Alicia saw his puzzled look and forced a smile.
"Don't tease me. Who is it?"
"No less a man than a Minister."
"A—Willie, who is it?" she asked, and she stretched out a hand in entreaty.
"My dear girl, whatever——? Well, then, it's Coxon."
"Mr. Coxon! Oh!" and a sigh followed, the hand fell to her side, the flush vanished.
She felt a great relief; the strain was over; there was nothing to be faced now, and, as happens at first, peace seemed almost so sweet as to drown the taste of disappointment. Yet she could not have denied that the taste of disappointment was there.
"Oh! how absurd!"
"It's rather amusing," said his Excellency, much relieved in his turn. "You won't chaff Mary—promise."
"What about? No, I promise."