Page:Christopher Morley--Where the blue begins.djvu/222

208 thought. Christmas seems to have come very suddenly this year, I haven't really adjusted my mind to it yet.

“All right,” he said. “Now sit still and keep quiet. Bunks, give Yelpers a little more room. If there's any bickering Santa Claus might hear it.”

He sat in the big chair by the fire, and the three looked upward expectantly from the hearthrug.

“Once upon a time there were three little puppies, who lived in a house in the country in the Canine Estates. And their names were Groups, Bunks, and Yelpers.”

The three tails thumped in turn as the names were mentioned, but the children were too excitedly absorbed to interrupt.

“And one year, just before Christmas, they heard a dreadful rumour.”

“What's a rumour?” cried Yelpers, alarmed.

This was rather difficult to explain, so Gissing did not attempt it. He began again.

“They heard that Santa Claus might not be able to come because he was so behind with his housework. You see, Santa Claus is a great big Newfoundland dog with a white beard, and he