‘My dear Harvey, what has caused you to doubt it?’

’I merely asked the question.  Perhaps it occurred to me that you were not exactly in your place among people who talk to you in that way.’

‘You must allow for my exaggeration,’ said Alma softly.  ’One or two have said it —­ just people who know most about music.  And there’s a way of putting things.’

‘Was Mrs. Carnaby there today?’

‘No.’

‘You don’t see her very often now?’

’Perhaps not quite so often.  I suppose the reason is that I am more drawn to the people who care about music.  Sibyl really isn’t musical —­ though, of course, I like her as much as ever.  Then —­ the truth is, she seems to have grown rather extravagant, and I simply don’t understand how she can keep up such a life —­ if it’s true that her husband is only losing money.  Last time I was with her I couldn’t help thinking that she ought to —­ to deny herself rather more.  It’s habit, I suppose.’

Harvey nodded —­ twice, thrice; and kept a grave countenance.

‘And you don’t care to see much of Mrs. Abbott?’ he rather let fall than spoke.

’Well, you know, dear, I don’t mean to be at all disagreeable, but we have so little in common.  Isn’t it so?  I am sure Mrs. Abbott isn’t anxious for my society.’

Again Rolfe sat silent, and again Alma stole glances at him.

‘Shall I tell you something I have in mind?’ he said at length, with deliberation.  ’Hughie, you know, is three years old.  Pauline does very well with him, but it is time that he had companions —­ other children.  In half a year or so he might go to a kindergarten, and’ —­ he made an instant’s pause —­ ’I know only of one which would be really good for him.  I think he will have to go to Mrs. Abbott.’

Their eyes met, and the speaker’s were steadily fixed.

‘But the distance?’ objected Alma.

‘Yes.  If we want to do that, we must go to Gunnersbury.’

Alma’s look fell.  She tapped with her foot and meditated, slightly frowning.  But, before Harvey spoke again, the muscles of her face relaxed, and she turned to him with a smile, as though some reflection had brought relief.

‘You wouldn’t mind the bother of moving?’

’What is that compared with Hughie’s advantage?  And if one lives in London, it’s in the nature of things to change houses once a year or so.’

‘But we don’t live in London!’ returned Alma, with a laugh.

’Much the same thing.  At Gunnersbury you would be nearer to everything, you know.’

‘Then you would send away Pauline?’

Harvey made a restless movement, and gave a husky cough.

’Well, I don’t know.  You see, Hughie would be with Mrs. Abbott only a few hours each day.  Who is to look after the little man at other times?  I suppose I can’t very well undertake it myself —­ though I’m glad to see as much of him as possible; and I won’t let him be with a servant.  So ——­’