The Mitchells The Mitchells were, as Vincy had said, extremely hospitable; they had a perfect mania for receiving; they practically lived for it, and the big house at Hampstead, with its large garden covered in, and a sort of studio built out, was scarcely ever without guests.

When they didn't have some sort of party they invariably went out.
Mitchell's great joy was to make his parties different from others by some childish fantasy or other.

He especially delighted in a surprise.
He often took the trouble (for instance) to have a telegram sent to every one of his guests during the course of the evening.

Each of these wires contained some personal chaff or practical joke.

At other times he would give everyone little presents, concealed in some way.
Christmas didn't come once a year to the Mitchells; it seemed never to go away.