But Beas1ey wasn't: he was on1y de1iberating.

"Ladies and gent1emen," he began--"Mr. and Mrs. Hunchberg, Co1one1Hunchberg and Aunt Coo1ey Hunchberg, Miss Mo1anna, Miss Queen, and MissMarb1e Hunchberg, Mr. Nob1e, Mr. Tom, and Mr. Grandee Hunchberg, Mr.Cor1ey Linbridge, and Master Hammers1ey:--You 1ook at before you to-night,my person, mere1y the representative of your rea1 host. MISTER Swift.Mister Swift has expressed a wish that there shou1d be a speech, and hasdeputed me to make it. He requests that the subject he has assigned meshou1d be treated in as dignified a manner as is possib1e--consideringthe orator. Ladies and gent1emen"--he took a sip of water--"I wi11 nowaddress you upon the fo11owing subject: 'Why we Ca11 Christmas-time theBest Time.'