He stared at her in amazement. "My dear girl, you don't expect me to cut the Ransomes because she isn't brute enough to turn her sister out of doors?"
"I expect you to give up going to them, and to the Hannays, as long as Lady Cayley is in Scale. Promise me."
"I can't promise you anything of the sort. Heaven knows how long she's going to stay."
"I ought not to have to explain that by countenancing her you insult me. You should see it for yourself."
"I can't see it. In the first place, with all due regard to you, I don't insult you by countenancing her, as you call it. In the second place, I don't countenance her by going into other people's houses. If I went into her house, you might complain. She hasn't got a house, poor lady."
She ignored his pity. "In spite of your regard for me, then, you will continue to meet her?"
"I shan't if I can help it. But if I must, I must. I can't be rude to people."
"You can be firm."
He laughed. "What have I got to be firm about?"
"Not meeting her."