“There’s one other I prefer,” she continued, unwilling to be made to smile.  “They call it a ‘fishing lodge,’ and it’s down in the Florida Keys.  They’re putting a railroad through there, but meantime you can only get to it by a launch.  From the pictures, it’s the most heavenly spot imaginable.  Fancy running about those wonderful green waters in a motor-boat!”

“It sounds quite alluring,” I replied.  “But isn’t it remote for you?”

“We’re not so very far from Key West; and my husband means to have a physician with us in any case.  The advantage of being in a small place is that we couldn’t entertain if we wanted to.  I can have my Aunt Varina come to stay with me, a dear, sweet soul who loves me devotedly; and then if I find I have to have some new ideas, perhaps you can come—–­”

“I don’t think your husband would favour that,” I said.

She put her hand out to me in a quick gesture.  “I don’t mean to give up our friendship!  I want you to understand, I intend to go on studying and growing.  I am doing what he asked me—­it’s right that I should think of his wishes, and of the health of my child.  But the child will be growing up, and sooner or later my husband must grant me the right to think, to have a life of my own.  You must stand by me and help me, whatever happens.”

I gave her my hand on that, and so we parted—­for some time, as it proved.  I went up to Albany once more, in a last futile effort to save our precious bill; and while I was there I got a note from her, saying that she was leaving for the Florida Keys.

BOOK II

SYLVIA AS MOTHER

For three months after this I had nothing but letters from Sylvia.  She proved to be an excellent letter-writer, full of verve and colour.  I would not say that she poured out her soul to me, but she gave me glimpses of her states of mind, and the progress of her domestic drama.

First, she described the place to which she had come; a ravishing spot, where any woman ought to be happy.  It was a little island, fringed with a border of cocoanut-palms, which rustled and whispered day and night in the breeze.  It was covered with tropical foliage, and there was a long, rambling bungalow, with screened “galleries,” and a beach of hard white sand in front.  The water was blue, dazzling with sunshine, and dotted with distant green islands; all of it, air, water, and islands, were warm.  “I don’t realize till I get here,” she said, “I am never really happy in the North.  I wrap myself against the assaults of a cruel enemy.  But here I am at home; I cast off my furs, I stretch out my arms, I bloom.  I believe I shall quite cease to think for a while—­I shall forget all storms and troubles, and bask on the sand like a lizard.