Then Uncle Oelbermann delivered himself of an oracular phrase.  No doubt he had been meditating it during the supper.  Addressing Mr. Sieppe, he said: 

“You have not lost a daughter, but have gained a son.”

These were the only words he had spoken the entire evening.  He departed; the company was profoundly impressed.

About twenty minutes later, when Marcus Schouler was entertaining the guests by eating almonds, shells and all, Mr. Sieppe started to his feet, watch in hand.

“Haf-bast elevun,” he shouted.  “Attention!  Der dime haf arrive, shtop eferyting.  We depart.”

This was a signal for tremendous confusion.  Mr. Sieppe immediately threw off his previous air of relaxation, the calf’s head was forgotten, he was once again the leader of vast enterprises.

“To me, to me,” he cried.  “Mommer, der tervins, Owgooste.”  He marshalled his tribe together, with tremendous commanding gestures.  The sleeping twins were suddenly shaken into a dazed consciousness; Owgooste, whom the almond-eating of Marcus Schouler had petrified with admiration, was smacked to a realization of his surroundings.

Old Grannis, with a certain delicacy that was one of his characteristics, felt instinctively that the guests—­the mere outsiders—­should depart before the family began its leave-taking of Trina.  He withdrew unobtrusively, after a hasty good-night to the bride and groom.  The rest followed almost immediately.

“Well, Mr. Sieppe,” exclaimed Marcus, “we won’t see each other for some time.”  Marcus had given up his first intention of joining in the Sieppe migration.  He spoke in a large way of certain affairs that would keep him in San Francisco till the fall.  Of late he had entertained ambitions of a ranch life, he would breed cattle, he had a little money and was only looking for some one “to go in with.”  He dreamed of a cowboy’s life and saw himself in an entrancing vision involving silver spurs and untamed bronchos.  He told himself that Trina had cast him off, that his best friend had “played him for a sucker,” that the “proper caper” was to withdraw from the world entirely.

“If you hear of anybody down there,” he went on, speaking to Mr. Sieppe, “that wants to go in for ranching, why just let me know.”

“Soh, soh,” answered Mr. Sieppe abstractedly, peering about for Owgooste’s cap.

Marcus bade the Sieppes farewell.  He and Heise went out together.  One heard them, as they descended the stairs, discussing the possibility of Frenna’s place being still open.

Then Miss Baker departed after kissing Trina on both cheeks.  Selina went with her.  There was only the family left.

Trina watched them go, one by one, with an increasing feeling of uneasiness and vague apprehension.  Soon they would all be gone.

“Well, Trina,” exclaimed Mr. Sieppe, “goot-py; perhaps you gome visit us somedime.”

Mrs. Sieppe began crying again.