’Now, why can’t we always live like this?  What have we to do with other people?  Let us be everything to each other, and forget that any one else exists.’

‘I can’t help thinking that’s a mistake,’ Monica ventured to reply.  ’For one thing, if we saw more people, we should have so much more to talk about when we are alone.’

’It’s better to talk about ourselves.  I shouldn’t care if I never again saw any living creature but you.  You see, the old bear loves his little girl better than she loves him.’

Monica was silent.

’Isn’t it true?  You don’t feel that my company would be enough for you?’

’Would it be right if I ceased to care for every one else?  There are my sisters.  I ought to have asked Virginia to come to-morrow; I’m sure she thinks I neglect her, and it must be dreadful living all alone like she does.’

’Haven’t they made up their mind yet about the school?  I’m sure it’s the right thing for them to do.  If the venture were to fail, and they lost money, we would see that they never came to want.’

’They’re so timid about it.  And it wouldn’t be nice, you know, to feel they were going to be dependent upon us for the rest of their lives.  I had better go and see Virgie to-morrow morning, and bring her back for dinner.

‘If you like,’ Widdowson assented slowly.  ’But why not send a message, and ask her to come here?’

‘I had rather go.  It makes a change for me.’

This was a word Widdowson detested.  Change, on Monica’s lips, always seemed to mean a release from his society.  But he swallowed his dissatisfaction, and finally consented to the arrangement.

Virginia came to dinner, and stayed until nightfall.  Thanks to her sister’s kindness, she was better clad than in former days, but her face signified no improvement of health.  The enthusiasm with which Rhoda Nunn had inspired her appeared only in fitful affectations of interest when Monica pressed her concerning the projected undertaking down in Somerset.  In general she had a dreamy, reticent look, and became uncomfortable when any one gazed at her inquiringly.  Her talk was of the most insignificant things; this afternoon she spent nearly half an hour in describing a kitten which Mrs. Conisbee had given her; care of the little animal appeared to have absorbed her whole attention for many days past.

Another visitor to-day was Mr. Newdick, the City clerk who had been present at Monica’s wedding.  He and Mrs. Luke Widdowson were the sole friends of her husband that Monica had seen.  Mr. Newdick enjoyed coming to Herne Hill.  Always lugubrious to begin with, he gradually cheered up, and by the time for departure was loquacious.  But he had the oddest ideas of talk suitable to a drawing-room.  Had he been permitted, he would have held forth to Monica by the hour on the history of the business firm which he had served for a quarter of a century.  This subject alone could animate him.  His anecdotes were as often as not quite unintelligible, save to people of City experience.  For all that Monica did not dislike the man; he was a good, simple, unselfish fellow, and to her he behaved with exaggeration of respect.