"Tammas the quitter!"
Lord James started for the door, and Blake followed him, striving hard to maintain his surly look. At the street entrance he sought to postpone the coming ordeal by urging his need for exercise.
"Don't worry. I'll pay," said Lord James, pretending to misunderstand, and he raised his finger to the chauffeur of the nearest cab. "You can walk home, if you wish to save pennies. Now, you know, we desire to reach Mrs. Gantry's as soon as possible."
"Yes, we do!" growled Blake.
He seemed more than ever determined to remain in his glum mood, and the pleasant badinage of his friend during their run out to Lincoln Park Boulevard rather increased than lessened his surliness. When they entered through the old Colonial portal of the Gantry home, he jerked off his English topcoat unaided, contemptuously spurning the assistance of the buff-and-yellow liveried footman. But as they were announced, he assumed what Lord James termed his "poker face," and entered beside his friend, with head well up and shoulders squared.
"Good boy! Keep it up," murmured Lord James. "She'll take you for a distinguished personage."
Blake spoiled the effect by a grin, which, an instant later, was transformed into a radiant smile at sight of Genevieve beside Mrs. Gantry.
Dolores came darting to meet them, her black eyes sparkling and her lithe young body aquiver with animation.
"Oh, Lord Avondale!" she cried. "So you did make him come. Mr. Blake, why didn't you call at once?"
"Wasn't asked," answered Blake, his eyes twinkling.