, elegant, a
figure in society, who must necessarily regard her as banished from
polite circles; and in her careless costume she felt more than abashed.
For the first time a sense of degradation, of social inferiority,
threatened to overwhelm her self-respect.

'How did you know my address?' she asked, with an involuntary imitation
of hauteur, made pathetic by the flush on her face and the lingering
half-smile.

'Mrs. Frothingham kindly gave it me.--You were walking this way, I
think?--My sister is living at Stuttgart, and I happened to come over
just in time to act as her courier on a journey to Salzburg. We got
here yesterday, and go on tomorrow, or the day after. I dropped you a
note, asking if I might call.'

'Where have you seen Mamma lately?' asked Alma, barely attentive to the
explanations he was giving her.

'In London, quite by chance. In fact, it was at Waterloo Station. Mrs
Frothingham was starting for the country, and I happened to be going to
Wimbledon. I told her I might possibly see you on my way through
Munich.'

Alma began to recover herself. That Cyrus Redgrave should still take an
interest in her was decidedly more gratifying than the eccentric
compliment of Felix Dymes. She strove to forget the humiliation of
having been found standing in a public place, waiting for a tram-car.
In Redgrave's manner no change was perceptible, unless, indeed, he
spoke with more cordiality, which must be prompted by kind feeling.
Their acquaintance covered only a year or two, and had scarcely
amounted to what passes for friendship, but Redgrave seemed oblivious
of late unpleasant events.

'I'm glad you didn't call unexpectedly,' she said, trying to strike a
light note. 'I'm a student now--no longer an amateur--and live as a
student must.'

'So much the better. I'm a natural bohemian myself, and like nothing so
well as to disregard ceremony. And, by-the-bye, that's the very reason
why I ran away from my sister to speak to you; I knew you would dislike
formalities. I'm afraid I was rather glad than otherwise to escape. We
have been taking the children for a drive--charming little rascals, but
for the moment my domestic instincts are satisfied. Mrs. Frothingham
mentioned that you were living with a friend--an art student.'

'We go away for a holiday in a day or two,' said Alma, more at her
ease. 'To Bregenz--do you know it?'

'By name only. You go in a day or two? I wish you would let me know
your address ther