Until a certain day at the end of March, when something happened of which Harvey had no suspicion, but which affected Alma in a way he soon perceived.

That morning he had left home early, and would not return till late.  Alma practised as usual, had luncheon alone, and was thinking of going out, when the post delivered two letters —­ one for herself from Dymes, the other for her husband.  A glance showed her that Harvey’s correspondent was Mrs. Abbott, and never till today had one of Mrs Abbott’s letters come into her hand.  She regarded it with curiosity, and the longer she looked the stronger her curiosity became.  Harvey would of course tell her what his friend wrote about —­ as he always did; but the epistle itself she would not be asked to read.  And did she, as a matter of fact, always know when Harvey heard from Mrs. Abbott?  A foolish question, probably; for if the correspondence were meant to be secret, it would be addressed to Harvey at his club, not to the house.  All the same, a desire of years concentrated itself in this moment.  Alma wished vehemently to read one of Mary Abbott’s letters with her own eyes.

She turned the envelope.  It was of very stout paper, and did not look quite securely gummed.  Would not a touch of the finger —­ almost ——?  Why, there, just as she thought; a mere touch, and the envelope came open.  ‘Now, if I ever wrote a dangerous word,’ mused Alma —­ ’which I don’t, and never shall —­ this would be a lesson to me.’

Well, it was open, and, naturally enough, the letter came forth.  What harm?  There could be nothing in it that Harvey would wish to hide from her.  So, with hands that trembled, and cheeks that felt warm, she began to read.

The letter was Mrs. Abbott’s acknowledgment of the quarterly cheque she received from Rolfe.  Alma was surprised at the mention of money in the first line, and read eagerly on.  As Mary Abbott and her friend had seen each other so recently, there was no need of a full report concerning Minnie Wager (her brother had long since gone to a boarding-school), but the wording allowed it to be understood that Harvey paid for the child, and, what was more, that he held himself responsible for her future.  What could this mean?  Alma pondered it in astonishment; gratified by the discovery, but disturbed beyond measure by its mysterious suggestiveness.  The letter contained little more, merely saying, towards the end, how very glad the writer would be to give her utmost care to little Hugh when presently he came into her hands.  Last of all —­ ‘Please remember me kindly to Mrs. Rolfe.’