At the end of March, Alma’s second child was born —­ a girl.  Remembering what she had endured at Hughie’s birth, Rolfe feared that her trial would be even worse this time; but it did not prove so.  In a few days Alma was well on the way to recovery.  But the child, a lamentable little mortal with a voice scarce louder than a kitten’s, held its life on the frailest tenure; there was doubt at first whether it could draw breath at all, and the nurse never expected it to live till the second day.  At the end of a week, however, it still survived; and Alma turned to the poor weakling with a loving tenderness such as she had never shown for her first-born.  To Harvey’s surprise she gladly took it to her breast, but for some reason this had presently to be forbidden, and the mother shed many tears.  After a fortnight things looked more hopeful.  Nurse and doctor informed Harvey that for the present he need have no uneasiness.

It was a Saturday morning, and so cheerful overhead that Rolfe used his liberty to have a long stretch towards the fields.  Hughie, who had no school today, would gladly have gone with him, but after such long restraint Harvey felt the need of four miles an hour, and stole away.  He made for Twickenham and Hampton Court, then by a long circuit came round into Richmond Park.  The Star and Garter gave him a late luncheon, after which he lit his cigar and went idly along the terrace.  There, whom should he meet but Mary Abbott.

She was seated, gazing at the view.  Not till he came quite near did Harvey recognise her, and until he stopped she did not glance in his direction.  Thus he was able to observe her for a moment, and noticed that she looked anything but well; one would have thought her overworked, or oppressed by some trouble.  She did not see what her eyes were fixed upon, and her features had a dreaming tenderness of expression which made them more interesting, more nearly beautiful, than when they were controlled by her striving will.  When Harvey paused beside her she gave him a startled smile, but was at once herself again.

‘Do you care for that?’ he asked, indicating the landscape.

‘I can’t be enthusiastic about it.’

‘Nor I. A bit of ploughed field in the midlands gives me more pleasure.’

‘It was beautiful once.’

’Yes; before London breathed upon it. —­ Do you remember the view from Cam Bodvean?’

‘Oh, indeed I do!  The larches are coming out now.’

’And the gorse shines, and the sea is blue, and the mountains rise one behind the other! —­ Did you talk about it with Mr. Thistlewood?  I found that he knew all that country.’

‘We spoke of it,’ replied Mrs. Abbott, taking a step forward.

‘An interesting man, don’t you think?’

Harvey glanced at her, remembering the odd suggestion he had heard from Alma; and in truth it seemed that his inquiry caused her some embarrassment.

‘Yes, very interesting,’ answered his companion quietly, as she walked on.