“Thank you, sirs,” John responded.
Mary wiped a tear from her eye with the corner of her pinafore.
Kirke held his glass for Mary to fill it. He raised it to toast again. “I give you Fitzwilliam, a true gentleman.”
Again the children lifted their glasses, and Susan thought to herself they had never drunk so much milk at one sitting and perhaps the proposal of toasts might be a good tradition to continue at meal times.
Kirke and Fitzwilliam left reluctantly some time later. The next day a parcel arrived from Kirke Hall containing a set of silverware engraved with the letter “K”, a pair of brass candlesticks, and a glass finger bowl. There was a brief note included.
“My dearest children,
Forgive me. I know these gifts are pitifully little, and that they do not make up for all that you have lost at my hands, but I saw your need of such items at table yesterday. I hope they will bring you fond memories of your childhood, Susan. I am certain that they will not be missed in this house. It is my hope that we may correspond by way of Fitzwilliam in the future. God be with you on your journey to Scotland.
Your loving but negligent father,
James Kirke.”
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