So she went off to the Treshams', to see if there was no third
course--that's how I read it."
"The Treshams'?--a visit?--since the accident?"
"Don't look so astonished, my dear. You don't know the Alicias of this
world. But I admit we should be dull without them. There's a girl at the
Feltons' who has just come down from the Treshams', and I wouldn't have
missed her stories of Alicia for a great deal. She's been setting her
cap, it appears, at Lord Philip. However" (Lady Niton chuckled) "_there_
she's met her match."
"Rut they _are_ engaged?" said Diana, in bewildered interrogation.
The little lady's laugh rang out--shrill and cracked--like the crow of a
bantam.
"She and Lord Philip? Trust Lord Philip!"
"No, I didn't mean that!"
"She and Oliver? I've no doubt Oliver thinks--or thought--they were.
What view he takes now, poor fellow, I'm sure I don't know. But I don't
somehow think Alicia will be able to carry on the game indefinitely.
Lady Lucy is losing patience."
Diana sat in silence. Lady Niton could not exactly decipher her. But she
guessed at a conflict between a scrupulous or proud unwillingness to
discuss the matter at all or hear it discussed, and some motive deeper
still and more imperative.
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