He did not reply, and Wednesday saw him climbing once more to the little flat; ashamed of being here, yet unable to see how he could have avoided it, except by leaving London.  For that escape he had no longer much mind.  Quite consciously, and with uneasiness which was now taking a new form, he had yielded to Alma’s fascination.  However contemptible and unaccountable, this was the state of things with him, and, as he waited for the door to be opened, it made him feel more awkward, more foolish, than for many a long year.

Mrs. Frothingham and her step-daughter were sitting alone, the elder lady occupied with fancy-work, at her feet a basket of many-coloured silks, and the younger holding a book; nothing could have been quieter or more home-like.  No sooner had he entered than he overcame all restraint, all misgiving; there was nothing here today but peace and good feeling, gentle voices and quiet amiability.  Whatever shadow had arisen between the two ladies must have passed utterly away; they spoke to each other with natural kindness, and each had a tranquil countenance.

Alma began at once to talk of their common friends, the Carnabys, asking whether Rolfe knew that they were in Australia.

‘I knew they had decided to go,’ he answered.  ’But I haven’t heard for at least two months.’

’Oh, then I can give you all the news; I had a letter yesterday.  When Mrs. Carnaby wrote, they had spent a fortnight at Melbourne, and were going on to Brisbane.  Mr. Carnaby is going to do something in Queensland —­ something about mines.  I’ll read you that part.’

The letter lay in the book she was holding.  Sibyl wrote indefinitely, but Harvey was able to gather that the mining engineer, Dando, had persuaded Carnaby to take an active interest in his projects.  Discussion on speculative enterprises did not recommend itself to the present company, and Rolfe could only express a hope that his friend had at last found a pursuit in which he could interest himself.

‘But fancy Sibyl at such places!’ exclaimed Alma, with amusement.  ’How curious I shall be to see her when she comes back!  Before she left England, I’m sure she hadn’t the least idea in what part of Australia Brisbane was, or Melbourne either.  I didn’t know myself; had to look at a map.  You’ll think that a shameful confession, Mr. Rolfe.’

‘My own ideas of Australian geography are vague enough.’

‘Oh, but haven’t you been there?’

’Not to any of the new countries; I don’t care about them.  A defect, I admit.  The future of England is beyond seas.  I would have children taught all about the Colonies before bothering them with histories of Greece and Rome.  I wish I had gone out there myself as a boy, and grown up a sheep-farmer.’

Alma laughed.

’That’s one of the things you say just to puzzle people.  It contradicts all sorts of things I’ve heard you say at other times. —­ Do you think, Mamma, that Mr. Rolfe missed his vocation when he didn’t become a sheep-farmer?’