Oh!--and by-the-way!"--Sir James turned sharply on his heel--"what was
she confabulating about with Miss Drake all that time in the garden? Did
they know each other before?"
Marsham replied in the negative. But he, too, was disagreeably arrested
by the recollection of the two girls walking together, and of the
intimacy and animation of their talk. And he could recall what Sir James
had not seen--the strangeness of Alicia's manner, and the peremptoriness
with which she had endeavored to carry him home with her. Had she--after
hearing the story--tried to interrupt or postpone the crucial scene with
Diana? That seemed to him the probable explanation, and the idea roused
in him a hot and impotent anger. What business was it of hers?
"H'm!" said Sir James. "You may be sure that Miss Drake is now in the
secret. She was very discreet on the way home. But she will take sides;
and not, I think, with us. She seems to have a good deal of influence
with your mother."
Marsham reluctantly admitted it.
"My sister, too, will be hostile. Don't let's forget that."
Sir James shrugged his shoulders, with the smile of one who is
determined to keep his spirits up.
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