way of dismissing it to oblivion. The talk that
followed had turned his mind upon a graver trouble: he sat thinking of
Hugh Carnaby. Dear old Hugh! Not long ago the report ran that his
health was in a bad state. To one who knew him the wonder was that he
kept alive. But the second year drew on.

CHAPTER 9

On Monday morning, when Harvey and his friend had started for town, and
Hughie was at school, Alma made ready to go out. In many months she had
been to London only two or three times. Thus alone could she subdue
herself. She tried to forget all that lay eastward from Gunnersbury,
rejecting every kind of town amusement, and finding society in a very
small circle of acquaintances who lived almost as quietly as herself.
But this morning she yielded to the impulse made irresistible by
Dymes's visit. In leaving the house, she seemed to escape from an
atmosphere so still and heavy that it threatened her blood with
stagnation; she breathed deeply of the free air, and hastened towards
the railway as if she had some great pleasure before her.

But this mood had passed long before the end of her journey. Alighting
at Queen's Road, she walked hurriedly to Porchester Terrace, and from
the opposite side of the way had a view of Mrs. Strangeways' house. It
was empty, to let. She crossed, and rang the bell, on the chance that
some caretaker might be within; but no one answered. Her heart
throbbing painfully, she went on a little distance, then stood
irresolute. A cab crawled by; she raised her hand, and gave the
direction, 'Oxford and Cambridge Mansions'. Once here, she had no
difficulty in carrying out her purpose. Passion came to her aid; and
when Sibyl's door opened she could hardly wait for an invitation before
stepping in.

The drawing-room was changed; it had been refurnished, and looked even
more luxurious than formerly. For nearly ten minutes she had to stand
waiting; seat herself she could not. Then entered Sibyl.

'Good morning, Mrs. Rolfe. I am glad to see you.'

The latter sentence was spoken not as a mere phrase of courtesy, but
with intention, with quiet yet unmistakable significance. Sibyl did not
offer her hand; she moved a chair so that its back was to the light,
and sat down very much as she might have done if receiving an applicant
for a 'situation'.

'You had some reason for coming so early?'

Alma, who had felt uncertain how this interview would begin, was glad
that she had to meet no pretence