"
The light which had spread over Mr. Elliott's countenance faded off
quickly, and Mr. Birtwell saw it assume a very grave aspect. But he
kept on:
"You never heard anything so preposterous. Mrs. Birtwell actually
proposes that we give a coldwater-and-lemonade entertainment. Ha!
ha!"
The smile he had expected to provoke by this sally did not break
into the clergyman's face.
"But I say," Mr. Birtwell added, "do the thing right, or don't do it
all."
"What do you call right?" asked Mr. Elliott.
"The way it is done by other people--as we did it last year, for
instance."
"I should be sorry to see last year's entertainment repeated if like
consequences must follow," replied Mr. Elliott, becoming still more
serious.
Mr. Birtwell showed considerable annoyance at: this.
"I have just come from a visit to your friend Mrs. Voss," said the
clergyman.
"How is she?" Mrs. Birtwell asked, anxiously.
"I do not think she can last much longer," was replied.
Tears came into Mrs. Birtwell's eyes and fell over her cheeks.
"A few days at most--a few hours, maybe--and she will be at rest.
She spoke of you very tenderly, and I think would like to see you."
"Then I will go to her immediately," said Mrs. Birtwell, rising.
"You must excuse me, Mr. Elliott. I will take the carriage and go
alone," she added, glancing toward her husband.
The two men on being left alone remained silent for a while.
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