"I think I'll go straight home," she said, stopping suddenly. "You can join the others."
"Yes, that will be best. I'm not due at the Council just yet."
"I suppose I ought to thank you for telling me the truth. I—" Her false composure suddenly gave way. With a sob she stretched out her hands towards him, crying, "Why didn't you tell me sooner?" and before he could answer her she turned and walked swiftly away, leaving him standing still on the pathway.
She was hardly inside the gates of Government House when she saw Eleanor Scaife, who hurried to meet her.
"Only think, Alicia!" she cried. "Dick is on his way home, and with such good news. We've just had a cable from him."
"Coming back!"
"Yes. He's engaged! He met the Grangers on their tour round the world—you know them, the great cotton people?—at Sydney, and he's engaged to the youngest girl, Violet—you remember her? It all happened in a fortnight. Mary and Lord Eynesford are delighted. It's just perfect. She's very pretty, and tremendously well off. I do declare, I never thought Dick would end so well! What a happy thought it was sending him away! 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?"