Grimshaw lifted his high forehead in an injured manner. “If that is aimed at me, Miss Frink, I will remind you once again of my helpless mother and sister.”
“Oh, yes, yes,” said Miss Frink impatiently, “I know. Scuttle along, Grim, and do the errand. I believe I’ll jump into your car and just show myself at the supper at the City Hall.”
“Oh, you’re wonderful, Aunt Susanna!” exclaimed Mrs. Lumbard, clasping her pretty hands. “If you want me to, I’ll—”
“I don’t. I know how it would bore you. I’ll see that coachman first. I must get rid of him. I knew the checks weren’t right.”
She swept out of the room as suddenly as she had entered it, and the two left standing there looked at each other, their expressions changing from the solicitude they had worn to gravity.
“If the gods hadn’t intervened,” said Adèle softly, “to-night we should have been—”
“Sh!” warned the secretary.
“Of course, there would be some charities,” she went on, her brown eyes shining, “but you and I, you and I—”
“Hush!” warned the secretary again. “We can’t be thankful enough that dear Miss Frink’s life was saved.”