Richard contrived to conceal his annoyance tolerably during the dinner, but his mother saw with secret satisfaction that he was thoroughly piqued by the way in which Eve behaved towards their visitor; and even with the effort he made over himself, he was not quite successful in hiding his vexation; while when they went out afterwards on to the croquet lawn, and the vicar and Eve were partners against him, he gave vent to his feelings by vicious blows at the balls, to the no slight damage of Mrs Glaire's flowers. This lady, however, bore the infliction with the greatest equanimity, sitting on a garden seat, knitting, with a calm satisfied smile upon her face even though Eve looked aghast at the mischief that had been done. Matters did not improve, for Richard, after being, to his great disgust, thoroughly beaten, and having his ball driven into all kinds of out-of-the-way places by his adversaries, found on re-entering the drawing-room that he was to play a very secondary part. Eve recollected that Mr Selwood could sing a little, and he sang in a good manly voice several songs, to which she played the accompaniment. Then Eve had to sing as well, a couple of pretty ballads, in a sweet unaffected voice, and all this time the whist-table was waiting and Richard pretending to keep up a conversation with the doctor, who enjoyed the music and did not miss his whist. At length the last ballad was finished, tea over, and Richard had made his plans to exclude Eve from the whist-table, when he gnashed his teeth with fury, for his mother said-- "Eve, my dear, why don't you ask Mr Selwood to try that duet with you?" "What, the one Richard was practising, aunt?" "Yes, my dear, that one." "Oh, no," exclaimed the vicar. "If Mr Glaire sings I will not take his place. Perhaps he will oblige us by taking his part with you." "But Dick doesn't know it, Mr Selwood," said Eve, laughing merrily, "and he's sure to break down. He always does in a song. Do try it." Dick turned livid with rage, for this was more than he could bear, and, seeing his annoyance, Mr Selwood pleasantly declined, saying-- "But I have an engagement on; I am to win some money of the doctor here, for my poor people." "Didn't know it was the correct thing to gamble to win money for charity." "Oh, I often do," said the vicar, pleasantly. "Now I'll be bound, Mr Glaire, if I'd asked you for a couple of guineas to distribute, you'd think me a great bore." "You may depend upon that," said Richard. "I never give in charity." "But at the same time, you would not much mind if I won that sum from you at whist." "You'd have to win it first," said Richard, with a sneer. "Exactly," said the vicar; "and I might lose." "There, don't talk," said Richard; "let's play. Come along, mamma." Mrs Glaire was about to excuse herself, but seeing her son's looks, she thought better of her decision, and to keep peace went up to the table; Eve saying she would look on.