Their discontent will be inspissated by the knowledge that they
are now worse-off than ever--are in dire disgrace, and that even now
the grown-up sister is `telling Papa' (who knows already, and has but
awaited the formal complaint). Presently the grown-up sister will come
into the schoolroom, looking very grave: `Children, Papa has something
to say to you.' In the Study, to which, quaking, they will proceed, an
endless sermon awaits them. The sin of Covetousness will be expatiated
on, and the sins of Discord and Hatred, and the eternal torment in
store for every child who is guilty of them. All four culprits will be
in tears soon after the exordium. Before the peroration (a graphic
description of the Lake of Fire) they will have become hysterical.
They will be sent supperless to bed. On the morrow they will have to
learn and repeat the chapter about Cain and Abel. A week, at least,
will have elapsed before they are out of disgrace. Such are the
inevitable consequences of joy in a joyless life. It were well for
these children had `The Visit' never been paid.
Morland, I suppose, discerned naught of all this tragedy in his
picture. To him, probably, the thing was an untainted idyll, was but
one of those placid homely scenes which he loved as dearly as could
none but the brawler and vagabond that he was.
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