Mrs. Frothingham spoke in a graver strain.

’But I’m sure it is possible to be too civilised —­ to want too many comforts, and become a slave to them.  Since I have been living here, Mr Rolfe, you can’t think how I have got to enjoy the simplicity of this kind of life.  Everything is so easy; things go so smoothly.  Just one servant, who can’t make mistakes, because there’s next to nothing to do.  No wonder people are taking to flats.’

‘And is that what you mean by over-civilisation?’ Alma asked of Rolfe.

’I didn’t say anything about it.  But I should think many people in large and troublesome houses would agree with Mrs. Frothingham.  It’s easy to imagine a time when such burdens won’t be tolerated.  Our misfortune is, of course, that we are not civilised enough.’

’Not enough to give up fashionable nonsense.  I agree with that.  We’re wretched slaves, most of us.’

It was the first sentence Alma had spoken in a tone that Rolfe recognised.  For a moment her face lost its placid smile, and Harvey hoped that she would say more to the same purpose; but she was silent.

‘I’m sure,’ remarked Mrs. Frothingham, with feeling, ’that most happiness is found in simple homes.’

‘Can we be simple by wishing it?’ asked Alma.  ’Don’t you think we have to be born to simplicity?’

‘I’m not sure that I know what you mean by the word,’ said Harvey.

’I’m not sure that I know myself.  Mamma meant poverty, I think.  But there may be a simple life without poverty, I should say.  I’m thinking of disregard for other people’s foolish opinions; living just as you feel most at ease —­ not torturing yourself because it’s the custom.’

‘That’s just what requires courage,’ Rolfe remarked.

’Yes; I suppose it does.  One knows people who live in misery just because they daren’t be comfortable; keeping up houses and things they can’t afford, when, if they only considered themselves, their income would be quite enough for everything they really want.  If you come to think of it, that’s too foolish for belief.’

Harvey felt that the topic was growing dangerous.  He said nothing, but wished to have more of Alma’s views in this direction.  They seemed to strike her freshly; perhaps she had never thought of the matter in this way before.

‘That’s what I meant,’ she continued, ’when I said you must be born to simplicity.  I should think no one ever gave up fashionable extravagance just because they saw it to be foolish.  People haven’t the strength of mind.  I dare say,’ she added, with a bright look, ’anyone who was strong enough to do that kind of thing would be admired and envied.’

‘By whom?’ Rolfe asked.

‘Oh, by their acquaintances who were still slaves.’

’I don’t know.  Admiration and envy are not commonly excited by merely reasonable behaviour.’

’But this would be something more than merely reasonable.  It would be the beginning of a revolution.’