Taylor, espying him, leapt to his feet and hauled out his watch.
‚ÄúWell‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚Äù he began lamely.
‚ÄúNo, you weren‚Äôt either,‚Äù interrupted Harry, with a laugh that was unmistakably cordial and friendly. ‚ÄúYou had quite forgotten what you were waiting for‚ÅÝ‚Äîisn‚Äôt that so, Sis?‚Äù
Helen regarded her brother through her veiling lashes: what meant this sudden assumption of warmth and amiability?
“No, indeed; he was raging with impatience,” she returned.
‚ÄúWhy, Miss Cresswell, I‚ÅÝ‚ÄîI‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚Äù John Taylor forsook social amenities and pulled himself together. ‚ÄúWell,‚Äù shortly, ‚Äúnow for that talk‚ÅÝ‚Äîready?‚Äù And quite forgetting Miss Cresswell, he bolted into the parlor.
“The decision we have come to is this,” said Harry Cresswell. “We are in debt, as you know.”
‚ÄúForty-nine thousand, seven hundred and forty-two dollars and twelve cents,‚Äù responded Taylor; ‚Äúin three notes, due in twelve, twenty-four, and thirty-six months, interest at eight percent, held by‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚Äù
The Colonel snorted his amazement, and Harry Cresswell cut in:
“Yes,” he calmly admitted; “and with good crops for three years we’d be all right; good crops even for two years would leave us fairly well off.”