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with relentless determination。
With such stakes the game was soon over。 It was not long before
the lieutenant was stripped of his hundred； while Harry and Mr。
Sims had each lost smaller amounts。
〃You will try another hundred？〃 said the lieutenant； burning to get
revenge。
Without a word Ranald laid down his hundred； the others did
likewise； and once more the game proceeded。 There was no change
in Ranald's play。 Thorough knowledge of the game； absolute self…
command； an instinctive reading of his opponent's mind； and
unswerving purpose soon brought about the only result possible。
The lieutenant's second hundred with a part of Harry's and Mr。
Sims's passed into Ranald's possession。
Again De Lacy challenged to play。
〃No；〃 said Ranald； 〃I have done。〃 He put back into his linen bag
his one hundred dollars； counted out two hundred； and gave it to
LeNoir； saying： 〃That is Rouleau's；〃 and threw the rest upon the
table。 〃I want no man's money；〃 he said； 〃that I do not earn。〃
The lieutenant sprang to his feet。
〃Hold！〃 he cried； 〃you forget； there is something else！〃
〃No；〃 said Ranald； as Harry and Mr。 Sims put themselves in De
Lacy's way； 〃there is nothing else to…night； another day； and any
day you wish； you can have the other game；〃 and with that he passed
out of the room。
CHAPTER XX
HER CLINGING ARMS
The ancient capital of Canadathe old gray queen of the mighty St。
Lawrenceis a city of many charms and of much stately beauty。 Its
narrow； climbing streets； with their quaint shops and curious
gables； its old market； with chaffering habitant farmers and their
wives； are full of living interest。 Its noble rock； crowned with
the ancient citadel； and its sweeping tidal river； lend it a dignity
and majestic beauty that no other city knows； and everywhere about
its citadel and walls； and venerable； sacred buildings； there still
linger the romance and chivalry of heroic days long gone。 But there
are times when neither the interests of the living present nor the
charms of the romantic past can avail； and so a shadow lay upon
Maimie's beautiful face as she sat in the parlor of the Hotel de
Cheval Blanc； looking out upon the mighty streets and the huddled
roofs of the lower town。 She held in her hand an open note。
〃It is just awfully stupid；〃 she grumbled； 〃and I think pretty mean
of him！〃
〃Of whom； may I ask？〃 said Kate； pausing in her singing； 〃or is
there any need？ What says the gallant lieutenant？〃
Maimie tossed her the note。
〃The picnic is postponed。 Well； of course the rain told us that；
and he is unavoidably prevented from calling； and entreats your
sympathy and commiseration。 Well； that's a very nice note； I am
sure。〃
〃Where has he been these three days！ He might have known it would
be stupid； and Harry gives one no satisfaction。〃 Maimie was
undeniably cross。 〃And Ranald； too；〃 she went on； 〃where has he
been？ Not even your music could bring him！〃 with a little spice of
spite。 〃I think men are just horrid； anyway。〃
〃Especially when they will keep away；〃 said Kate。
〃Well； what are they good for if not to entertain us？ I wish we
could do without them！ But I do think Ranald might have come。〃
〃Well；〃 said Kate； emphatically； 〃I can't see why you should expect
him。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃I think you ought to know。〃
〃I； how should I know？〃 Maimie's innocent blue eyes were wide open
with surprise。
〃Nonsense；〃 cried Kate； with impatience rare in her； 〃don't be
absurd； Maimie； I am not a child。〃
〃What do YOU mean？〃
〃You needn't tell me you don't know why Ranald comes。 Do you want
him to come？〃
〃Why； of course I do； how silly you are。〃
〃Well；〃 said Kate； deliberately； 〃I would rather be silly than
cruel and unkind。〃
〃Why； Kate； how dreadful of you！〃 exclaimed Maimie； 〃'cruel and
unkind！'〃
〃Yes。〃 said Kate； 〃you are not treating Ranald well。 You should
not encourage him totocare for you when you do not mean to
togo on with it。〃
〃Oh； what nonsense； Ranald is not a baby； he will not take any
hurt。〃
〃Oh； Maimie；〃 said Kate； and her voice was low and earnest； 〃Ranald
is not like other men。 He does not understand things。 He loves
you and he will love you more every day if you let him。 Why don't
you let him go？〃
〃Let him go！〃 cried Maimie； 〃who's keeping him？〃 But as she spoke
the flush in her cheek and the warm light in her eye told more
clearly than words that she did not mean to let him go just then。
〃You are；〃 said Kate； 〃and you are making him love you。〃
〃Why； how silly you are；〃 cried Maimie； 〃of course he likes me；
but〃
〃No； Maimie；〃 said Kate； with sad earnestness； 〃he loves you； you
can see it in the way he looks at you； in his voice when he speaks
andoh； you shouldn't let him unless you mean totogo on。 Send
him right away！〃 There were tears in Kate's dark eyes。
〃Why； Katie；〃 cried Maimie； looking at her curiously； 〃what
difference does it make to you？ And besides； how can I send him
away？ I just treat him as I do Mr。 De Lacy。〃
〃De Lacy！〃 cried Kate； indignantly。 〃De Lacy can look after
himself； but Ranald is different。 He is so serious andand so
honest； and he means just what he says； and you are so nice to him；
and you look at him in such a way！〃
〃Why； Kate； do you mean that I try to〃 Maimie was righteously
indignant。
〃You perhaps don't know；〃 continued Kate； 〃but you can't help being
fascinating to men； you know you are； and Ranald believes you so；
andand you ought to be quite straightforward with him！〃 Poor
Kate could no longer command her voice。
〃There； now；〃 said Maimie； caressing her friend； not unpleased with
Kate's description of her； 〃I'm going to be good。 I will just be
horrid to both of them； and they'll go away！ But； oh； dear； things
are all wrong！ Poor Ranald；〃 she said to herself； 〃I wonder if he
will come to the picnic on Saturday？〃
Kate looked at her friend a moment and wiped away her tears。
〃Indeed I hope he will not；〃 she said； indignantly； 〃for I know you
mean to just lead him on。 I have a mind to tell him。〃
〃Tell him what？〃 said Maimie； smiling。
〃Just what you mean to do。〃
〃I wish you would tell me that。〃
〃Now I tell you； Maimie；〃 said Kate； 〃if you go on with Ranald so
any longer I will just tell him you are playing with him。〃
〃Do；〃 said Maimie； scornfully； 〃and be careful to make clear to him
at the same time that you are speaking solely in his interest！〃
Kate's face flushed red at the insinuation； and then grew pale。
She stood for some time looking in silence at her friend； and then
with a proud flash of her dark eyes； she swept from the room
without a word； nor did Maimie see her again that afternoon； though
she stood outside her door entreating with tears to be forgiven。
Poor Kate！ Maimie's shaft had gone too near a vital spot； and the
wound amazed and terrified her。 Was it for Ranald's sake alone she
cared？ Yes； surely it was。 Then why this sharp new pain under the
hand pressing hard upon her heart？
Oh； what did that mean？ She put her face in her pillow to hide the
red that she knew was flaming in her cheeks； and for a few moments
gave herself up to the joy that