se, I
knew all I was risking; but I felt I could give my life to detect that
woman and have her in my power.

'It's just that I don't understand. If it had been ordinary
jealousy--why, of course----'

'Men never can understand why women hate each other. She thought
herself so superior to me, and showed it in every look and word; and
all the time I knew she was a wicked hypocrite.'

'_How_ did you know that?' Rolfe broke in vehemently, staring into her
white face as a ray from the street illumined it.

'Oh, I can't tell you!' she replied, in a moaning, quivering voice. 'I
knew it--I knew it--something told me. But I don't ask you to believe
that. Only about myself--can you believe about myself?'

He replied mechanically, 'Yes.' Alma, with a sigh as much of
hopelessness as of relief, lay back and said no more.

At Notting Hill Gate they waited for a train. Alma wandered about the
platform, her head bent, silent and heeding nothing. In the railway
carriage she closed her eyes, and Harvey had to draw her attention when
it was time to alight. On entering the house she went at once upstairs.
Harvey loitered about below, and presently sat down in the study,
leaving the door ajar.

He was trying to persuade himself that nothing of much moment had come
to pass. A doubt troubled him; most likely it would trouble him for the
rest of his life; but he must heed it as little as possible. What other
course was open to a sensible man? To rave and swear in the high tragic
style would avail nothing, one way or the other; and the fact
was--whatever its explanation--that he felt no prompting to such
violence. Two years had passed; the man was dead; Alma had changed
greatly, and was looking to new life in new conditions. His worst
uneasiness arose from the hysteria which had so alarmingly declared
itself this evening. He thought of Bennet Frothingham, and at length
rose from his chair, meaning to go upstairs. But just then a step
sounded in the hall; his door was pushed open, and Alma showed herself.

'May I come?' she asked, looking at him steadily

He beckoned with his head. She closed the door, and came slowly
forward, stopping at a few paces from him.

'Harvey----'

'Well?'

'I want you to decide tonight. If you think it would be better for both
of us, let me go. I shouldn't part from you unkindly; I don't mean
that. I should ask you to let me have money as long as I needed it. But
you know that I could support myself ve