'It's true,' I persisted.
'I don't believe it; I shall give you a dose of my society to-day, for I shall stay on to dinner here. What shall we do this afternoon?'
'Miss Rayner does not expect you to stay on,' I said, 'for she wished you good-bye before she went out just now.'
'I know she did, but I intend to stay, all the same.'
And this he did, telling Miss Rayner when she came in that there was no dinner at home, Hugh was in town, and he was sure she would offer him further hospitality.
Kenneth could be very amusing when he liked, and he certainly brought a fresh element into our quiet life. He asked me to play on my violin after dinner, and when I had finished he turned to Miss Rayner and said, 'That is Goody's strong forte—that instrument of hers. She could charm a man's soul away by some of her strains!' And then he took his leave.
There was silence between us for some time after his departure. I thought Miss Rayner was reading, and though I was professedly doing the same, my thoughts kept wandering off to Captain Gates. I wondered if I was responsible for his going back to his old reckless life. He had told me once what a snare gambling had been to him, and how much he wanted to give it up. This visit to Monte Carlo would plunge him into the midst of it again.
I was startled out of my reverie by Miss Rayner's voice saying, 'What pictures are you seeing in the fire, child?'
I looked up. 'I was only thinking,' I said.
'So I suppose. Who is this Captain Gates that Kenneth mentioned?'