The carriages began coming back and the dance guests to take their leave. He watched one group after another of bright faces vanish, then at length the front door closed upon the last one, and Mrs. Mason, with a sigh that was half laughter, sank into a chair.
“Mercy!” she said. “I’m getting too old for this, children!”
There were only the house guests left now, and the family, standing about the big room. There were himself and Pendleton, the lovely Claudine and her mother, and five other persons, whom he was beginning to be able to place now; there were a daughter and her husband, there were two bosom friends of Claudine’s, and the incomprehensible young man in spectacles.
“It’s after two o’clock,” said Mrs. Mason. “There’s a little sort of breakfast laid out in the dining-room for you young people, if you’re hungry again. But don’t be long over it, and don’t disturb your father as you come upstairs. Good-night, all of you!”
She rose heavily.
“And, Lance, you’ll put out the lights and lock up?” she added.
The young man in spectacles nodded.
“Mother,” said Claudine, “it was lovely! It’s so dear of you!”
Her mother looked at her for a moment with a faint smile.
“You’re only young once!” she said.