"Bless my soul! Are you two quarrelling? What IS the matter?"
"Dolly read my note!" cried Alicia, "she—"
"I did not!" interrupted Dolly, her blue eyes blazing. "Alicia has a secret, and I think she ought to tell it!"
"I've got a right to have a secret if I like,—Dolly Fayre!"
"But it isn't a nice secret! You wouldn't want Uncle Forbes to know it!
It's—it's shocking!"
"How do YOU know?"
"I know all about it,—at least I know something about it. I heard you and Marly Turner—"
"Oh, pshaw! you little blue-eyed goose! You only think it's shocking, because you're so prim and straight-laced! I'll tell Uncle Jeff, myself, and I'll tell him right now!"
"All right, Alicia," and Dolly drew a big sigh of relief. If Alicia would tell her own secret, it would take all responsibility from her shoulders.
But Alicia hesitated. She began to speak once or twice, and stammered and paused.