"Not—not—Alicia, with one man? Worse and——"
"Yes."
"Mr. Coxon, then, I hope? At least he's safe."
"No."
"Who then?"
"I don't know why you should ask——"
"Alicia! Was it—?" exclaimed Eleanor, with a gesture towards where she had found her friend.
"Mr. Medland? Yes," answered Alicia. And, in her effort to exclude timidity, she infused into her voice a note of defiance.
Eleanor sat down on the nearest seat. Surprise dominated her faculties. Dick's behaviour was reprehensible, but, given such creatures as young men, natural. But Alicia? The thing was too surprising to cause uneasiness.