Lake dodged the quizzical glance of Miss Mulrady, and explained that Sir Billy had been last seen wrinkling his young brows over the intricacies of trente et quarante. "Couldn't haul him off; but I daresay hunger will fetch him to the tea-table."
"Such devotion argues good luck," said Leah, wondering if Billy would arrive with full pockets.
"Perhaps, Lady James. Most boys are lucky at play."
"And therefore unlucky in love?" inquired Katinka, smiling.
"Children should know nothing of such things," said Aksakoff, stiffly.
"I guess not," cried Mamie; "but Sir Billy is a freak."
"Really, Miss Mulrady," frowned the indignant little mother, "my son is not so eligible for Barnum's Show as you seem to imagine. He hasn't got two heads, or an elastic skin, or any of those things which seem to be so popular in the United States."
"Wouldn't make him more interestin' if he had. He's a moral freak."
"Et moi aussi?" asked the vicomte, whose scant knowledge of Americanese prevented entire understanding.
"Oh, you haven't got morals of any sort."