Then her cheeks began to dimple and her eyes to gleam with mirth.
“I know of one ‘old fogy’ who is fishing for a compliment,” she retorted, with a saucy toss of her bright head, “and who has been speaking two words for himself and one for others. I know what he wants. Mr. Hamilton, do you play whist? Because if you do,” she went on, archly, without waiting for him to reply, “and are fond of it, it will be all right; for you will doubtless be invited by my guardian to ‘take a hand,’ and once committed, look out for yourself; he is an inveterate player, and he has no mercy on his foes.”
“Oh, fie! Virgie, what a character to give your best friend; and to a stranger, too,” laughed Mr. Knight, good-humoredly; “but I confess I am a dear lover of whist, Mr. Hamilton, and”—with a quizical look at Virgie—“if you know the game, won’t you and your friend take a hand, after dinner, with me and my ward? My sister does not play.”
“There! I told you so,” interposed the gay girl, with a ripple of silvery laughter.
Rupert joined her heartily.
“I thank you for your timely warning, Miss Alexander,” he said, “but I do understand the game and like it, too; but before I commit myself, won’t you tell me, please, is your friend a very formidable antagonist?”
“Dreadful! he plays as if his life and honor depended upon his winning every game,” she answered, the dimples playing at hide and seek about her lovely mouth, while Rupert thought her the most delightful little body he had ever met.
“Then perhaps you may know some of the weak points of the enemy, and will join me in besieging his fort after dinner,” he said, with an appealing glance.
“Thank you; I will, with pleasure, Mr. Hamilton,” was the gay response; “it is not often that I play against him; but if I could see him beaten a few times, just to take some of what our Irish neighbors call ‘the consate’ out of him, I think I should rather enjoy it.”
“Oh! the depravity of human nature!” cried Mr. Knight, in mock distress, though his eyes rested very tenderly upon the bright face beside him; “after sharing all my honors in the past, to forswear your allegiance like this! it is rank treason.”