outrage her convictions. Sir Osmond was considerably put out and so was Mrs. Stickland, she being such a one for having all correct and doubtless would never have engaged such a woman, but was not able to pick and choose, her own nurse being called away so inconveniently. My own opinion is that Nurse should have kept her views, if views they can be called, to herself, instead of upsetting the family in such a way.
However, it was all settled. I sat beside Harry in the Sunbeam car, with Sir Osmond, Miss Mildred Melbury and Mrs. Sticklandâs two children in the back. Harry made some sarcastic remark about him wondering I condescended to sit by him, me being now one of the family. Sometimes I canât make out whatâs in Harryâs mind. Mr. George Melbury drove his Austin car and took his wife and his youngest daughter and their nurse and also Lady Evershot. The others all walked through the park. Lady Evershot said she had a headache and so sheâd take the two youngest children out before the sermon and walk home with them and put them in charge of the nurse who was a free-thinker. Though I wonder that the Hon. Mrs. George Melbury liked her little girl to be put under the influence of such a woman, after what had been revealed.
Besides the family there were two gentlemen in the party at Flaxmere; Mr. Philip Cheriton, who is very much in favour with Miss Jennifer, though I canât say the same for Sir Osmond, and Mr. Oliver Witcombe, who is a very gentlemanly young man and extremely good-looking. Mr. Witcombe was to be Santa Klaus and dress up in
â Santa Klaus , weâre to call the old buffer,â he said, in a joking sort of way. I knew Sir Osmond was particular about us saying Santa Klaus; said we gave it up in the War, because it was German, but we oughtnât to mind that now and Father Christmas was just silly. The other meant Saint Nicholas, and thatâs who the old man with the reindeer sleigh really was. Harry had got it all pat.
Of course this Santa Klaus idea nearly didnât come off at all, with the costume not turning up on Saturday nor on Monday morning. I was very upset when it didnât arrive on Monday, having advised Sir Osmond to wait till then. He had set his heart on having this affair, and I knew heâd be very put out if the plan was spoilt. I made up my mind that if they didnât send the costume by train on Monday Iâd buy some stuff in Bristol and run something up myself, though the beard would be a bit of a puzzle. I thought I might get one in Bristol. However, there was no need, for the costume came sure enough by the afternoon train. I went in with Harry and collected it and brought it back. The people said when I telephoned that theyâd sent if off by post on Friday morning, but I dare say, with the Christmas rush, they didnât post it at all. Anyway, the one first ordered never turned up, so it was a good thing weâd got another sent down by train.
Christmas morning went off better than Iâd expected. It was a nice fine day, though not exactly Christmassy, being quite warm for the time of year. It was Sir Osmondâs wish that all should go to church and make a good family show at this season, and the family party being nearly as many as all the rest of the congregation put together, they certainly did liven up the village church.
There was some talk about whether the two youngest children, Mrs. Sticklandâs Anne and Mrs. George Melburyâs Clare, should be left behind, but Sir Osmond said it was time they learnt to behave in church and both the nurses should go too. But it turned out that Mrs. Sticklandâs new nurse was some sort of a free-thinker and had no wish to go. In fact, she was quite nasty about it, saying she was engaged to look after children and that she would do, she said, but not outrage her convictions. Sir Osmond was considerably put out and so was Mrs. Stickland, she being such a one for having all correct and doubtless would never have engaged such a woman, but was not able to pick and choose, her own nurse being called away so inconveniently. My own opinion is that Nurse should have kept her views, if views they can be called, to herself, instead of upsetting the family in such a way.
However, it was all settled. I sat beside Harry in the Sunbeam car, with Sir Osmond, Miss Mildred Melbury and Mrs. Sticklandâs two children in the back. Harry made some sarcastic remark about him wondering I condescended to sit by him, me being now one of the family. Sometimes I canât make out whatâs in Harryâs mind. Mr. George Melbury drove his Austin car and took his wife and his youngest daughter and their nurse and also Lady Evershot. The others all walked through the park. Lady Evershot said she had a headache and so sheâd take the two youngest children out before the sermon and walk home with them and put them in charge of the nurse who was a free-thinker. Though I wonder that the Hon. Mrs. George Melbury liked her little girl to be put under the influence of such a woman, after what had been revealed.
Besides the family there were two gentlemen in the party at Flaxmere; Mr. Philip Cheriton, who is very much in favour with Miss Jennifer, though I canât say the same for Sir Osmond, and Mr. Oliver Witcombe, who is a very gentlemanly young man and extremely good-looking. Mr. Witcombe was to be Santa Klaus and dress up in
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