Helen smiled. “It’s time for Jack to go to bed.”
“Oh, no. Just another minute longer,” Jack pleaded.
“I must go and dress,” said Briggs. “Now, chicks, climb down.” They obeyed promptly, but turned and made a simultaneous attack upon him. He endured their caresses for a moment; then he cried: “Now, that’s enough, I think.” He rose quietly and kissed them. “Go to sleep like good children,” he said.
On the way to their room Helen remarked: “Jack is getting so lively Miss Munroe hardly knows what to do with him.”
“Oh, he’ll be all right,” said Douglas. “I like to see a boy with some spirit in him.”
An hour later Douglas Briggs entered the dining-room, followed by his wife. Fanny Wallace was already there, talking with Guy Fullerton.
“How do I look?” Fanny cried to her aunt, catching up her long gown. “Isn’t it perfectly beautiful? Don’t you just love those fleecy things? Won’t dad be proud of his daughter?”
“You look very well, dear,” said Helen, conservatively.
“Well, you’re kind of nice yourself,” Fanny remarked. “And doesn’t the gentleman look grand?” she added, to her uncle. “Only,” she went on, giving him a little push, “you mustn’t let yourself get so fat.” Then she glanced at Guy. “Do you suppose he’ll be like that when he’s forty?”
“I’ve had a list of guests prepared for the newspaper people,” said Guy to Douglas Briggs. He liked to ignore Fanny’s jokes when they reflected on his personal appearance. “It’ll save a lot of time. And I’ve arranged to have them take supper in a room by themselves. They’ll like that better.”