Rafael belonged to this class, being joined, like a stucco Siamese Twin, in indissoluble union to its next-door neighbour, Mon Repos. It had in front of it a strip of gravel, two apologetic-looking flower beds with evergreens in them, a fence, and in the fence a gate, modelled on the five-barred gates of the country.
Out of this gate, as Kay drew near, there came an elderly gentleman, tall, with grey hair and a scholarly stoop.
“Why, hullo, darling,” said Kay. “Where are you off to?”
She kissed her uncle affectionately, for she had grown very fond of him in the months of their companionship.
“Just popping round to have a chat with Cornelius,” said Mr. Wrenn. “I thought I might get a game of chess.”
In actual years Matthew Wrenn was on the right{28} side of fifty; but as editors of papers like Pyke’s Home Companion are apt to do, he looked older than he really was. He was a man of mild and dreamy aspect, and it being difficult to imagine him in any dashing rôle, Kay rather supposed that the energy and fire which had produced the famous elopement must have come from the lady’s side.
{28}
“Well, don’t be late for dinner,” she said. “Is Willoughby in?”
“I left him in the garden.” Mr. Wrenn hesitated. “That’s a curious young man, Kay.”
“It’s an awful shame that he should be inflicted on you, darling,” said Kay. “His housekeeper shooed him out of his house, you know. She wanted to give it a thorough cleaning. And he hates staying at clubs and hotels, and I’ve known him all my life, and he asked me if we could put him up, and—well, there you are. But cheer up, it’s only for to-night.”
“My dear, you know I’m only too glad to put up any friend of yours. But he’s such a peculiar young fellow. I have been trying to talk to him for an hour, and all he does is to look at me like a goldfish.”
“Like a goldfish?”
“Yes, with his eyes staring and his lips moving without any sound coming from them.”
Kay laughed.
“It’s his speech. I forgot to tell you. The poor lamb has got to make a speech to-night at the annual dinner of the Old Boys of his school. He’s never made one before, and it’s weighing on his mind terribly.”
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