Part 68 (1/2)

With a blissful sigh, she drew back from the kiss, to answer him in a tone of tender mockery: ”The Right Honorable the Earl of Avondale is informed that his--ah--salute is received with pleasure.”

”Darling!”

”Wait,” she teased. ”You have it all turned 'round. You've yet to tell me the exact moment when. Vievie took second place.”

”My word! How am I to answer that? Really, it's quite impossible to tell. You piqued my interest from the very first.”

”But did you still lo--like Vievie when you proposed to her?”

”Er--yes--quite true. That was the day after our arrival from New York, y'know.”

”Of course. But I wished to make doubly sure that you were sincere with her. Oh, Jimmy, to think I've got you, after all! I'm so happy!”

He promptly offered another salute, which was not refused.

The sound of quick steps in the vestibule startled them. Dolores sprang away as Genevieve came hurrying in, too agitated to heed her cousin's blushes.

”Oh! I'm so glad you're still here!” she panted. ”He's coming ash.o.r.e.

I--I told papa to tell him that--but not that I'm here! I must--I want to--”

”To play puss-in-the-corner with your Tom,” rallied Dolores. ”Oh, Vievie! who'd have thought it? You've lost your head! Hide over here behind the stove.”

Greatly to her surprise, Genevieve instantly ran over and hid herself in the corner behind the big stove. Dolores and Lord James stared at one another. It was the first time that they had ever seen Genevieve flurried.

”Why, Vievie!” exclaimed the girl, ”I actually believe you're frightened.”

”No, I'm not. It's only that I must have time to--to think.”

”Ah,” said Lord James, with sympathetic readiness.

”I shall go out and meet him--detain him a bit.”

”No, no. It's very kind of you, James. But there's no need. If only you and Dolores will wait and speak with him. I--I wish to hear how his voice sounds--first.”

”Well, of all things!” rallied Dolores. ”Can't you imagine how it will sound? He'll be hoa.r.s.e as a crow, after shouting all his heroic orders to save the bridge. Ten to one, he'll have a fine cold, too--out there in this wind. Jimmy says it's really nawsty, y'know, with the beastly zephyrs wafting through the bloomin' steel-work, and the water so deuced far down below--quite a bit awful, don't y'know!”

”Don't tease, dear,” begged Genevieve. ”But you said 'Jimmy'! Oh, have you really--?”

Her face appeared around the bulge of the stove, flushed with delight.

But the sound of a heavy tread in the verandah caused it to disappear on the instant.

Blake came in slowly and with anything but an elated look. It was evident that Mr. Leslie had refrained from rousing his expectations. He stared at Dolores in surprise.

”You, Miss Dolores?”

”What?” she teased. ”You surely did not think it would be Vievie, did you?”

”Didn't think--”