Wallace went forward and shut the door. "It's a shame to overhear them! What are you going to do, you fellows?"
"I'm going to stay," Briggs said, "if it kills me. At least I will till Minervy's married. I don't care what the grub's like. I can always get a bite at the restaurant."
"If anybody will pay up my back board, I'll stay, too," Blakeley followed. "I should like to make a virtue of it, and, as things stand, I can't."
"All right," Wallace said, and he went out and down the stairs. Then from the dining-room below his heavy voice offering encouragement came up, in terms which the others could not make out.
"I'll bet he's making her another advance," Blakeley whispered, as if he might be overheard by Wallace.
"I wish I could have made to do it," Briggs whispered back. "I feel as mean as pursley. Would you like to kick me?"
"I don't see how that would do any good. I may want to borrow money of you, and you can't ask a loan from a man you've kicked. Besides, I think what you said may do her good."