1ST USHER.  Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hubbard! (They come in.)

MR. HUBBARD (pressing twopence into his palm).  Thank you, my man, thank you.

2ND USHER.  Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hubbard.

MR. HUBBARD (handing out another twopence).  Not at all, my man, not at all.

(MRS. HUBBARD curtsies and MR. HUBBARD bows to FATHER CHRISTMAS.)

FATHER CHRISTMAS.  I am delighted to welcome you to my Court.  How are you both?

MR. HUBBARD.  Very well, thank you, sir.  My wife has a slight cold in one foot, owing to—­

MRS. HUBBARD (hastily).  A touch of gout, sir, inherited from my ancestors, the Montmorency-Smythes.

FATHER CHRISTMAS.  Dear me, it won’t prevent you dancing, I hope?

MRS. HUBBARD.  Oh no, sir.

FATHER CHRISTMAS.  That’s right.  We shall have a few more friends coming in soon.  You have been giving each other presents already, I see.  I congratulate you, madam, on your husband’s taste.

MRS. HUBBARD (touching her necklace).  Oh no, this is a very old heirloom of the Montmorency-Smythe family.

MR. HUBBARD.  An ancestress of Mrs. Hubbard’s—­a lady-in-waiting at the Tottenham Court—­at the Tudor Court—­was fortunate enough to catch the eye of—­er—­

MRS. HUBBARD.  Elizabeth.

MR. HUBBARD.  Queen Elizabeth, and—­er—­

FATHER CHRISTMAS.  I see.  You are lucky, madam, to have such beautiful jewels. (Turning to MR. HUBBARD) And this delightful gold Albert watch-chain—­

MR. HUBBARD.  Presented to an ancestor of mine, Sir Humphrey de
Hubbard, at the battle of—­er—­

MRS. HUBBARD.  Agincourt.

MR. HUBBARD.  As you say, dear, Agincourt.  By King Richard the—­I should say William the—­well, by the King.

FATHER CHRISTMAS.  How very interesting.

MR. HUBBARD.  Yes.  My ancestor clove a scurvy knave from the chaps to the chine.  I don’t quite know how you do that, but I gather that he inflicted some sort of a scratch upon his adversary, and the King rewarded him with this handsome watch-chain.

USHERS (announcing).  Mr. Robinson Crusoe! (He comes in.)

FATHER CHRISTMAS.  How do you do?

CRUSOE (bowing).  I’m a little late, I’m afraid, sir.  My raft was delayed by adverse gales.

(FATHER CHRISTMAS introduces him to the HUBBARDS, who inform him that the weather is very seasonable.)

USHERS.  Miss Riding Hood! (She comes in.)

FATHER CHRISTMAS.  How do you do?

RIDING HOOD (curtseying).  I hope I am in time, sir.  I had to look in on my grandmother on the way here.

(FATHER CHRISTMAS makes the necessary introductions.)

MRS. HUBBARD (to CRUSOE).  Do come and see me, Mr. Crusoe.  Any Friday.  I should like your advice about my parrot.  He’s moulting in all the wrong places.

MR. HUBBARD (to RED RIDING HOOD).  I don’t know if you’re interested in wolves at all, Miss Hood.  I heard a very good story about one the other day. (He begins to tell it, but she has hurried away before he can remember whether it was Thursday or Friday.)