Chapter 38

Before Fan's visit came to an end, the Travers gave a dinner to some of
their Kingston friends and neighbours. The hour was seven, and all the
guests, save one, arrived at the right time, and after fifteen minutes'
grace had been allowed, Mrs. Travers discovered to her dismay that they
would sit down thirteen at table. She was superstitious, in the
restricted sense in which her husband used the word, and was plainly
distressed. Two or three of the ladies, including Fan, who were in the
secret, were discussing this grave matter with her.

"I shall not dine, Mrs. Travers; do please let me stop out!" said Fan.

"No, my dear Miss Eden, I couldn't think of such a thing," said Mrs.
Travers.

Then another lady offered to eat her dinner standing, for so long as they
did not sit down thirteen "it would be all right," she said. But it was
one of those unfortunate remarks which sound personal, the obliging lady
being very tall and slender, while her short and stout hostess did not
look much higher when standing than when seated.

"It is really too bad of him!" was her sole remark.

"Is he nice?" asked another lady.

"Not very, I think, if he makes us sit down thirteen, and leaves Miss
Eden with no one to take her in. But you can judge for yourself, for here
he is--I am _so_ glad!"

The late guest advancing to them was now shaking hands with his hostess,
and apologising for being the last to arrive; while Fan, who had suddenly
turned very pale, shrank back as if anxious to avoid being seen by him.
It was Captain Horton, not much changed in appearance, but thinner and
somewhat care-worn and jaded. Mrs. Travers at once proceeded to introduce
him to Fan, and asked him to take her in to dinner, and being preoccupied
she did not notice the girl's altered and painfully distressed
appearance. He bowed and offered his arm, but he started perceptibly when
first glancing at her face. Fan, barely resting her fingers on his
sleeve, moved on by his side, her eyes cast down, as they followed the
other guests, both keeping silence. At the table, their neighbours on
either side being deeply engaged in conversation with their respective
partners, Captain Horton found himself placed in an exceedingly trying
position, but until he had finished his soup, which he ate but did not
taste, he made no attempt to speak. The name of Eden mystified him, and
more than once his eyes wandered to that portrait hanging on the wall
opposite to where he was sitting, to find its grey eyes watching him; yet
he had no doubt in his mind that the young lady by his side was the girl
he had known at Dawson Place as Fan Affleck. At length, to avoid
attracting attention, he felt