e
your own course. No, I mustn't say "allowed", the word is inapplicable;
I never claimed the right to dictate to you. We agreed that this was
the way for rational husband and wife. It seemed to us that I had no
more right to rule over you than you to lay down the law for me. Using
your freedom, you chose to live the life of an artist--that is to say,
you troubled yourself as little as possible about home and family. I am
not complaining--not a bit of it. The thing was an experiment, to be
sure; but I have held to the conditions, watched their working.
Latterly I began to see that they didn't work well, and it appears that
you agree with me. This is how matters stand; or rather, this is how
they stood until, for some mysterious reason, you seemed to grow
unfriendly. The reason is altogether mysterious; I leave you to explain
it. From my point of view, the failure of our experiment is simple and
natural enough. Though I had only myself to blame, I have felt for a
long time that you were in an utterly false position. Now you begin to
see things in the same light. Well and good; why can't we start afresh?
The only obstacle is your unfriendly feeling. Give me an opportunity of
removing it. I hate to be on ill terms with you; it seems monstrous,
unaccountable. It puts us on a level with married folk in a London
lodging-house. Is it necessary to sink quite so low?'

Alma listened with trembling intensity, and seemed at first unable to
reply. Her agitation provoked Harvey more than it appealed to his pity.

'If you can't do as I wish,' she said at length, with an endeavour to
speak calmly, 'I see no use in making any change in my own life. There
will be no need of me. I shall make arrangements to go on with my
professional career.'

Harvey's features for a moment set themselves in combativeness, but as
quickly they relaxed, and showed an ambiguous smile.

'No need of you--and Ruth going to leave us?'

'There oughtn't to be any difficulty in finding someone just as good.'

'Perhaps there ought not to be; but we may thank our stars if we find
anyone half as trustworthy. The chances are that a dozen will come and
go before we settle down again. I don't enjoy that prospect, and I
shall want a good deal of help from you in bearing the discomfort.'

'What kind of help? Of course, I shall see that the house goes on as
usual.'

'Then it's quite certain you will have no time left for a "professional
career".'

'If I understa