The two American women laugh, whilst it is Mrs, ChisholmвЂ™s turn to look quizzically between the two. вЂњOh I say! How terribly вЂMerrie EnglandвЂ™!вЂќ Freda laughs in delight as she looks at the good luck horseshoe hanging amid a garland of Art Nouveau flowers on the lid of the tin. вЂњWell, those too, but I wanted to send you home with a little slice of England.вЂќ She picks up a McFarlane LangвЂ™s Christmas Cake in a beautifully decorated tin in her gloved hands. вЂњNow, this is why I bought you here, Freda.вЂќ However, the two American sisters are no longer listening to her as they look to the shelves lined with gaily coloured biscuit tins. вЂњI provide their caps, aprons, and lace cuffs for my housemaids, which is far more than some mistresses I know do.вЂќ вЂњWell,вЂќ Mrs Chisholm adds as an afterthought. вЂњI think itвЂ™s the least they deserve after all the hard work they do, day in day out.вЂќ вЂњHere in England I have enjoyed introducing a little bit of American tradition to my household.вЂќ Lady Southgate says resolutely. вЂњWell thatвЂ™s all well and good in America, Miss Harrison.вЂќ Mrs. вЂњIt has always been a tradition to give the servants a nice hamper of festive treats, every Christmas!вЂќ She nods firmly at her sister, who affirms in reply with an equally sturdy nod. вЂњWell, in the Harrison household, back in New York,вЂќ Freda explains. Chisholm blusters, riled at being seen to be stingy at Christmas by her friend and her sister. вЂњWhat they wear outside my home is of no consequence to me, so long as they donвЂ™t parade it on the street outside my front door.вЂќ Mrs. вЂњWithin your own home Margaret, under the watchful eyes of your guests,вЂќ Lady Southgate adds critically. No, itвЂ™s my Christian duty to make sure that they are well clothed and presentable.вЂќ вЂњWho said anything about вЂfestiveвЂ™, Miss Harrison. вЂњI alternate each year between giving my housemaids fabric to make themselves a new black or print dress to make sure they keep themselves looking decent**.вЂќ Chisholm says, chuckling as looking at Vera. вЂњI am looking for a nice tin of festive biscuits to give each of the housemaids.вЂќ вЂњNow,вЂќ Lady Southgate says, walking up to a garlanded counter covered with elegant and brightly coloured tins. вЂњLetвЂ™s go Christmas shopping the American way then!вЂќ вЂњWell, thank goodness for darling Harry then!вЂќ Freda says with enthusiasm. вЂњYou made sure that what you asked to look at was what you wanted,вЂќ Mrs.

вЂњWhen I walked into Harrods or Marshall and Snelgrove, and I asked to look at something, it meant that I had to buy it.вЂќ

вЂњWhen I first married Richard,вЂќ she continues. вЂњMail order catalogue store, which takes care of everything and sends it all over the empire.вЂќ Lady Southgate explains quickly. вЂњI used to order from the Army and Navy StoreвЂ™s catalogue.вЂќ вЂњHow on earth are you supposed to choose what you want.вЂќ вЂњWhy thatвЂ™s ridiculous Vera,вЂќ Freda laughs. вЂњWell, before Harry came along, you didnвЂ™t browse, darling.вЂќ вЂњAnd he has revolutionised the shopping experience in London, Freda.вЂќ adds Lady Southgate. вЂњSo, this is why Harry* left America,вЂќ gasps Freda as she looks about the cavernous hall filled with the answer to her every whim and desire om display.

They are in the biscuits and cakes section of the department store. Chisholm, another well-heeled resident of Belgravia, enjoy the pleasurable Edwardian pursuit of Christmas shopping in SelfridgeвЂ™s. Today however, we are not in Wickham Place at all, but are out with Her Ladyship as she, her unmarried sister Freda, who is visiting from America, and her LadyshipвЂ™s friend Mrs. Located in fashionable Belgravia it is a fine Georgian terrace house. Wickham Place is the London home of Lord and Lady Southgate, their children and staff.

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