"Will you ask her to get ready?
Tell her I shall be at the door in ten or fifteen minutes." Ralph's tone was perfectly good-humored, but Miriam fancied that she perceived a trace of disappointment in it.

She was sorry for this, for she could not imagine why any man should object to have Cicely Drane as a companion on a drive, unless his mind was entirely occupied by some other girl; and if Ralph's mind was thus occupied, it must be by Dora Bannister, and that did not please her.

So she resolutely put aside all Cicely's suggestions that it might be inconvenient for Mr.Haverley to take her with him, and deftly overcame Mrs.Drane's one or two impromptu, and therefore not very well constructed, objections to the acceptance of the invitation; and in the gig Cicely went with Ralph to Thorbury.
After having left the secretary to attend to her business at the doctor's house, Ralph drove to the Bannister's; but Dora would not see him, and technically was not at home.

Alas! She had seen him driving past with Miss Drane, and she was angry.

This was contrary to the plan of action she had adopted; but her eighteen-year-old spirit rebelled, and she could not help it.