"Good," said Berry. Then he turned to Daphne. "Darling, you
have my warmest Yuletide greetings and heartiest good wishes for
a bright New Year. Remember the old saying:

"You may have move pretentious wishes,
But more sincere you can't than this is."

"Do you believe it's going on like this?" said his wife.

"Dear heart- two words- my love for you is imperishable. If it
were left at the goods station for a month during a tram strike,
it would, unlike the sausages, emerge fresh and sweet as of yore.
I mean it."

"Fool," said Daphne. "I meant the weather, as you know."

"A rebuff," said her husband. "Do I care? Never. Strike me in
the wind, and I will offer you my second wind for another blow. I
did not forget everything when I married you. But to the
weather. This berlizzard- German- has its disadvantages. A
little more, and we shan't be able to bathe to-morrow. Never
mind. Think of the Yule log. Noel." Here he regarded his empty
glass for a moment. "Woman, lo, your lord's beaker requires
replenishing. I ought not to have to tell you, really.
However."

Daphne selected one of the harder chocolates, took careful aim,
and discharged it in the direction of her husband's face. It
struck him on the nose.