“Then he’ll be offended.”
“Well, papa, that is not of much consequence.”
“But it is of consequence—of great consequence! Don’t I tell you it will cause me serious loss; and besides that, it is dangerous to affront a fellow like this. He is only a nigger, of course, but he is a reigning prince, and has great power. He’s as proud as Lucifer; and if he considers that he is affronted, there’s no knowing what may be the consequences.”
“He may carry me off perhaps, papa,” said Helen, showing her white teeth.
“Well, I wouldn’t say that he might not attempt it!”
“Like a baron of old,” said the girl scornfully. “Papa, I am not a child! How can you be so absurd?”
“You can call it what you like,” he said angrily; “but your folly has got us into a pretty mess. Well, you must go in and see him.”
“I? Go in and see him?” cried Helen, flushing. “Impossible, papa!”
“But it is not impossible. I told him I didn’t know what to say till I had seen you, and, what was the perfect truth, that I was quite taken by surprise. Now the best thing will be for you to go in and see him and temporise with him. Don’t refuse him out and out, but try and ease him off, as one may say. Gain time, and the fellow will forget all about it in a month or two.”
“Papa!”