“Hold your tongue, Carrie Cora,” said Burrell.
“And talking with Mrs. Briggs, too,” cried the youngest daughter. “Here they come. Let’s get out of the way. They’ll think we’re spying on them.”
VIII
The Burrells came face to face with their hostess in the wide hall. “I wondered what had happened to you,” said Helen, leaving West, who strolled into the billiard-room, and joining the group. “Have the girls been enjoying themselves?” she asked, turning, with a smile, from the mother to the three daughters.
“Oh, yes, we’ve all been having a lovely time!” Mrs. Burrell replied, her eyes shining with enthusiasm.
“Oh, yes, lovely!” the girls cried together.
“Of course,” Mrs. Burrell went on, with a wistful look, “after my daughters get better acquainted they’ll have more partners.”
“Ma!” exclaimed Carrie Cora.
“But let me introduce you to some of the gentlemen,” said Helen, solicitously. “We’ll go back into the drawing-room.”