But Beasley wasn't: he was only deliberating.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he began--"Mr. and Mrs. Hunchberg, ColonelHunchberg and Aunt Cooley Hunchberg, Miss Molanna, Miss Queen, and MissMarble Hunchberg, Mr. Noble, Mr. Tom, and Mr. Grandee Hunchberg, Mr.Corley Linbridge, and Master Hammersley:--You see before you to-night,my person, merely the representative of your real host. MISTER Swift.Mister Swift has expressed a wish that there should be a speech, and hasdeputed me to make it. He requests that the subject he has assigned meshould be treated in as dignified a manner as is possible--consideringthe orator. Ladies and gentlemen"--he took a sip of water--"I will nowaddress you upon the following subject: 'Why we Call Christmas-time theBest Time.'