With the change in his thoughts—did it betray itself on his face?—came a change in Peggy also. She was still gaily defiant, but she looked rather on the defensive too. A touch of timidity mingled with the challenge which her eyes still directed at him.
'It's not the least good lecturing you,' he declared.
'I don't know how you ever came to think you knew how to do it.'
'Peggy, am I never to get any forwarder?'
'Not much, I hope,' answered Peggy, with a stifled laugh.
He looked at her steadily for a minute.
'You like me,' he said. 'If you hadn't liked me, I should have been kicked out by now.'
'I call that taking a very unfair advantage,' murmured Peggy.
'Because you're not the sort of girl to let a man——'