“I’m going to persuade George to come up soon,” he said; “and I’m going to beg for a little music, Gertie.”
He said this as he held the door open for the ladies to pass out. But he did not keep his word, for the gentlemen sat long over their coffee, and then adjourned to the study.
“Don’t fidget, my dear,” said Mrs Hampton, over their tea. “Mr Hampton is going to stay down to the last, and he’ll speak out if George attempts to take too much.”
Gertrude felt pleased, and yet hurt for her betrothed’s sake, but she said nothing, only felt that all was going on as she could wish, while down in the study the two young men exchanged glances which seemed in each case to say:
“Old Hampton’s down here on guard over the whiskey-bottle.”
“I may smoke,” said the young host, aloud.
“Of course, my dear sir,” said the old lawyer placidly, “of course; but you must not indulge in what Mr Saul Harrington here is taking with impunity.”
“Never mind. I shall be quite right soon, and then I can set you all at defiance. Oh, by the way, Mr Hampton, my funds at the bank are low. I want you to place two thousand pounds more to my credit.”
The old lawyer knit his brows a little, but received his orders calmly enough.
“Am I to dispose of those A Shares, Mr Harrington?”