Part 28 (1/2)
”Willie, be just to him. I was thinking how nice it would be if Alicia could join him for a little while. She's looking pale and wants a change.”
”Does she want to go?”
”Well, I don't know.”
”Haven't you asked her?”
”No, dear.”
Lord Eynesford knew his wife's way. He rose and stood with his back to the fireplace.
”You'll be sending me away next, Mary,” he remarked. ”What's wrong with Alicia? She doesn't show signs of relenting about your friend c.o.xon, does she? If so, she shall go by the next boat, if I have to exert the prerogative.”
”Mr. c.o.xon? Oh, dear, no! Poor man! There's no danger from him.”
”What's in the wind then?”
”She's too intimate with these Medlands.”
”My dear Mary! Forgive me, but you're in danger of becoming a monomaniac. The Medlands are not lepers.”
Lady Eynesford shut her lips close and made no answer.
”What harm can they do her?” pursued the Governor. ”Daisy's a nice girl, and Medland--well, the worst he can do is to make her a Radical, and it doesn't matter two straws what she is.”
Lady Eynesford's foot tapped on the floor.
”I suppose you'll laugh at me,” she said. ”Indeed it's absurd enough to make any one laugh, but, Willie, I'm not quite sure that Alicia isn't too much----”
The sentence was cut short by the entrance of Alicia herself.
”Ah! Al!” cried the Governor. ”Come here. Would you like to join d.i.c.k in Australia?”
Alicia started.
”He says he's lonely, and I thought it would be such a nice trip for you,” added Lady Eynesford.
”d.i.c.k lonely! What nonsense! It only means he wants to come back, Mary.”
d.i.c.k's pathos was evidently a broken reed. Lady Eynesford let it go, and said,
”Anyhow, you might take advantage of his being there to see Australia.”
”I don't want to see Australia,” answered Alicia. ”I much prefer New Lindsey.”
”You don't jump at Mary's proposal?”
”I utterly decline,” laughed Alicia, and, taking the book she had come in search of, she went out.
”You see. She won't go,” remarked Lady Eynesford.