From that moment she knew that Bevil loved her; his eyes had told her so, and young as she was, Alison was able to read his confession in them.
Now Sir Ranald had missed the pair from the drawing-room during the few minutes they had been absent, and drew his own conclusions therefrom, but not so Lord Cadbury, who had as yet no jealousy; nor could he dream that any commoner or poorer person could enter into a competition with him for anything, assured as he was, in an absurd degree, of the overwhelming influence of his own rank and his own money, which hitherto had always procured him whatever he had a fancy for.
When Mrs. Trelawney's carriage was announced by Archie, and that lady was being shawled previous to her departure, she made Alison grow pale with annoyance by whispering as she kissed her—
'I hope, darling, you have not been making a fool of yourself?'
'How?'
'Young as you are, you are certainly old enough to know what officers are!'
'I do not understand you, Laura—what are they?'
'The greatest flirts in the world.'
'Have you found them so?'
'I have had more experience of them than I ever care to have again,' said she, bitterly. 'Good-bye, Captain Dalton,' she exclaimed, presenting her hand to the tall, dark officer who had been regarding her attentively.