ensely
glad, both for his sake and my own. My mind is enormously relieved--and
that's how I come to be working at the Renaissance.'

Alma took the first opportunity of giving the conversation a turn. It
was not so easy as she had anticipated to make her announcement; for,
to her own mind, Cyrus Redgrave and the great ambition were at every
moment suggestive of each other, and Sibyl, in this peculiar mood,
might throw out disturbing remarks or ask unwelcome questions. Only one
recent occurrence called for concealment. Happily, Sibyl no longer met
Mrs. Strangeways (whose character had taken such a doubtful hue), and
Redgrave himself could assuredly be trusted for discretion, whatever
his real part in that perplexing scene at he bungalow.

'I feel the same want as you do,' said Alma, after a little
transitional talk, 'of something to keep me busy. Of course, it must be
music; but music at home, and at other people's homes, isn't enough.
You know my old revolt against the bonds of the amateur. I'm going to
break out--or try to. What would you give for my chances?'

'My dear, I am no capitalist,' replied her friend, with animation. 'For
such a bargain as that you must go among the great speculators. Hugh's
experience seems to point to Mr. Redgrave.'

'Sibyl, please be serious.'

'So I am. I should like to have the purchase of your chances for a
trifle of a few thousand pounds.'

Alma's flush of discomposure (more traitorous than she imagined)
transformed itself under a gratified smile.

'You really think that I might do something worth the trouble?--I don't
mean money-making--though, of course, no one despises money--but a real
artistic success?'

Sibyl made no half-hearted reply. She seemed in thorough agreement with
those other friends of Alma's who had received the project
enthusiastically. A dozen tickets, at least a dozen, she would at once
answer for. But, as though an unwelcome word must needs mingle with her
pleasantest talk today, she went on to speak of Alma's husband; what
did he think of the idea?

'He looks on, that's all,' Alma replied playfully. 'If I succeed, he
will be pleased; if I don't, he will have plenty of consolation to
offer. Harvey and I respect each other's independence--the great secret
of marriage, don't you think? We ask each other's advice, and take it
or not, as we choose. I fancy he doesn't quite like the thought of my
playing for money. But if it were _necessary_ he would like it