Within an hour after their departure the household at Mondreer had retired to rest. CHAPTER XXXIX A DECISIVE INTERVIEW Sunrise on Christmas morning found all the family of Mondreer assembled in the drawing room, which had been already restored to order by the servants, and where no vestige of the previous night's festivity remained, except the beautiful evergreen decorations. "Who are for church this morning?" inquired Mr. Force, looking around upon his assembled household. "I think we all are, except, perhaps, Odalite, who may naturally shrink from the ordeal of appearing there so soon," replied Mrs. Force, in a tone so very subdued that it was scarcely redeemed from being that breach of good breeding, a whisper in company. But Odalite, who stood next to her mother, heard the words, and replied: "I must not shrink from going to church, mamma. If people choose to stare at me, to see how I bear what they suppose to be a heavy disappointment and a deep mortification, they will do so from a kindly interest, I am sure, and they will be pleased to find that, though I may be 'perplexed,' I am 'not in despair.' Besides, mamma, the longer I stay away from church, the more I shall be stared at when I go." "You are right, my dear," said Mr. Force, who immediately went out to give orders that all the carriages in the stables--that is to say, the family coach, the break and the buggy--should be got ready and brought around to take the family to All Faith Church. There were other duties to be done before they broke their fast. On this day, the servants, not only of the house, but of the plantation, were all called in to family prayers. The devotions were led by Mr. Force, assisted by Le. When they were concluded, Christmas presents were distributed by the children of the family to all the negroes present, and sent by them to all those who, from old age, infancy or illness, were unable to attend the gathering. When all the plantation servants had retired, with gratitude and gladness, the family went in to breakfast, where they enjoyed a merry morning meal. As soon as it was over, they retired to their chambers to get ready for church. And there each one, in his or her sanctuary, found some token of the presence of Santa Claus to be first discovered and enjoyed in secret. All were more or less valuable and attractive, but among so many presents, in so large a family, but few may be noticed. Mr. Force found a warm, crimson, cashmere dressing gown, the united gift of his children; an embroidered silk smoking cap, from his wife; a pair of beaded slippers, from Miss Meeke, and a Turkish chibouk and a can of Turkish tobacco, brought all the way from beyond seas and kept for this day, by Le.