The Watkinson Evening by Eliza Leslie
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in their way . I_am_sure, MA'am, you_will agree with me that_the plainest food is_the best for everybody . people that want nice things may go to parties for_them; but they_will never get any with me ."

when_the collation was over, and every child provided with a biscuit, Mrs Watkinson said to Mrs Morland: " now, MA'am, you_shall_have some music from my daughter Jane, who_is one of Mr Bangwhanger's best scholars ."

Jane Watkinson sat down to_the piano and commenced a powerful piece of six mortal pages, which she played out of_time and out of tune; but with tremendous force of hands; notwithstanding which, it had, however, the good effect of putting most of_the children to sleep .

to_the Morlands the evening had seemed already five hours long . still it_was only half past ten when Jane was in_the midst of her piece . the guests had all tacitly determined that_it would_be best not to let Mrs Watkinson know their intention to_go directly from her house to Mrs St . Leonard's party; and_the arrival of_their carriage would_have_been the signal of departure, even if Jane's piece had_not reached its termination . they stole glances at_the clock on_the mantel . it wanted but a quarter of eleven, when Jane rose from_the piano, and was congratulated by her mother on_the excellence of her music . still no carriage was heard to stop; no doorbell was heard to ring .Mrs Morland expressed her fears that_the coachman had forgotten to_come for_them .

" has he been paid for bringing you here ? " asked Mrs Watkinson .

"I paid him when we came to_the door," said Edward ." i_thought perhaps he might want the money for some purpose before he_came for_us ."

" that was very kind in you, sir," said Mrs Watkinson, " but not very wise . there's no dependence on any coachman; and perhaps as he_may_be_sure of business enough this rainy night he_may never come at all-- being already paid for bringing you here ."

now, the truth was_that the coachman had come at_the appointed time, but the noise of Jane's piano had prevented his arrival being heard in_the back parlor . the Irish girl had gone to_the door when he rang the bell, and recognized in him what she called " an ould friend ." just then a lady and gentleman who had_been caught in_the rain came running along, and seeing a carriage drawing up at a door, the gentleman inquired of_the driver if he_could_not take them to Rutgers place . the driver replied that he had just come for two ladies and a gentleman whom he had brought from_the Astor house .

" indeed and Patrick," said the girl who stood at_the door, " if i_was you I'd be after making another penny to- night . miss Jane is pounding away at one of her long music pieces, and it won't be over before_you have time to_get to Rutgers and back again . and if_you_do make them wait awhile, where's the harm ? they've a dry roof over their heads, and I warrant it's not the first waiting they've ever had in their lives; and it won't be the last neither ."

" exactly so," said the gentleman; and regardless of_the propriety of first sending to consult the persons who had engaged the carriage, he_told his wife to step in, and following her instantly himself, they drove away to Rutgers place .

reader, if_you were ever detained in a strange house by_the non- arrival of your carriage, you_will easily understand the excessive annoyance of finding that you_are keeping a family out of_their beds beyond their usual hour . and in this_case, there_was a double grievance; the guests being all impatience to_get off to a better place . the children, all crying when wakened from their sleep, were finally taken to bed by two servant maids, and Jane Watkinson, who never came back again . none were left but Hester, the great French scholar, who, being one of_those young imps that seem to_have the faculty of living without sleep, sat bolt upright with her eyes wide open, watching the uncomfortable visitors .

the Morlands felt as_if they_could bear it no longer, and Edward proposed sending for another carriage to_the nearest livery stable .

" we don't keep a man now," said Mrs Watkinson, who sat nodding in_the rocking- chair, attempting now_and_then a snatch of conversation, and saying " MA'am" still more frequently than usual ." men servants are dreadful trials, MA'am, and we gave them up three years_ago . and I don't know how Mary or Katy are to_go out this stormy night in search of a livery stable ."

" on no consideration could I allow the women to_do_so," replied Edward ." if_you_will oblige me by_the loan of an umbrella, i_will go myself ."

accordingly he set out on_this business, but was unsuccessful at two livery stables, the carriages being all out . at last he_found one, and was driven in_it to Mr Watkinson's house, where his mother and sister were awaiting him, all quite ready, with their calashes and shawls on . they gladly took their leave; Mrs Watkinson rousing herself to hope they had spent a pleasant evening, and_that they_would come and pass another with her on their return to New_York . in_such cases how difficult it_is to reply even with what_are called "words of_course ."

a kitchen lamp was brought to light them to_the door, the entry lamp having long since been extinguished .Fortunately the rain had ceased; the stars began to reappear, and_the Morlands, when_they found themselves in_the carriage and on their way to Mrs St . Leonard's, felt as_if they_could breathe again . as may_be supposed, they freely discussed the annoyances of_the evening; but now those troubles were over they felt rather inclined to_be merry about_them .

" dear mother," said Edward, " how I pitied you for having to endure Mrs Watkinson's perpetual ' MA'aming' and ' MA'aming'; for I_know you dislike the word ."

" i_wish," said Caroline, " i_was not so prone to_be taken with ridiculous recollections . but really to- night I_could_not get that old foolish child's play out of_my head--

here come three knights out of Spain A-courting of your daughter Jane ."

"_I shall certainly never be one of_those Spanish knights," said Edward ." her daughter Jane is in no danger of being ruled by any 'flattering tongue' of_mine . but what a shame for_us to_be talking of_them in_this manner ."

they drove to Mrs St . Leonard's, hoping to_be yet in_time to_pass half an hour there; though it_was now near twelve o'clock and summer parties never continue to a very late hour . but as_they came into_the street in_which she lived they were met by a number of coaches on their way home, and on reaching the door of her brilliantly lighted mansion, they saw the last of_the guests driving off in_the last of_the carriages, and several musicians coming down the steps with their instruments in their hands .

" so there_has_been a dance, then ! " sighed Caroline ."Oh, what we_have missed ! it_is really too provoking ."

" so it_is," said Edward; " but remember that to- morrow morning we set off for Niagara ."

" i_will leave a note for_Mrs St . Leonard," said his mother, "explaining that we were detained at Mrs Watkinson's by our coachman disappointing us . let_us console ourselves with_the hope of seeing more of_this lady on_our return . and now, dear Caroline, you_must draw a moral from_the untoward events of to- day . when_you_are mistress of a house, and wish to show civility to strangers, let the invitation be always accompanied with a frank disclosure of what they_are to expect . and if_you_cannot conveniently invite company to meet them, tell them at once that you_will_not insist on their keeping their engagement with_you if anything offers afterwards that they_think they_would prefer; provided only that_they apprize you in_time of_the change in their plan ."

"Oh, mamma," replied Caroline, " you_may_be_sure I_shall always take care not to betray my visitors into an engagement which they may_have cause to regret, particularly if_they_are strangers whose time is limited . I_shall certainly, as_you say, tell them not to consider themselves bound to_me if_they afterwards receive an invitation which promises them more enjoyment . it_will_be a long while before I forget, the Watkinson evening ."

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