"DOROTHY HARRISON."
Wires to show that she was impersonal and businesslike, and that her business was urgent. "Can I see you?" to show that he was not being invited to see her. "It's about Nicky" to justify the whole proceeding. "Dorothy Harrison" because "Dorothy" by itself was too much.
As soon as she had sent off her wires Dorothy felt a sense of happiness and well-being. She had no grounds for happiness; far otherwise; her great friendship with Rosalind Jervis was disintegrating bit by bit owing to Rosalind's behaviour; the fiery Suffrage meeting had turned into dust and ashes; her darling Nicky was in a nasty scrape; her father and mother were utterly miserable; yet she was happy.
Half-way home her mind began to ask questions of its own accord.
"Supposing you had to choose between the Suffrage and Frank Drayton?"
"But I haven't got to."
"You might have. You know you might any minute. You know he hates it. And supposing--"
But Dorothy refused to give any answer.
His wire came within the next half hour.