Good humor mastered him again, and he grinned his delightful boyish grin.
"I can't for the life of me imagine a girl's marrying me for anything else," he said. "Can you?"
"I'll tell you what I'll do for you, my lad," I said. "I'll arrange for you to see Helen to-night! You shall meet and talk and dance with her at Port Annandale casino, in the most conventional way in the world, with me for chaperon. By reason of being Mr. Glenarm's guest here, I'm _ex officio_ a member of the club. I'll manage everything. Miss Pat shall know nothing--all on one condition only."
"That you shall not mention family affairs to her at all."
"God knows I shall be delighted to escape them!" His eyes brightened and he clapped his hands together. "I owe her a pair of gloves on an old wager. I have them in the village and will bring them over to-night," he said; but deception was not an easy game for him. I grinned and he colored.
"It's not money, Donovan," he said, as hurt as a misjudged child. "I won't lie to you. I was to meet her at St. Agatha's pier to-night to give her the gloves."
"You shall have your opportunity, but those meetings on piers won't do. I will hand her over to you at the casino at nine o'clock. I suppose I may have a dance or two?"
"I suppose so," he said, so grudgingly that I laughed aloud.
"Remember the compact; try to have a good time and don't talk of trouble," I enjoined, as we parted.
When first we met we did not guess That Love would prove so hard a master; Of more than common friendliness When first we met we did not guess-- Who could foretell this sore distress-- This irretrievable disaster When first we met? We did not guess That Love would prove so hard a master. --Robert Bridges.
Miss Pat asked me to dine at St. Agatha's that night. The message came unexpectedly--a line on one of those quaint visiting-cards of hers, brought by the gardener; and when I had penned my acceptance I at once sent the following message by Ijima to the boat-maker's house at Red Gate:
It is important for you to appear with me at the Port Annandale casino to-night, and to meet Reginald Gillespie there. He is pledged to refer in no way to family affairs. It he should attempt to, you need only remind him of his promise. He will imagine that you are some one else, so please be careful not to tax his imagination too far. There is much at stake which I will explain later. You are to refuse nothing that he may offer you. I shall come into the creek with the launch and call for you at Red Gate.