He stopped and listened, and then going out into the hall, opened the front door. No one was there and he came back into the room:
"I thought I heard her key in the door," he said.
"I'm so worried," exclaimed Fanny anxiously.
"What about?" he demanded airily. "I did the 'phoning. If there's any worrying to be done, let Jimmie do it!"
"I wish you hadn't," she said timidly.
"But I have," he cried. "Great Scott, ain't that just like a woman!" Reassuringly he went on: "Now look here, Fanny, you leave this to me. When Virginia comes you make yourself scarce, get busy in the kitchen or something and I'll talk to her. You'll see that I—"
As he spoke there was the metallic click of a key turning in the front door lock.
"Holy Jupiter!" he exclaimed. "Here she is! Be careful what you say." Greeting his sister-in-law amiably he called out: "Hallo, Virgie, we're in here!"