[300] that any friend of his would be more than welcome to the household. The following Sunday Mr. Benjamin gave an exhibition of his admirable tact, which can best be described in the words of Dr. Hoge:
At the breakfast table the conversation turned to the subject of church services, and Mr. Benjamin inquired casually of our hostess where she was going to worship that day. Now, I happened to know that as a member of Mr. Davis' Cabinet, official etiquette demanded that he should accompany his chief to his (the Episcopal) church, and when our hostess replied, in a tone that almost implied an invitation, “We are going to the Presbyterian Church to hear Dr. Hoge preach,” I wondered what Mr. Benjamin would do. He never hesitated a moment, but in his most affable manner asked: ‘May I have the pleasure of accompaning you?’