The Wildfire Club - The Emma Hardinge Britten Archive

300 CHBISTXAB STOBIEB •
.. Know no one, perhaps? "
.. Yes, you."
.. Dear lady, then it is with us you must come and
spend your Christmas day - you mUle not be alone."
.. Nay, I am about to return to my inn. I have, as you
say, no friends here, no amusements; so I came to the ferry
house to enjoy life in the life of others, and derive happine..
from the sight of it in those dear friends whom I felt
.ure would be for meeting in this spot."
Now, the young men never thought of inquiring how she
knew that friends were to meet in that place just then;
but their warm hearts were full, nor would they hear of
her going to an inn, a cold, money-making, selfish inn, on
a Christmas day - nay, she must spend it at home, and
that home was the four walls which contained the only
friends she .eemed to have .
.. But your ,father and mother," urged the lady, as the
groaning' diligence slowly hove in sight .
.. Madam," said the elder brother, " father is the best of
men, good and kind to all he knows, still more so to
strangers, whom he believes God sends to him for the
especial exercise of his hospitality. Our dear mother may
be a little askew in her temper now and then; but then
her temper has a strong enemy to contend with in her kind
heart, which 80mehow always manages to get the best of
_ the day. But above all, madam, we have an old grandam,
one who teaches us all, and, in truth, rules us all;
and well it is for us she does, for her rule is so good,
that we feel to strive against it would be to make war on
Heaven; and this good one has often told us to entreat
strangers to share our hospitality, for in so doing, she says,
we may • entertain angels unaware.' "
Half an hour from this time Estelle was sobbing on the