‘No, not to-night. You must speak to him to-night.’
Rodman mused.
‘Why shouldn’t you?’ resumed the girl eagerly, in a tone as unlike that she used to Mr. Keene as well could be. She was in earnest; her eyes never moved from her companion’s face; her lips trembled. ‘Why should you put it off? I can’t see why we keep it a secret. Dick can’t have a word to say against it; you know he can’t. Tell him to-night after dinner. Do! do!’
Rodman frowned in thought.
‘He won’t like it.’
‘But why not? I believe he will. He will, he shall, he must! I’m not to depend on him, surely?’
‘A day or two more, Alice.’
‘I can’t keep up the shamming!’ she exclaimed. ‘Adela suspects, I feel sure. Whenever you come in I feel that hot and red.’ She laughed and blushed. ‘If you won’t do as I tell you, I’ll give you up, I will indeed!’
Rodman stroked his moustache, smiling.
‘You will, will you?’