Part 20 (1/2)

”I shan't guess. When I guess, I always guess wrong,” said Alicia, ”and that----”

”Tells tales, doesn't it? Well! it's a great man this time.”

A sudden impossible idea ran through her head. Surely it couldn't be----? But nothing we think of very much seems always impossible. It might be! Her air of raillery dropped from her. She sat down, blus.h.i.+ng and breathing quickly.

”Who is it, Willie?” she gasped.

”No, you must guess,” said the Governor, over his shoulder; he was engaged in lighting a cigar.

”No, no; tell me, tell me,” she could not help crying.

At the sound of her voice, he turned quickly and looked curiously at her.

”Why, Al, what's the matter?” he asked uneasily.

Surely she could not care for that fellow? But girls were queer creatures. Lord Eynesford always doubted if they really knew a gentleman from one who was--well, very nearly a gentleman.

Alicia saw his puzzled look and forced a smile.

”Don't tease me. Who is it?”

”No less a man than a Minister.”

”A--Willie, who is it?” she asked, and she stretched out a hand in entreaty.

”My dear girl, whatever----? Well, then, it's c.o.xon.”

”Mr. c.o.xon! Oh!” and a sigh followed, the hand fell to her side, the flush vanished.

She felt a great relief; the strain was over; there was nothing to be faced now, and, as happens at first, peace seemed almost so sweet as to drown the taste of disappointment. Yet she could not have denied that the taste of disappointment was there.

”Oh! how absurd!”

”It's rather amusing,” said his Excellency, much relieved in his turn.

”You won't chaff Mary--promise.”

”What about? No, I promise.”

”She thought he was sweet on Eleanor, and rather backed him up--asked him here and all that, you know--and it was you all the time.”

Alicia laughed.

”I thought Mary used to leave him a lot to Eleanor.”

”That's it.”

”But Eleanor always pa.s.sed him on to me.”