“By godfrey, I’m glad to be awake! Come here, kiddo. Want to make sure I’ve still got you!”
She whisked the branch of scarlet leaves across his face.
“Just had a dream that took you right out of my young life and I couldn’t catch up!”
She pulled off tam and coat, swung to the arm of his chair.
“Can’t lose me, Dolphy dear!”
“By-the-way,” remarked Brooks, as Gloria served tea, “please don’t mind if I beat it back to town to-night. I’ve got to see my lawyer at ten A. M., and you won’t be going in until to-morrow noon, will you?”
“Yes, I do mind, by George!” came from ’Dolph. “We get you out here once in a blue moon and you can’t even stand it for one day. What do you want with a lawyer anyhow? Hold on to your pocket and attend to your own legal affairs.”
“But if John has to go in, dear, we mustn’t keep him.”
Brooks was looking down at the cap twirling between his hands.
[197]
] “See, old man! Your wife understands.”