He placed his left hand on her forehead and drew her head back. Then he kissed her on the lips.
She drew away from him with a smile. “We haven’t much time. We have a great many things to do yet.”
“I must take a peep at the children,” he said. “I wonder if they’re asleep yet.”
“I think Miss Munroe is giving them their supper.”
The children, who had recognized the footsteps, were at the door to meet them. Dorothy, a fat, laughing girl of seven, ran forward and threw herself into her father’s arms, and Jack, two years younger, trotted after her.
“Oh, you big girl!” Briggs exclaimed, “you’ll take all my breath away.”
She kissed him again and again, laughing as his mustache tickled her face. Jack was tugging at her skirts, trying to pull her down.
“Let me! Let me!” he insisted.
Briggs placed Dorothy on the floor and took up the boy. “How are you to-day, sonny?” he asked, as he let the thick, yellow curls fall over his eyes.
“All right,” Jack replied, contentedly.