Mother is daft on the subject.

If she had her way, father would never put a drop of wine on the table.

She says it is ruining the county--but that's mother's way." St.George stooped over, fondled one of the dogs for a moment--two had followed Todd out of the room--settled back in his chair again, and still looking into the fire, said slowly: "Bad business--bad business, Harry! Kate is as proud as Lucifer and dislikes nothing on earth so much as being made conspicuous.

Tell me exactly what happened." "Well, there isn't anything to tell," replied the young fellow, raising his head and leaning back in his chair, his face the picture of despair.
"We were all in the library and the place was boiling-hot, and they had two big bowls, one full of eggnog and the other full of apple-toddy: and the next thing I knew I was out in the hall and met Kate on the stairs.
She gave a little smothered scream, and moaned--'Oh, Harry!--and you promised me!'-- and then she put her hands to her face, as if to shut me out of her sight.

That sobered me somewhat, and after I got out on the porch into the night air and had pulled myself together, I tried to find her and apologize, but she had gone home, although the ball wasn't half over.
"Then this was not the first time ?" He was still at the hot coals, both hands outfanned, to screen his face from the blaze.
"No--I'm sorry to say it wasn't.