"But," objected Alicia, "Captain Heseltine says——"
"Unless," interrupted Eleanor, "it's something about a coat, I don't care what Captain Heseltine says. He's an authority on that subject, but on no other under the sun."
Alicia abandoned Captain Heseltine's authority and fell back on her sister-in-law's; Eleanor, in spite of the unusual relations of intimate friendship, dating from old school-days, between her employer and herself, could not treat Lady Eynesford's opinion with open disrespect. She drew certain distinctions, which resulted in demonstrating that a close acquaintance between Mr. Medland and Alicia was inadvisable, but that as regards herself the case was different.
"In short," said Alicia, summarising the distinctions, "you are thirty and I am twenty-two. But I don't want to know the man, only I liked him for hunting that butterfly. I wonder what
Miss Medland is like. Captain Heseltine says she's very pretty."
"I don't know."
"Is she out? Oh, but does one come out in New Lindsey?"
"It will be much more convenient if she isn't out," said Miss Scaife, rising and beginning to walk towards the house.
Alicia accompanied her. Before they had gone far, Mr. Medland and Dick Derosne appeared in the drive. The interview was ended, and Dick was escorting Mr. Medland.
"I'm afraid we can't avoid them," said Miss Scaife.