He _must_ get her back--he _must_ get her back.
Behind his brain, all this time, was the horror of being left alone in the
world and of what he might do--then.
To get Clare back he must have the assistance of two people--Mrs. Rossiter
and Cards.
It was at this point that he perceived Mrs. Rossiter's placidity.
He could not get at her at all--he could not get near her. He tried in
every way, during these weeks, to please her. She apparently noticed
nothing. He could force no direct opinion about anything from her and yet
he was conscious of opposition. He was conscious of opposition,
increasingly, every day.
"I believe she _wants_ Clare to hate me," he suddenly revealed to himself,
and, with that, all hope of her as an ally vanished.
Then he hated her--he hated her more bitterly every day.
He wanted to tell her not to call him "Peter dear"--she loved to put him in
positions that showed him in the worst light to Clare.
At luncheon for instance: "Peter dear, it would be a nice thing for you and
Clare to go to that Private View at the Carfax this afternoon. You've
nothing to do, Clare, have you?"
Peter knew that Mrs. Rossiter had already ascertained that he was engaged.
He knew also that Clare had had no thought of Peter's company before but
that now she would very speedily feel herself injured.
"I'm afraid--" Peter would begin.
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