Not with impunity could her thought accustom itself to stray in regions forbidden, how firm soever her resolve to hold bodily aloof.  Alma’s imagination was beginning to show the inevitable taint.  With Cyrus Redgrave she had passed from disdainful resentment, through phases of tolerance, to an interested flirtation, perilous on every side.  In Felix Dymes she easily, perhaps not unwillingly, detected a motive like to Redgrave’s, and already, for her own purposes, she was permitting him to regard her as a woman not too sensitive, not too scrupulous.  These tactics might not be pleasant or strictly honourable, but she fancied they were forced upon her.  Alma had begun to compassionate herself —­ a dangerous situation.  Her battle had to be fought alone; she was going forth to conquer the world by her mere talents, and can a woman disregard the auxiliary weapons of beauty?  If Dymes chose to speculate in hopes ludicrously phantasmal, was that her affair?  She smiled at the picture of two men, her devoted servants, exerting themselves t9 the utmost for her advantage, yet without a syllable of express encouragement, and foredoomed to a disappointment which would be perfectly plain to them could they but use their common-sense.

Throughout this week Harvey did not behave quite as usual to her; or so Alma thought.  He had not the customary jocoseness when they met at the close of day; he asked no questions about how she had spent her time; his manner was preoccupied.  One evening she challenged him.

‘You are worrying about what you think my foolishness.’

‘Foolishness?  Of what folly are you guilty?’

‘My ambition, then.’

‘Oh no!’ He laughed as if the thought genuinely amused him.  ’Why should I worry about it?  Don’t work too hard, that’s all.  No, I was thinking of a squalid little ambition of my own.  I have an idea Morphew may make something of that business; and I want him to, for the fellow’s own good.  It’s wonderful how near he has been to going to the devil, once for all.  I fancy I’ve got him now by the coat-tail; I may hold him.’

‘You can’t call that a squalid ambition,’ said Alma, wishing to be amiable.

’Not that side of it —­ no.  But I’ve decided to put a little money into the business —­ nothing that matters, but it may just as well be made safe, if a little trouble will do it.  I was wondering how it would be if I worked a little down yonder —­ kept Morphew in sight.  Distance is the chief objection.’

‘But you think of moving to Gunnersbury?’

’Yes, I do.  I’m thinking of it seriously.  Will you go over with me one day next week!  Better be Saturday —­ Mrs. Abbott will be free.’