Oscar flushed as Jim smiled at him. "Darn it, Mr. Manning," he said, "why haven't you looked at me that way before?" Then he laughed with the others.
Then Pen spoke very uncertainly: "This settles it, of course. I shall go back to New York at once with Sara."
The little group in the kitchen looked at Jim. His face was white and set.
"Wait a day or so, Pen. I must get some sort of a plan formulated."
"What am I to do with that man Freet hanging round?" asked Pen.
"Come down for a day or so with me, Mrs. Pen," said Mrs. Ames.
"That's a good idea," said Jim. "Freet won't stay after tomorrow, anyway. I can promise you that."
"And I'll look out for the caged hyena," said Mrs. Flynn. "If God lets me live to spare my life, he'll get a tongue lashing from me that'll give him new respect for the Irish."
Once more the group in the kitchen laughed, though tensely, and parted for the night.