The eldest boy, a practical youth, pointed out, very sensibly, that
nothing could be gained by their not going on with their dinner, but
was bitterly reproached for being able to think of any form of
enjoyment at a moment when his poor dear father was in heaven. It
reminded his mother of the special message to Cousin Jane, who up to
that moment had been playing the part of comforter. With the
collapse of Cousin Jane, dramatic in its suddenness, conversation
disappeared. At nine o'clock the entire family went dinnerless to
bed.
The eldest boy--as I have said, a practical youth--had the sense to
get up early the next morning and send a wire, which brought the glad
news back to them that their beloved one was not in heaven, but was
still in Colorado. But the only reward my friend got for all his
tender thoughtfulness was the vehement injunction never for the
remainder of his life to play such a fool's trick again.
There were other cases I could have recited showing the ill
recompense that so often overtakes the virtuous action; but, as I
explained to Bute, it would have saddened me to dwell upon the theme.
It was quite a large party assembled at the St. Leonards', including
one or two county people, and I should have liked, myself, to have
made a better entrance. A large lady with a very small voice seemed
to be under the impression that I had arranged the whole business on
purpose.
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