Part 42 (2/2)
Alicia turned on her with a sudden expression of anger.
”You DID read that note in my coat pocket!” she cried, ”you DID read it, Dolly Fayre! and you pretended you were too honourable to do such a thing!”
”Why, Alicia, I did not! You take that back!”
”Bless my soul! Are you two quarrelling? What IS the matter?”
”Dolly read my note!” cried Alicia, ”she--”
”I did not!” interrupted Dolly, her blue eyes blazing. ”Alicia has a secret, and I think she ought to tell it!”
”I've got a right to have a secret if I like,--Dolly Fayre!”
”But it isn't a nice secret! You wouldn't want Uncle Forbes to know it!
It's--it's shocking!”
”How do YOU know?”
”I know all about it,--at least I know something about it. I heard you and Marly Turner--”
”Oh, pshaw! you little blue-eyed goose! You only think it's shocking, because you're so prim and straight-laced! I'll tell Uncle Jeff, myself, and I'll tell him right now!”
”All right, Alicia,” and Dolly drew a big sigh of relief. If Alicia would tell her own secret, it would take all responsibility from her shoulders.
But Alicia hesitated. She began to speak once or twice, and stammered and paused.
At last she said, ”I hate to tell, it sounds so--so grown-up and ambitious.”
”I should think it DID!” cried Dolly, who began to wonder if Alicia were crazy.
”You tell him, Dolly,” and Alicia suddenly looked very shy and embarra.s.sed.
”Do you MEAN it? Do you want ME to tell him?”
”Yes, I honestly wish you would. Though how you found out about it, I don't see!”
”We weren't intending to listen, Alicia, but Geordie Knapp and I heard you and Marly Turner, in the little reception-room last night.”
”Oh, that explains it! Yes, we did talk pretty loud. Well, what did you think of it, Dolly?”
”If you say so, I'll tell the rest, and see what they think of it.”
”All right, go ahead! Spare my blushes, good people, but I am fearfully embarra.s.sed!”
Everybody looked uncomprehending, and Dolly began.
She couldn't see how Alicia could treat the matter so lightly, but was fervently thankful that she did so.
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