ained
in common estimate what they lost to a more refined apprehension. Her
eyes appeared more deliberately conscious of their depth and gleam; her
lips, less responsive to the flying thought, grew to an habitual
expression--not of discontent, but something akin unto it; not of
self-will, but something that spoke a spirit neither tranquil nor
pliant.

'Had you anything else?' she asked, absently.

'A letter from Mrs. Abbott.'

Alma smiled, with a shade of pleasantry not usual upon her countenance.
Harvey generally read her extracts from these letters. Their allusion
to money imposed the reserve; otherwise they would have passed into
Alma's hands. From his masculine point of view, Harvey thought the
matter indifferent; nothing in his wife's behaviour hitherto had led
him to suppose that she attached importance to it.

'The usual report of progress?'

'Yes. I fancy those two children are giving her a good deal of trouble.
She'll have to send the boy to a boarding school.'

'But can she afford it?'

'I don't know.'

'I've never understood yet why you take so much interest in those
children.'

Her eyes rested upon him with a peculiarly keen scrutiny, and Harvey,
resenting the embarrassment due to his own tactics, showed a slight
impatience.

'Why, partly because I wish to help Mrs. Abbott with advice, if I can:
partly because I'm interested in the whole question of education.'

'Yes, it's interesting, of course. She has holidays, I suppose?'

'It's holiday time with her now.'

'Then why don't you ask her to come and see us?'

'I would at once,' Harvey replied, with hesitation, 'if I felt sure
that----' He broke off, and altered the turn of his sentence. 'I don't
know whether she can leave those children.'

'You were going to make a different objection. Of course there's a
little awkwardness. But you said long ago that all that sort of thing
would wear away, and surely it ought to have done by now. If Mrs.
Abbott is as sensible as you think, I don't see how she can have any
unpleasant feeling towards me.'

'I can't suppose that she has.'

'Then now is the opportunity. Send an invitation.--Why shouldn't I
write it myself?'

Alma had quite shaken off the appearance of lassitude; she drew herself
up, looked towards the writing-table, and showed characteristic
eagerness to carry out a project. Though doubtful of the result, Harvey
assented without any sign of reluctance, and forthwith she moved to the
d