“My, but you do look sweet to-night!”

He attempted to lay a hand on her arm and seemed about to bend over and kiss her, but she quickly evaded him.  In a vexed tone, she exclaimed in a low voice: 

“Please, Robert, behave yourself.  Don’t you see that there are others present?”

Thus unceremoniously repulsed, Stafford appealed to his sister-in-law, who had retreated to a corner on the other side of the room.  In a maudlin, jocular way he asked: 

“You wouldn’t mind, would you?  You wouldn’t mind if a husband kissed his own wife.”

“No, of course not,” she smiled, at a loss what answer to make.  She was anxious to defend her sister, but at the same time unwilling to displease her husband’s employer.

The millionaire smiled, and leaving his wife, sauntered over to where Fanny was sitting.

“How’s the kid?” he inquired affably.

“Very well, thank you.”

Stafford shook his head.  Dubiously he said: 

“When I saw her this morning I thought she looked a little pale.  It isn’t good for kids to look pale.  It shows that they don’t get enough fresh air and sunshine.  Do you know what I’m going to do?”

“No,” replied the mother, looking up at her brother-in-law in surprise.

“In the morning I’m going to send you one of my cars as a present for her.”

“Oh, Robert!” she exclaimed breathlessly.

He winked significantly as he went on: 

“That’s the reason I’ve just raised Jimmie fifty—­to pay for the chauffeur and things.  So the kid can have plenty of fresh air.  See?”

Fanny clasped her hands in delight.

“Oh, you’re too good!” she exclaimed gratefully.

“Hush!” he said in an undertone.  “It’s for the kid!  I’m very fond of her!” After a pause he added:  “Besides, she’s named for Virgie!” Turning to Jimmie, he asked:  “How does the idea strike you?”

“What idea?” demanded the father, who had not been listening.

“I’ve just made your little daughter—­a present of an auto—­”

“What make is it?”

The question came so spontaneously and was so characteristic of the man that Stafford burst into a roar of merriment.  As soon as he had regained his composure he said: 

“It’s a—­”

He was about to tell him the make when, realizing the colossal impudence of the question, he stopped short and burst into laughter.  “You’re always there, aren’t you?  Honest, Jimmie, you give me many a laugh!  Don’t change your disposition or I’ll never forgive you!”

“I didn’t know I was so funny!” said the clerk resentfully, quite at a loss to see humor in the situation.

“That’s the beauty of the whole business!” laughed his employer.

“An auto—­all for ourselves!” exclaimed Fanny, enthusiastically.  “Isn’t that lovely?”

Her husband looked dubious.  Doggedly he said: 

“I don’t know that we ought to accept presents from anybody now, not even from—­Robert.”