’Pooh!  You must remember that at home we live on half our income, or less.  If that’s all that troubles you ——­’

‘You are very kind, Harvey!’

’Why, as for that, I’m enjoying myself.  And I like to see you in such capital spirits.’

So, with a happy sigh, Alma gave up the packing of her trunk, and wrote to Mrs. Frothingham that if baby really was not a trouble, they might stay for another fortnight.  ’Harvey is in such capital spirits, and does so enjoy himself, that I don’t think he ought to go home whilst all the life of the season is in full swing.  Of course, I could leave him here, but —­ if you will credit it —­ he seems really to wish to have me with him.  If I tried to say how thoroughly good and kind he is, I should make you laugh.  It amuses me to see him turned into a sort of bachelor again.  This is no contradiction; I mean that here, among his men friends, he shows a new side of himself, seems younger (to tell the truth), and has a kind of gaiety quite different from his good humour at home.  You can’t think how he enjoys a dinner at the club, for instance, quite in a boyish way; and then he comes back with all sorts of stories and bits of character and I don’t know what; we forget the time, and sit talking till I daren’t tell you when.  But I am doing the same thing now, for it is half-past twelve (noon), and I have promised to lunch with Sibyl at half-past one.  Her flat is just finished, and looks very pretty indeed.  A thousand kisses to my little darling!  Try and make him understand that mum-mum has not gone for ever.’

She dressed with care (her wardrobe had undergone a complete renewal), and drove off in a hansom to Oxford and Cambridge Mansions.  It was to be a luncheon of intimacy, for Sibyl had not yet gathered her acquaintances.  When Alma entered, Mrs. Carnaby was sitting just as in the days before her great migration, perfectly at ease, admirably self-possessed, her beauty arrayed with all the chastity of effect which distinguished her among idle and pleasure-loving women.  She had found a new way of doing her hair, a manner so young, so virginal, that Alma could not but gaze with wonder and admiration.

‘You do look sweet today!’

’Do I?  I’m glad you think so. —­ I want your opinion.  Would you have the piano there, or there?’

This matter was discussed, and then they obeyed the tuneful gong that summoned them to the dining-room.  Alma surveyed everything, and felt a secret envy.  Here was no demonstration of the simple life; things beautiful and luxurious filled all available space, and indeed over-filled it, for Sibyl had tried to use as much as possible of the furniture formerly displayed in Hamilton Terrace, with such alterations and novelties as were imposed by the fashion of today.  She offered her guest a most dainty little meal; a luncheon such as Alma could not possibly have devised, in spite of all her reminiscences.