But how to see De Vayne again? He thought over their common acquaintances, and at last fixed on Kennedy as the likeliest man on whom he could depend to secure another meeting. Yet he hardly liked to suggest that Kennedy should give a wine-party, and ask De Vayne and himself; so that he was rather puzzled.
“I say, Brogten, how is it that we are always asking Kennedy to our rooms, and he so very seldom asks us?”
“I suppose because he isn’t over-partial to our company.”
“Why not?” said Bruce, who considered himself very fascinating, and quite a person whose society was to be courted; “and if so, why does he come to our rooms?”
Brogten might, perhaps, have thrown light on the subject had he chosen.
“Well,” he said, “I’ll give him a hint.”
“Do; and get him to ask De Vayne.”
Brogten did so; Kennedy assented to asking Bruce, though he listened to Brogten’s hints, (which he instantly understood), with a sullenness which but a short time before had no existence, not even a prototype, in his bright and genial character. But when it came to asking De Vayne, he simply replied to Brogten’s suggestion flatly:
“I will not.”
“Won’t you? but why?”