CHAPTER FIFTEEN
At the door of the Gymnasium, Blake halted suddenly, peered around the room, and swore under his breath. Hearing his own whispering voice was a comfort to him, but it did not dispel his panic. It was embarrassing, torturing, to be so early at the Ball. Anyone seeing him would think that he was eager. He could not bear to be eager, or to be thought so. No one had come but the orchestra and a few town people who had not gone to the Vaudeville. Had they seen him? He withdrew to the darkness outside and plucked nervously at the elastic that held the tall sombrero on his head. If anyone should see him now they would think that he was being kept waiting by someone. Irresolutely he turned and went to his car, to sit there, he told himself grimly, until he had counted twenty people going in to fill up that appalling room.
How had he happened to be so early? He wondered what he was missing, and had a spasm of jealousy. Now he was sorry that he had dashed so quickly after the show. He had been so afraid that Mary would ask him to take Phyllis or Lucy over to the Gymnasium. He had wanted to start this evening of festival all alone and unhampered. He had gone for a short drive, the Circle Drive up towards Taos, and had been confident he would be late. Probably they were still at the theatre, talking about the Pearson business.
He crouched there smoking until he had counted his twenty people. He decided to count ten more before risking an entrance. At twenty-seven he saw Teddy coming with a crowd, showing the tickets of the party and carrying coats to be checked and in general being very useful. If Teddy had come, it would be safe. Blake stood up and went into the Gym. The orchestra had begun to play listlessly, saving its energy for later. Teddy greeted him impatiently.
“Where were you? I lost everybody,” he said. “I just picked this crowd up. Gwen and the others went tooting off and I thought you’d be with them. Where’s your mother? None of them are here. What’s the idea?”
Blake explained that his mother had gone with Mrs. Saville-Sanders for an extempore committee meeting. “I heard them say they’d have some coffee and get the important business over with right away. I ran away. It’s probably awfully dull. I wouldn’t worry about it.”
Teddy tried to thrust his hands into his pockets, but his velvet trousers had no pockets. “It’s very queer,” he said. “Why didn’t they ask me too? I had a lot of things to say; I must say it’s queer. Do you think it means anything?”
Blake thought he understood. “I hate to miss things, too,” he said. “It isn’t anything, though. You weren’t on the committee, that’s all.”
“I suppose that’s why.” Teddy looked at the door. “Here they are now, anyway. Whatever it was, it didn’t take long.”
The room had filled and the officials of the party had begun to line people up for the Grand March. Mary, loitering behind with the matrons, tried to persuade Blake to go in, but he resisted her.