She couldn't see how Alicia could treat the matter so lightly, but was fervently thankful that she did so.
"It's this," said Dolly, solemnly, "Alicia is planning to elope with
Marly Turner."
There were four astonished faces that greeted this announcement, but none showed such blank amazement as Alicia's own.
"Oh, Dolly!" she cried. "Oh, Dolly Fayre! You will be the death of me yet! Go on, tell them more!"
"That's about all I know. They planned it last night and it just happened that Geordie and I heard them. Marly coaxed her, and Alicia hesitated and then consented. She said her mother eloped, and she would do the same. They were going to have a rope ladder."
"Oh, Dolly! Oh, Uncle Jeff! Oh, Dollyrinda!"
"Well, Alicia, suppose you stop yelling, oh, and tell me about this interesting performance," Mr. Forbes spoke, severely.
But Alicia had thrown herself into a big chair and was screaming with laughter. Every time she essayed to speak, she went off in uncontrollable spasms of mirth and when she wiped her eyes and endeavoured to speak, she giggled again.
Dolly realised there was some misunderstanding somewhere and waited for the explanation.
At last it came.