Miss Fadden’s eyes tried to flash warning and dismay to Alice as she sat opposite her mistress in the evil-smelling interior of the coach, but Alice was still lost in rosy thoughts.

It was only after they rumbled over the Thames and were bowling past the mean factories and shanty houses of the Surreyside to take the road out into the country, that Alice at last appeared to come awake.

She suddenly focused her eyes on Mr. Funk and said, “I believe you wish to terminate our engagement.”

“Said nothing of the kind,” spluttered Mr. Funk, desperate to arrive at their destination and get rid of the whole business for once and for all.

“Oh, yes you did,” protested Alice. “You said to Mrs. Jeebles that you had found something out about me that made marriage impossible.”

There was a shocked silence and Mr. Funk turned quite white. Alice turned quite pale herself as she all at once remembered she was not supposed to know anything about Mr. Funk’s conversation with Mrs. Jeebles.

Mr. Funk said desperately, “I said no such thing. Dammit.” He thought, Mrs. Jeebles must have been gossiping over half London. That’s how Alice got to hear of it. But by George, she gave me quite a turn for a moment.

Aloud, he went on, “I said something in a funning way to a Mrs. Jeebles. I can only gather she took me seriously and talked over half London. I am sorry.”

Alice relaxed. “Yes,” she said, “someone told me about it.”

Then Alice realized that she really did want to be released from this engagement.

“Mr. Funk,” she said gently, “before we meet your cousin, I feel I must tell you that I do not think we are suited. I wish to terminate our engagement.”

Mr. Funk’s first feeling was one of overwhelming fury. That this doxy, this scullery maid should sit calmly beside him, rejecting out of hand one of the richest men in the City of London. With a great effort he mastered himself and began to think pleasurably for the first time of the fate that awaited her.

“Very well,” he said stiffly. “I do not wish to talk about it.”

“But…” protested Alice.

“No! No more,” said Mr. Funk, taking out a handkerchief and covering his face as though overcome with grief.

Alice looked sadly out of the carriage window where the snow was beginning to fall. She felt very guilty and miserable. Poor Mr. Funk! How she had led him on. Oh, how she longed to be back in Manchester Square. The light was fading already as the long winter’s night crept across the barren fields. Alice looked down at the watch pinned on her dress. Four o’clock. She hoped the visit would not take long. And when on earth were they going to arrive?