"What's the use of making the worst of everything?
Hasn't mother had quite enough to bear already ?" Horace subsided, and the three sat there in silence until the daylight faded and the footman brought in the lights and announced that coffee was ready in the drawing-room.
There was something like a shock about this interruption.

What had they to do with men-servants and coffee in the drawing-room, they who an hour or two ago had supposed themselves wealthy, but now knew that they were little better than beggars?
"We shall not want coffee," said Mrs Cruden, answering for all three.
Then when the footman had withdrawn, she said,-- "Boys, I must go to bed.

God bless you, and give us all brave hearts, for we shall need them!" The funeral took place next day.

Happily it was of a simple character, and only a few friends were invited, so that it was not thought necessary to alter the arrangements in consequence of Mr Richmond's announcement of the evening before.

But even the slight expense involved in this melancholy ceremony grated painfully on the minds of the boys, who forgot even their dead father in the sense that they were riding in carriages for which they could not pay, and offering their guests refreshments which were not theirs to give.