d I always regretted
being forced into partnership with him; but I suppose one can't kick
one's past acquaintances from the door. I, at least, cannot. Some people
can and do; they may reconcile it with their standards of decency if they
choose; but I cannot. Vyvian must come if he likes, and we must be
hospitable to him. We must ask him to dinner if he comes again."

"Yes," sniffed Peggy, "I can see him! Sticking his fork into the potatoes
and pretending he can't get it through! Oh, have him to dinner if you
like; he must just make the best of what he gets if he comes. He'll be
awfully rude to the rest, too, but I'll apologise for him beforehand."

"Though a cad," Hilary observed, "Vyvian is less of a vacuous fool than
most of the members of our present delightful house-party. He at least
knows _something_ of art and literature, and can converse without jarring
one's taste violently by his every word. He is not, after all, a Miss
Matthews or a Mr. Bridger. Apologies, therefore, are scarcely called for,
perhaps."

Peggy said, "What a solemn face, Peter. Is it the Vyvian man, or the
beautiful cup, that we've never half thanked you for getting rid of yet?"

Peter said, "It's the Vyvian man. He makes me feel solemn. You see, I
promised Mrs. Johnson faithfully to keep Rhoda out of his clutches, if
I could."

"Darling, what a silly promise. Oh, of course, we'll all do our best; but
if he wants to clutch her, the silly little bird, he'll surely do it. Not
that I'm saying he does want to; I daresay he only wants to upset her and
make her his slave and then run away again to his own place, the Judas."

"But I don't want him to do that. Rhoda will be unhappier than ever
again."

"Oh, well, I wouldn't wonder if, when Rhoda sees him again now, she sees
what a poor creature it is, after all. It may be a turning-point with
her, and who knows will she perhaps settle down afterwards and be a
reasonable girl and darn her stockings and wear a collar?"

"If one _is_ to talk of stockings," began Hilary, "I noticed Caterina's
to-day, and really, you know...."

Peggy bit off her cotton and murmured, "Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear, what's
to become of us all?"

CHAPTER XIII

THE LOSS OF THE SINGLE STATE

The man Vyvian came. He came again and again, but not to dinner. Perhaps
he suspected about the potatoes, and thought that they would not even be
compensated for by the pleasure of sneering at the boarders. He came in
the e