United States or Guinea ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"Come and feed the swans," said Alicia, rising. "What will Mary think?" said Eleanor, settling herself down again to Tomes. "And why is Alicia so curious about the Medlands?" It was perhaps natural that Eleanor should be puzzled to answer the question she put to herself, but in reality the interest Alicia felt admitted of easy explanation.
He shook his head in indulgent disapproval, and said to Alicia, "Come, Al, we'll go and speak to them," and before Lady Eynesford could declare Alicia's company unnecessary, the pair had turned their horses' heads and were on the way to join the Medlands. Lady Eynesford's eyes followed them.
She doesn't show signs of relenting about your friend Coxon, does she? If so, she shall go by the next boat, if I have to exert the prerogative." "Mr. Coxon? 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."
Aren't you delighted?" "It sounds very nice, doesn't it? I don't think I knew her more than just to speak to." "Dick'll be here in four days. I've been looking for you to tell you for the last hour. Where have you been?" "In the Park." "Alone, as usual, you hermit?" "Well, I met the Medlands and Mr. Norburn, and talked to them for a little while." "Alicia! But it's no use talking to you.
After all, it mattered very little to him; he would be out of it all in a month, and the Medlands were not, when he came to think of it, people of great importance. Why, the Grangers had never heard of them! Decidedly, he had had enough and to spare of the Medlands. Nevertheless, he was to have a little more of them, for at this instant he saw Daisy Medland approaching him.
If I'd been but good gracious! I forgot Dick. Do come, Alicia, and get him away from her. We seem to have nothing but Medlands to-night!" The first person they met inside the ball-room was Mr. Coxon. He was enveloped in gloom. Alicia's conscience smote her. "Oh!" she cried, "I forgot Mr. Coxon! I must go and scold him for not coming for me. Nonsense, Eleanor!
Also she was indignant with Dick: this conduct of Dick's struck her as an impertinence, and, on behalf of the Medlands, she resented it. They talked, too, as if it were a flirtation with a milliner dangerous enough to be troublesome, yet too absurd to be really dangerous discreditable no doubt to Dick, but she detected the underlying thought still more discreditable to Daisy Medland.
"Yes, between ourselves, he did. He wouldn't tell me what, but said he knew what he was talking about, and that I'd better tell you that you and all of us would be very sorry before long if we had anything to do with the Medlands." "What the deuce does he mean?" asked Dick fretfully. "Well, you know the sort of gossip that's about. Compare that with what Kilshaw said." "What gossip?" "Nonsense!
She understood now Dick's banishment, her sister-in-law's unresting hostility to the Medlands, and the reason why she had been pressed to go to Australia. She spared a minute to grief for Daisy, but her own sorrow would not be denied, and engrossed her again. In the solitude she had sought, she cried to herself, "Why didn't they tell me before? What's the use of telling me now?"
"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. "I never thought she would. What were you going to say when she came in?" Lady Eynesford rose and stood by her husband. "Willie," she said, "what is it about the Medlands? I'm tired of not knowing whether there is anything or whether there isn't."
Word Of The Day