\"Itisnotabitmoreperfunctorythanthepresentsystem，\"saidEgbert；\"IhaveonlythesameconventionallanguageofgratitudeatmydisposalwithwhichtothankdearoldColonelChuttleforhisperfectlydeliciousStilton，whichweshalldevourtothelastmorsel，andtheFroplinsonsfortheircalendar，whichweshallneverlookat。ColonelChuttleknowsthatwearegratefulfortheStilton，withouthavingtobetoldso，andtheFroplinsonsknowthatweareboredwiththeircalendar，whateverwemaysaytothecontrary，justasweknowthattheyareboredwiththebridge-markersinspiteoftheirwrittenassurancethattheythankedusforourcharminglittlegift。Whatismore，theColonelknowsthatevenifwehadtakenasuddenaversiontoStiltonorbeenforbiddenitbythedoctor，weshouldstillhavewrittenaletterofheartythanksaroundit。Soyouseethepresentsystemofacknowledgmentisjustasperfunctoryandconventionalasthecounterfoilbusinesswouldbe，onlytentimesmoretiresomeandbrain-racking。\"
\"YourplanwouldcertainlybringtheidealofaHappyChristmasastepnearerrealisation，\"saidJanetta。
\"Thereareexceptions，ofcourse，\"saidEgbert，\"peoplewhoreallytrytoinfuseabreathofrealityintotheirlettersofacknowledgment。AuntSusan，forinstance，whowrites：\'Thankyouverymuchfortheham；
notsuchagoodflavourastheoneyousentlastyear，whichitselfwasnotaparticularlygoodone。Hamsarenotwhattheyusedtobe。\'ItwouldbeapitytobedeprivedofherChristmascomments，butthatlosswouldbeswallowedupinthegeneralgain。\"
\"Meanwhile，\"saidJanetta，\"whatamItosaytotheFroplinsons？\"