Had she been standing there long? If so, she must have heard every word that had been uttered.
Alice Lee had heard, and every word had cut to her heart like the sharp point of a sword.
She had feared this, but had tried to reason the matter out in her own mind; but although circumstances did look tellingly against the beauty who had come to Gray Gables to be Dorothy Glenn's companion, yet she had tried to make herself believe that her suspicions were groundless.
"Have you been eavesdropping?" cried Iris, springing to her feet, her black eyes flashing luridly.
A thousand thoughts flashed through Alice Lee's mind in an instant.
No; she was too proud to let them realize that she had overheard the perfidy of Dorothy's treacherous lover.
No; better plead ignorance, until she had time to think over the matter, for Dorothy's sake, if not for her own.
"I have but just turned the bend in the road," she replied, with sweet girlish dignity. "Your question, Miss Vincent, surprises me," she said. "I have no need to answer it, I think."
"But you always do happen around just when people least expect you, Alice Lee."
"I hope my old friends will always find my presence welcome," returned Alice, quietly.