Lucia had not gone more than a
hundred yards past Georgie's house, when he came out in a tremendous
hurry. He rapidly measured the distance between himself and Lucia, and
himself and Mrs Quantock, and made a bee-line for Mrs Quantock, since
she was the nearest. Olga had just telephoned to him....
"Good morning," he said breathlessly, determined to cap anything she
said. "Any news?"
"Yes, indeed," she said. "Haven't you heard?"
Georgie had one moment of heart-sink.
"What?" he said.
"Atkinson and Eliz----" she began.
"Oh, that," said he scornfully. "And talking of them, of course you've
heard the rest. _Haven't_ you? Why, Mrs Weston and Colonel Boucher
are going to follow their example, unless they set it themselves, and
get married first."
"No!" said Mrs Quantock in the loudest possible Riseholme voice of
surprise.
"Oh, yes. I really knew it last night. I was dining at Old Place and
they were there. Olga and I both settled there would be something to
talk in the morning. Shall we stroll on the green a few minutes?"
Georgie had a lovely time. He hurried from person to person, leaving
Mrs Quantock to pick up a few further gleanings. Everyone was there
except Lucia, and she, but for the accident of her being further off
than Mrs Quantock, would have been the first to know.
When this tour was finished Georgie sat to enjoy the warm comforting
glow of envy that surrounded him.
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