you set there," he continued, pushing the young man into a seat opposite
Cooley. "We'll give both you young fellers a mascot." He turned to Lady
Mount-Rhyswicke, who had gone to the settee by the fire. "Madge, you
come and set by Mellin," he commanded jovially. "Maybe he'll forget you
ain't a widow again."

"I don't believe I care much about bein' anybody's mascot to-night," she
answered. There was a hint of anger in her tired monotone.

"What?" He turned from the table and walked over to the fireplace. "I
reckon I didn't understand you," he said quietly, almost gently. "You
better come, hadn't you?"

She met his inscrutable little eyes steadily. A faint redness slowly
revealed itself on her powdered cheeks; then she followed him back to
the table and took the place he had assigned to her at Mellin's elbow.

"I'll bank," said Pedlow, taking a chair between Cooley and the Italian,
"unless somebody wants to take it off my hands. Now, what are we
playing?"

"Pokah," responded Sneyd with mild sarcasm.

"Bravo!" cried Mellin. "That's _my_ game. Ber-_ravo!_"

This was so far true: it was the only game upon which he had ever
ventured money; he had played several times when the wagers were allowed
to reach a limit of twenty-five cents.

"You know what I mean, I reckon," said Pedlow. "I mean what we are