Randolph moved abruptly forward with a jerk of the head, and, his eyes failing to meet mine, he blurted out huskily:
"We're engaged, Uncle Ran—'Licia and I!"
"What!" I yelled harshly as one in pain and fell against the back of my chair. "What—what on earth do you mean!"
But he merely looked away, making no response.
"Is this true, Alicia?" I shouted, as if to overtop the tumult in my breast.
"Yes, Uncle Ranny," breathed Alicia, her eyes gazing into mine with a look so poignantly sad and charged with pain that it froze me as I was about to speak. I sat for a space, my mouth open, our eyes dwelling together for an instant. And then, as by a sudden effort, Alicia smiled valiantly, laid her hand stoutly on the shrinking boy's arm, and then abruptly she lowered her gaze.
"But—but why—why now?" I spluttered. "You are both so young—you only a sophomore, Randolph—and you, Alicia—in God's name, why now?"
Alicia glanced at Randolph as though depending on him to speak and then contemptuously giving it up as hopeless, she straightened her shoulders bravely and murmured in low distinct tones:
"I promised Randolph. He wants me to be engaged to him and I promised him I would."
"You—you mean you—you love each other?" I stammered miserably, for every word was a knife thrust into my own heart.