Page:The Naval Officer (1829), vol. 3.djvu/74

 and brevity as time and circumstances would admit. The coachman was despatched on one of the best carriage-horses express to Mr. Somerville, and the mail coach was loaded with letters to all the friends and connexions of the family.

This ended, each retired to dress for dinner. What a change had one hour wrought in this house of mourning, now suddenly turned into a house of joy! Alas! how often is the picture reversed in human life! The ladies soon reappeared in spotless white; emblems of their pure minds. My father had put off his sables, and the servants came in their usual liveries, which were very splendid.

Dinner being announced, my father handed off Emily; I followed with my sister. Emily, looking over her shoulder, said, " Don't be jealous, Frank."

My father laughed, and I vowed revenge for this little satirical hit.