Order Only Private Message to Pomona Sprout

Sorry our tea was cut short. (Have you ever seen anything as bedraggled as Messrs Montrose and Gilhooly this afternoon? Well, I suppose you have, but still, they were a sight, were they not?)

I wanted to hear your story about Tilda's new boarder, though, and then the real business I'd hoped we'd get to was to do with our Christmas giving. I'm afraid this isn't going to be our best year for the sloe gin (there'll be no repeating last year's success at Hebden Bridge), but the damson bottles are looking especially promising. Perhaps we should test that proposition next Sunday afternoon?

Oh, Pomona. I'm dreading the holidays this year. Do you know, I'd found the perfect gift for Caradoc. It's sitting in my cupboard, wrapped and ready to send.

It's no good dwelling on it, I know that, but I can't bring myself even to tuck it out of sight. Or get rid of it. But seeing it there, well-


And here I am getting maudlin. Where are the ludicrous hex calamities when you need one?