But he was at the ground floor, and as he left the elevator he forgot all else in anticipation of a certain coming delight. He strolled the length of the great onyx lobby, its sides a succession of broad mirrors between enormous onyx columns with massive gilded capitals. Tall palms were at intervals, alternating with crimson velvet sofas and on one of these, near the vestibule, Bates sat down to wait for the delight. And in the course of time, she came, tripping along the black and white diamonds of the marble floor, her high heels tapping quickly, her lithe gracefulness hurrying to keep the tryst. Dorcas Everett was of the type oftenest seen among the well-to-do young girls of New York, but she was one of the best examples of that type. Wise, sparkling eyes, soft, rounded chin held alertly up, dark, curly hair arranged in a pleasant modification of the latest fashion, her attire was of the most careful tailor-made variety, and her little feathered toque was put on at just the right angle and was most engagingly becoming. She said no word but gave a happy smile as Bates rose and eagerly joined her and together they passed out through the imposing portal. “It’s awful,” she murmured, as they walked across to Fifth Avenue. “I said I wouldn’t do it again, you know, and then—when I heard your whistle,—I just couldn’t help it! But don’t do it any more—will you? You promised you wouldn’t.” “Oh, I didn’t promise, dear; I said I’d _try_ not to. And I did try, but—it seems I failed.” “Bad boy! Very bad Rikki-tikki-tavi. But what are we going to do?” “First of all, where are we going? Tea Room? Some place where I can talk to you.” “No; it’s too stuffy to-day to be indoors. Let’s walk up to the Park and go in.” “All right. Now, Dorrie, we must face this thing. We can’t go on meeting secretly,—neither of us likes it,——” “I should say not! I hate it a thousand times worse’n you do. But Rick, mother is more obstinate than ever. She says if I see you again, or speak to you, she’ll pack up and move out of New York. Think of that!” “I can’t think of it! It is unthinkable! Now, Dorcas, darling, there’s only one thing to do. You must marry me——” “Hush that nonsense! I don’t propose——” “Naturally not! I’m doing the proposing——” “Don’t think because you make me laugh you’re going to bamboozle me into consent! I decline, refuse and renounce you, if you’re going to take that tack. I shall never marry you without the consent of my mother and your aunt, and you know it!” “I do know it, Dork, and that’s what breaks me all up. Confound that old Feud! But, I say, Uncle Binney is on our side. I sounded him and he approves of my marrying at once,—doesn’t care who the girl is,—and will make me his heir and all that,——” “If you give up your inventing and go into his Bunny business.” “Yes; that’s his game. Shall I do it?” “No! A thousand times no. I don’t want to marry a bakery!” “And anyway, it wouldn’t help the Feud——”