So it appears."

Sitting back, she looked round her, in the hope of picking up some
neutral subject. "Are those your people?" she asked, and nodded at the
photograph of a family-group, which stood on the top shelf of the
bureau. "Three boys, are you not? You are like your mother," and she
stared, with unfeigned curiosity, at the provincial figures, dressed
out in their best coats and silks, and in heavy gold jewellery.

"Good God, Madeleine!" Maurice burst out at this, his loosely kept
patience escaping him. "You didn't come here, I suppose, to remark on
my family?"

"Well, I can't congratulate you on an improvement in your manners,
since I saw you last."

"I am not aware of having changed."

"As well for you, perhaps. However, I'll tell you about myself, if it
interests you." She turned her cool, judicial gaze on him again; and
now she set before him her projects for the future. But though he kept
his eyes fastened on her face, she saw that he was not listening to
what she said, or, at most, that he only half heard it; for, when she
ceased to speak, he did not notice her silence.

She waited, curious to see what would come next, and presently he
echoed, in his vague way: "Paris, did you say?--Really?"

"Yes--Paris: the capital of France.--I said that, and a good deal more,
which I don't think you heard.--And now I won't take up your precious
time any longer.--You've nothing new to tell me, I suppose? You still
intend staying on here, and fighting out the problem of existence?
Well, when you have starved satisfactorily in a garret, I hope some one
will let me know. I'll come over for the funeral."

She rose, and began to button her jacket.

"And England has absolutely no chance? English music must continue to
languish, without hope of reform?"

"How can you remember such rot! I was a terrible fool when I talked
like that."

"I liked you better as a fool than I do now, with your acquired wisdom.
And I won't go from here without offering you congratulations, hearty
congratulations, on the muddle you've made of things."

"That's entirely my own affair."

"You may be thankful it is! Do you think anyone else would want the
responsibility of it?"

She went out without a further word. But on the landing at the bottom
of the first flight of stairs, she stood irresolute. She felt annoyed
with herself that she had allowed an unfriendly tone to dominate their
brief interview. This was probably the last time she w