ad to support her; and in the sunny solitude she
thanked him with her lips--in two ways.

It was a second honeymoon.

CHAPTER 4

Mrs. Frothingham's sister, who lived near Basingstoke, gave a warm
welcome to little Hugh Rolfe; and Mrs. Frothingham, who had all but
forgotten that the child was not really her grandson, took charge of
him with pride and joy. He stayed a week; he stayed a fortnight;--he
stayed two months.

For when the Carnabys--who landed at Plymouth and rested there for a
couple of days--made known their intention of straightway taking a flat
in town, it seemed to Alma that the very best thing for her health
would be to spend a week or two in London, and see her old friends, and
go to a few concerts. The time was favourable, for June had only just
set in. Harvey, nothing loath, took his wife to a quiet hotel in the
Portman Square region, whither also went their friends from abroad; his
project being to look for furnished rooms, where child and nurse could
join them. But Mrs. Frothingham thought it a pity of pities to take
little Hugh into the town, when all was so pleasantly arranged for him
down in Hampshire; and, as Alma evidently inclined to the same view,
the uninviting thought of 'apartments' was laid aside. They might as
well remain at the hotel, said Harvey. Alma, with a pretty show of
economical hesitation, approved the plan, saying that she would be
quite ready to go home again when Sibyl had established herself in a
flat. This event came to pass in about three weeks; the Carnabys found
a flat which suited them very well at Oxford and Cambridge Mansions,
and thither, with the least possible delay, transferred a portion of
their furniture, which had lain in warehouse. Thereupon, sweetly
reasonable, Mrs. Rolfe made known that it was time to fetch her baby
and return to Carnarvonshire. She felt incalculably better; the change
had been most refreshing; now for renewed enjoyment of her dear home!

But Harvey wore his wisest countenance; no owl could have surpassed it
for sage gravity.

'You are very much better, and don't you think you would be better
still after another week or two? The concerts are in full swing; it
seems a pity--now you are here----'

Alma looked gracefully reluctant. Were not the hotel expenses rather
heavy?

'Pooh! You must remember that at home we live on half our income, or
less. If that's all that troubles you----'

'You are very kind, Harvey!'

'Why, as f