With great relief, he found that the guests were all
absolute strangers to him, and that they represented society in its
better sense, with no suggestion of the 'half-world'--no Mrs
Strangeways or Mrs. Rayner Mann. Alma, equally conscious of the fact,
viewed it as a calculated insult. Sibyl had brought her here to
humiliate her. She entered the doors with jealous hatred boiling in her
heart, and fixed her eyes on Sibyl with such fire of malicious scrutiny
that the answer was a gaze of marked astonishment. But they had no
opportunity for private talk. Sibyl, as hostess, bore herself with that
perfect manner which no effort and no favour of circumstance would ever
enable Mrs. Rolfe to imitate. Envying every speech and every movement,
knowing that her own absent behaviour and forced talk must produce an
unpleasant impression upon the well-bred strangers, she longed to
expose the things unspeakable that lay beneath this surface of social
brilliancy. What was more, she would do it when time was ripe. Only
this consciousness of power to crush her enemy enabled her to bear up
through the evening.

At the dinner-table she chanced to encounter Sibyl's look. She smiled.
There was disquiet in that glance--furtive inquiry and apprehension.

No music. Alma would have doubted whether any of these people were
aware of her claim to distinction, had not a lady who talked with her
after dinner hinted, rather than announced, an intention of being
present at Prince's Hall next Tuesday. None of the fuss and adulation
to which she was grown accustomed; no underbred compliments; no
ambiguous glances from men. It angered her to observe that Harvey did
not seem at all wearied; that he conversed more naturally than usual in
a mixed company, especially with the hostess. One whisper--and how
would Harvey look upon his friend's wife? But the moment had not come.

She left as early as possible, parting from Sibyl as she had met her,
with eyes that scarce dissembled their malignity.

When Hugh and his wife were left together, Sibyl abstained from remark
on Alma; it was Carnaby who introduced the subject. 'Don't you think
Mrs. Rolfe looked seedy?'

'Work and excitement,' was the quiet answer. 'I think it more than
likely she will break down.'

'It's a confounded pity. Why, she has grown old all at once. She's
losing her good looks. Did you notice that her eyes were a little
bloodshot?'

'Yes, I noticed it. I didn't like her look at all.'

Hu