‘I was obliged to come,’ she said, approaching him, as he rose in astonishment.  ’I thought at first of asking you to come on to Basingstoke, but we can talk better here.’

No sign of pleasure in their meeting passed between them.  On Harvey’s face lingered something of the disturbance caused by Ruth’s communication, and Alma understood it as due to her unexpected arrival; the smile with which she had entered died away, and she stood like a stranger doubtful of her reception.

‘Was it necessary to talk?’ asked Rolfe, pushing forward a chair, and doing his best to show good humour.

‘Yes —­ after your reply to my letter this morning,’ she answered coldly.

’Well, you must have some tea first.  This is cold.  Won’t you go and take your things off, and I’ll tell Ruth.  By-the-bye, we re in confusion.’

He sketched the position of things; but Alma heard without interest.

‘It can’t be helped,’ was her absent reply.  ’There are plenty of servants.’

Fresh tea was brought, and after a brief absence Alma sat down to it.  Her health had improved during the past week, but she looked tired from the journey, and was glad to lean back in her chair.  For some minutes neither of them spoke.  Harvey had never seen an expression on Alma’s features which was so like hostility; it moved him to serious resentment.  It is common enough for people who have been several years wedded to feel exasperation in each other’s presence, but for Rolfe the experience was quite new, and so extremely disagreeable, that his pulses throbbed with violence, and his mouth grew dry.  He determined to utter not a word until Alma began conversation.  This she did at length, with painful effort.

‘I think your answer to me was very unkind.’

‘I didn’t mean it so.’

‘You simply said that you wouldn’t do as I wished.’

’Not that I wouldn’t, but that it was impossible.  And I showed you the reasons —­ though I should have thought it superfluous.’

Alma waited a moment, then asked ——­

‘Is this house let?’

‘I don’t know.  I suppose not.’

‘Then there is no reason whatever why we shouldn’t stay here.’

’There is every reason why we shouldn’t stay here.  Every arrangement has been made for our leaving —­ everything fully talked over.  What has made you change your mind?’

’I haven’t really changed my mind.  I always disliked the idea of going to Gunnersbury, and you must have seen that I did; but I was so much occupied with —­ with other things; and, as I have told you, I didn’t feel quite the same about my position as I do now.’

She expressed herself awkwardly, growing very nervous.  At the first sign of distress in her, Harvey was able to change his tone.

’Things are going horribly wrong somehow, Alma.  There’s only one way out of it.  Just say in honest words what you mean.  Why do you dislike the thought of our moving?’