I could not go alone, or with no one but George.
Indeed it was Kate who made up the party." "Of course you could not go alone with George," said Lady Macleod, very grimly.

Now George Vavasor was Kate's brother, and was therefore also first cousin to Alice.

He was heir to the old squire down in Westmoreland, with whom Kate lived, their father being dead.

Nothing, it would seem, could be more rational than that Alice should go to Switzerland with her cousins; but Lady Macleod was clearly not of this opinion; she looked very grim as she made this allusion to cousin George, and seemed to be preparing herself for a fight.
"That is exactly what I say," answered Alice.

"But, indeed, he is simply going as an escort to me and Kate, as we don't like the role of unprotected females.