Page:Alice Lauder.pdf/180

Something is a little awry between her and A. C. You know you are goose enough to love a love-story above everything, and I have promised you one at least from our village. I don’t quite know the beginning of this one, and no one can say what the end will be, and I am not very sure about the middle. However, we shall see what we shall see by-and-by. I don’t quite know what to make of it all. Alice has been so cold and distant to Arthur C. that he has got offended and never comes near us. The only time I talked to him about giving us up he seemed in a regular temper and growled something about ‘wretched gossip and mischiefmakers,’ which could only apply to the opinion of this little world as to his goings-on with the fair Lizzie. I could not have thought that such a gentle sort of girl as Alice could find it in her heart to ice him off as she does perpetually now. The result is that he seeks consolation with Mrs. Austin more than ever; and she, poor girl, is evidently too fond—far too fond—of his society to give him up for all the scandal-mongers in the southern hemisphere. It’s a very awkward three-cornered situation, and how we are to get it into a round hole at last I don’t quite see; but perhaps you will see your way to do something when you come over.”