Part 19 (1/2)

So glad to meet you again,--and here, of all places! Don't forget to look me up at my clubs.”

”Hearts are trumps, Laffie--not clubs,” called Dolores, as Lord James pa.s.sed him by with a vague nod.

CHAPTER X

THE SHADOW OF DOUBT

Before the earl had reached them Mrs. Gantry was rising.

Genevieve rose to protest. ”You're not going so soon, Aunt Amice?

You'll stay for a cup of tea?”

”Not to-day, my dear. Ah, earl! you're just in time to relieve Genevieve from the ennui of a solitary afternoon. I regret so much that we cannot stay with you. Come, Dolores.”

Dolores settled back comfortably on her chair. ”Go right on, mamma.

Don't wait for me. I'll stay and help Vievie entertain Lord Avondale.”

”Come--at once.”

”Oh, fudge! Well, start on. I'll catch you.”

Mrs. Gantry stepped past Lord James. Genevieve met his eager glance, and hastened to overtake her aunt. ”Really, won't you stay, Aunt Amice?

I'll have tea brought in at once.”

”So sorry, my dear,” replied Mrs. Gantry, placidly sailing on towards the reception hall.

Dolores simulated a yawn. ”O-o-ho! I'm _so_ tired. Will n.o.body help me get up?”

With a boyish twinkle in his gray eyes but profound gravity In his manner, Lord James offered her his hand. She placed her fingers in his palm and sprang up beside him. The others were still moving up the room. She surprised him by meeting his amused gaze with an angry flash of her big black eyes.

”Shame!” she flung at him. ”You, his friend, and would take her from him!”

He stared blankly. The girl whirled away from him with a swish of silken skirts and fled past her mother, all her anger lost in wild panic.

”Dolores! Whatever can--” cried Mrs. Gantry. But Dolores had vanished.

”Really, Genevieve, that madcap girl--! About yourself, my dear.

Promise me now, if you cannot say 'yes,' at least you'll not make it a final 'no.'”

”But, Aunt Amice, unless I feel--”

”Promise me! You must give yourself time to make sure. He will wait. I am certain he will wait until you have found out--”

”I cannot promise anything now,” replied Genevieve.

Mrs. Gantry did not press the point. It was the second time during the call that her niece had proved herself less docile than she had expected. As she left the room, Genevieve returned to Lord James without any outward sign of hesitancy. She seated herself and smiled composedly at her caller, who still stood in the daze into which Dolores's outburst had thrown him.

”Won't you sit down?” she invited. ”How is Mr. Blake?”