"But, dear sir,——"
"Not a word now! Don't I know what you've done for me? Why,"—shaking with laughter—"Mrs. B. will have to stay in England six months."
"Six?"
"Sh!"—he leaned to whisper—"Babette! Six months is the British quarantine for dogs!" He caught her hand, and they laughed immoderately.
Her hand free again, she found a slip of paper in it. "Five thousand!
Oh, no! I can't take it!"
"Yes, you will! Take it now instead of letting me will it to you. For I'm going to die of joy! You see, my dear girl, you're not going to be earning while you travel. And you can use it. And you've given me value received. You've done me a whale of a turn! Please let me do this much."
"I'll take it if you'll let me use some of it for—for——"
"You mean that youngster?"
"Would you mind if I helped the mother?"
"Say, there's no string tied to that check. Use it as you like. But I want to ask you, Sue,—just curiosity—why were you so all-fired nice to that Crosby girl?"