"With Alicia? Why, what has Alicia got to do with it?"
"You mustn't chaff me, Lady Eynesford. It's too serious," pleaded Coxon, in self-complacent tones.
"What does the man mean?" thought Lady
Eynesford. Then a glance at his face somehow brought sudden illumination, and the illumination brought such a shock that Lady Eynesford was startled into vulgar directness of speech.
"Good gracious! Surely it is Eleanor you come after?" she exclaimed.
"Miss Scaife! What made you think that? Surely you've seen that it's Miss Derosne who——"
"Mr. Coxon!"
At the tone in which Lady Eynesford seemed to hurl his own name in his teeth, Coxon's rosy illusion vanished. He sat in gloomy silence, twisting his hat in his hand and waiting for Lady Eynesford to speak again.
"You astonish me!" she said at last. "I made sure it was Eleanor."
"Why is it astonishing?" he asked. "Surely Miss Derosne's attractions are sufficient to——?"