Maxwell Gregory had gone to set off some fireworks, then the family gathered around a table for their New Year's Eve reunion dinner.
Everyone made a conscious effort to avoid unpleasant topics, and although the family of three was initially a little awkward, they are, after all, bound by blood. The atmosphere eventually turned harmonious.
After the reunion dinner, the Chinese New Year gala just happened to start. The servants brewed some tea and brought out some nuts and fruits. Everyone sat on the sofa, watching TV in harmony.
Just as Madeleine had described, at West Suburb Villa, when the New Year's Eve struck, fireworks were set off at the top of the hill.
The New Year is all about liveliness, so when it neared 11 o'clock, not only did Maxwell Gregory and Lady Gregory leave for the hilltop, but even the housekeepers and servants did so too.
