Mr. Leslie followed her, after a half-irritable, half-cordial word to
Blake. "Very well, very well. Some other time, then."
As Lord James took his leave of Genevieve with apparent nonchalance, Blake noted an exultant sparkle in the black eyes of Dolores. Yet the look was flatly contradicted by her words as she flounced about toward the door: "You needn't say good-bye, Mr. Scarbridge. You may as well stay right here, since she's not going."
"You see how she rags me," complained Lord James, hastening out after her.
Blake watched them go, his eyes keen with eager observation. He was still staring at the doorway when Genevieve offered banteringly, "A penny for your thoughts, Mr. Blake."
"You'll have to bid higher. Make it a coronet—I mean, half a crown."
"Only half a crown? Why not a crown—the oak crown of the conqueror? You know the Bible verse: 'He that overcometh himself is greater than he that taketh a city.'"
"Can't say as to that; but I've taken in the town, after having failed to overcome," said Blake with bitter humor.
"Tom! You must not speak of your defeats. They are past and of the
Past. You must not even think of them. Have you ever been baptized?"
"Baptized? Let's see… Yes, I remember the question was brought up when I came back from my first hoboing and my sisters got me going to the Episcopal Mission. They even persuaded me to join what's called a confirmation class. That's when it had to be proved I'd been baptized."
"Oh, Tom! then you've been confirmed—you're an Episcopalian!"