Part 17 (1/2)

Mrs. Gantry paused in the act of seating herself. ”Dolores! Why must you shriek out like a magpie? Will you never forget you're a tomboy?”

”I'm not, mamma. I'm simply acting as if I were one. You forget I'm a full-blown _debutante_. Vievie has already promised me a ball.”

”Behave yourself, if you wish to attend it.”

Dolores jumped to a chair and sank into it with an air of elegant languor. ”Yes, mamma. This--ah--driving in moist weather is so fatiguing, don't you find it?”

Mrs. Gantry disposed herself upon the comfortable seat that she had selected, and raised her gold lorgnette. ”Do not forget that the ball Genevieve has so generously promised you is to be honored by the presence--”

”Of a real live earl and a real hero, with Laffie Ashton thrown in for good--I mean, bad--measure!” cut in Dolores with enthusiasm. ”You know, I asked Vievie to 'put him on her list, else he never may be kissed!'”

Again Mrs. Gantry raised her lorgnette to transfix her daughter with her cold stare. ”_You_ asked her to invite Lafayette Ashton? And you know his reputation!”

”Of course. But you mustn't ask for the details, mamma,” reproved the girl. ”It's best that you should not become aware of such things, my dear. Only, you know, 'boys will be boys,' and we must not lose sight of the fact that poor dear Laffie will be worth twenty millions some day--if his papa doesn't make a will. Besides, he dances divinely. Of course Earl Jimmy's mustache is simply too cute for anything, but, alas! unless Vievie clings to her heroic Tommy--”

”Tommyrot!” sniffed Mrs. Gantry. ”The presumption of that low fellow!

To think of his following her to America!”

”You should have forewarned the authorities at Ellis Island, and had him excluded as dangerous--to your plans.”

”No more of this frivolity! I've confided to you that that man is dangerous to Genevieve's happiness. I'll not permit it. What a fortunate chance that the earl came with him! I shall see to it that Genevieve becomes a countess.”

Dolores pulled a mock-tragic face. ”Oh, mamma,” she implored, ”why don't you root for me, instead? I'm sure a coronet would fit me to perfection, and his mustache is _so_ cute!”

To judge by Mrs. Gantry's expression, it was fortunate for her daughter that Genevieve came in upon them. Dolores divined this last from the sudden mellowing of her mother's face. She whirled up out of her chair and around, with a cry of joyous escape: ”Oh, Vievie! You're just in time to save me!”

”From what, dear?” asked Genevieve, smilingly permitting herself to be crumpled in an impetuous embrace.

”Mamma was just going to run the steam-roller over me, simply because I said Jimmy's mustache is cute. It _is_ cute, isn't it?”

”'Jimmy'?” inquired Genevieve, moving to a chair beside Mrs. Gantry.

”His honorable earls.h.i.+p, then--since mamma is with us.”

”You may leave the room,” said her mother.

”I may,” repeated the girl. She pirouetted up the room and stopped to look at a painting of a desolate tropical coast.

”It's such a dreadful day out, Aunt Amice,” said Genevieve. ”And you can't be rested from the trip.”

”Quite true, my dear,” agreed Mrs. Gantry. ”But I had to see you--to talk matters over with you. I did not wish to break in on your enjoyment of those delightful English house parties; and crossing over, you know, I was too wretchedly ill to think of anything. Can I never get accustomed to the sea!”

”It's so unfortunate,” condoled Genevieve. ”I believe I'm a born sailor.”

”You proved it, starting off with that globe-trotting Lady Bayrose.”

”Poor Lady Bayrose! To think that she--” The girl pressed her hands to her eyes. ”The way that frightful breaker whirled the boat loose and over and over!--and the water swarming with sharks!”

”Do not think of it, my dear! Really, you must not think of it!” urged Mrs. Gantry. ”Be thankful it happened before the sailors had time to put you in the same boat. Better still, my dear, do not permit yourself to think of it at all. Put all that dreadful experience out of your mind.”