'Oh, hush, Kenneth!' I exclaimed. 'Please don't talk so; you know how I dislike it.'
'I am afraid Gates has lost his chance,' Kenneth continued, with one of his provoking smiles. 'I met him last week, Goody, and what do you think he was doing? Now don't look so indifferent, for, remember, if he goes to the dogs, it will be you who has driven him there. He was packing his things up for Monte Carlo. And he is going to propose to the first heiress that he comes across, for he is desperately hard up just now.'
I felt my cheeks get hot, and I knew that Miss Rayner's eyes were scanning me closely.
'How is Violet?' I asked. 'Isn't she feeling rather lonely?'
'I never set eyes on her,' was the brotherly reply, 'except that before I got off this morning she came rushing out with all sorts of messages to you. I told her I shouldn't remember half. One was that she wanted you back, I think; the other, that Miss Graham had taken your precious Sunday class, and had found it so entertaining that she was going to try it again.'
'Oh, I am so glad!' I exclaimed. 'I was hoping she would; and is she going to give Jim a reading-lesson in the week, do you know?'
'That I can't tell you.'
After luncheon, Miss Rayner went down to the village on some errand, and then Kenneth inquired, 'Is she treating you well?'
'Of course,' I replied; 'she is most kind, and I am enjoying myself very much.'
'What on earth do you do with yourself all day in this out-of-the-way hole? Have you seen a single visitor since you have been here?'