“Is it true that Mr. West is so wicked, Uncle Doug?” Fanny asked. “The newspapers say awful things about him.”
“Well, the newspapers say awful things about everybody. They say awful things about me.”
“Then they tell great big lies,” Fanny cried, rushing forward and throwing her arms around her uncle’s neck.
“Fanny,” Mrs. Briggs remonstrated, “you’ll get your dress all ruffled.”
“Well, never mind,” said Fanny, philosophically, and she smiled at her uncle. “I’d just like to meet someone that had been talking about you.”
“Gee, it’s a good thing you aren’t a man,” Guy remarked with a shake of his head.
“Won’t she be a terrible little boss when she gets married?” Briggs exclaimed, with a knowing look at the young fellow.
“I’m going to be just like Auntie,” said Fanny, and Briggs laughed aloud.
“Then you’ll have to begin to change mighty quick.”
The door-bell rang and a few moments later the first guest appeared in the drawing-room. During the next few moments several other guests arrived and Fanny was kept busy helping her aunt to keep them amused until dinner was announced. The announcement was delayed by the tardiness of the Secretary of State, who was known for his punctuality in business and for his indifference and unpunctuality in social matters. When, finally, the great man entered, walking quickly but maintaining, nevertheless, an air of deliberateness and suavity, Fanny breathed a sigh of relief. She turned to Franklin West, who had taken his place beside her.