"I can't say I am," said Mr. Vyvian.
"Oh! Then you would like calcul. People who are really fond of other patiences don't; they despise it because it comes out. I don't like any other sort of patience; I'm not clever enough; so I like this. Let me teach you, may I?"
Vyvian got up.
"Thanks; you're quite too kind. On the whole, I think I can conduct my life without any form of patience, even one which comes out."
"You have a turn, then, Miss Johnson," said Peter, arranging the cards. "Perhaps it'll come out for you, though it won't for me to-night."
"Since you are all so profitably occupied," said Vyvian, "I think I will say good night."
Peter said, "Oh, must you?... Good night, then. We play calcul most nights, so you can learn it some other time if you'd like to."
"A delightful prospect," Vyvian murmured, his glance again comprehensively wandering round the room. "A happy family party you seem here.... Good night." He bent over Rhoda with his ironic politeness.
"I was going to ask you if you would come out with me to-morrow evening to a theatre.... But since your evenings seem to be so pleasantly filled otherwise...."
She looked up at him a moment, wavered, met his dark eyes, was caught by the old domination, and swept off her feet as of old.