"How
_horrid_ it is that I have to go away!"
"You! When?" Lady Lucy turned sharply to look at the speaker.
"Oh! not till Saturday," said Alicia, hastily; "and of course I shall
come back again--if you want me." She looked up with a smile.
"Oliver will certainly want you; I don't know whom he
could--possibly--want--so much." Lady Lucy spoke the words with
slow emphasis.
"Dear old boy!--I know," murmured Alicia. "I needn't be long away."
"Why must you go at all? I am sure the Treshams--Lady Evelyn--would
understand--"
"Oh, I promised so faithfully!" pleaded Alicia, joining her hands. "And
then, you know, I should be able to bring all sorts of gossip back to
Oliver to amuse him."
Lady Lucy pressed her hand to her eyes in a miserable bewilderment. "I
suppose it will be an immense party. You told me, I think, that Lady
Evelyn had asked Lord Philip Darcy. I should be glad if you would make
her understand that neither I, nor Sir James Chide, nor any other old
friend of Mr. Ferrier can ever meet that man on friendly terms again."
She looked up, her wrinkled cheeks flushed with color, her aspect
threatening and cold.
"Of course!" said Alicia, soothingly.
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