Mrs. Burrell looked from her husband to her hostess, and then at Douglas Briggs. “Well, if you two men have finished your business, I s’pose we’ve got to go.” She turned appealingly to Helen, as if hoping to be urged to stay.
“This time you’ll have to come to dinner,” said Helen.
“Oh, that’s all arranged,” said Briggs easily. “They’re coming to-night.” As Mrs. Burrell was about to protest, he held up his hands. “Now, don’t say a word. Everything’s settled!”
Mrs. Burrell looked at Helen with a comic expression of despair. “Well, I think it’s a shame!” she said, her face shining with pleasure.
“Now I’ll go and get those girls of yours,” said Briggs, walking into the hall. “I left them romping with the children. I thought the children would tear them to pieces.”
When the Burrells had left, Helen walked into the library with her husband. Her face looked puzzled.
“Did Mr. Burrell talk with you about the girls?” she asked.
Briggs sank heavily into a chair. “Yes, he told me all about it. He seemed a good deal ashamed. Poor old man! And yet I could see that he was making them an excuse for offering me more money.”
“He’s been offering you money, then?” Helen asked, her face growing slightly paler.
“Oh, yes. He wants to pay me absurdly for taking that law-case and looking after his affairs here. There’s really a good deal to be done; but he won’t be satisfied unless I agree to fleece him,” Briggs concluded with a laugh.