"It's time, I think, that Alicia made up her mind. She has been out a
good while."
It gave him a curious pleasure--he could hardly tell why--to say this
slighting thing of Alicia. After all, he had no evidence that she had
done anything unfriendly or malicious at the time of the crisis.
Instinctively, he had ranged her then and since as an enemy--as a person
who had worked against him. But, in truth, he knew nothing for certain.
Perhaps, after the foolish passages between them a year ago, it was
natural that she should dislike and be critical of Diana. As to her
coming now, it was completely indifferent to him. It would be a good
thing, no doubt, for his mother to have her companionship.
As he opened the door for Lady Lucy to leave the room, he noticed her
gray and fragile look.
"I believe you have had enough of London, mother. You ought to be
getting abroad."
"I am all right," said Lady Lucy, hastily. "Like you, I hate east winds.
Oliver, I have had a charming letter from Mr. Heath."
Mr. Heath had been for some months Marsham's local correspondent on the
subject of the new Liberal hall in the county town. Lady Lucy had
recently sent a check to the Committee, which had set all their building
anxieties at rest.
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