That cheque must be sent.  She would show Harvey the account this evening, and have done with the unpleasantness of it.  Probably he remembered from time to time that she had never told him how her business with Dymes was settled.  No more duplicity.  The money would be paid, and therewith finis to that dragging chapter of her life.

Harvey came home at five o’clock, and, as usual, had tea with her.  Of late he had been uneasy about Cecil Morphew, whose story Alma knew; today he spoke more hopefully.

’Shall I bring him here tomorrow, and make him stay over Sunday?  Sunday is his bad day, and no wonder.  If there were a licensed poison-shop in London, they’d do a very fair trade on Sundays.’

‘There are the public-houses,’ said Alma.

’Yes; but Morphew doesn’t incline that way.  The fellow has delicate instincts, and suffers all the more; so the world is made.  I can’t help hoping it may come right for him yet.  I have a suspicion that Mrs. Winter may be on his side; if so, it’s only a question of time.  I keep at him like a slave-driver; he has to work whilst I’m there; and he takes it very good-humouredly.  But you mustn’t give him music, Alma; he says he can’t stand it.’

‘I’m much obliged to him,’ she answered, laughing.

‘You understand well enough.’

After dinner Alma found her courage and the fitting moment.

’I have something disagreeable to talk about.  Mr. Dymes called this afternoon, and handed in his bill’

’His bill?  Yes, yes, I remember. —­ What’s all this?  Surely you haven’t obliged him to come looking after his money?’

‘It’s the first account I have received.’

Rolfe puckered his face a little as he perused the document, but ended, as he began, with a smile.  In silence he turned to the writing-table, took out his cheque-book, and wrote.

‘You don’t mind its being in my name?’

‘Not at all.  Indeed, I prefer it.  But I am sorry and ashamed,’ she added in a murmur.

‘Let it be taken to the post at once,’ said Rolfe quietly.

When this was done, Alma made known what Dymes had told her about Sibyl, speaking in an unconcerned voice, and refraining from any hint of suspicion or censure.

‘I had heard of it,’ said Harvey, with troubled brow, and evidently wished to say no more.

‘What do you suppose Mr. Carnaby will do?’ Alma inquired.

’Impossible to say.  I’m told that the business at Coventry is flourishing, and no doubt his interest in it remains.  I hear, too, that those Queensland mines are profitable at last.  So there’ll be no money troubles.  But what he will do ——­’

The subject was dropped.

Harvey had succeeded in hiding his annoyance at the large debt to Dymes, a sum he could ill afford; but he was glad to have paid it, and pleased with Alma’s way of dismissing it to oblivion.  The talk that followed had turned his mind upon a graver trouble:  he sat thinking of Hugh Carnaby.  Dear old Hugh!  Not long ago the report ran that his health was in a bad state.  To one who knew him the wonder was that he kept alive.  But the second year drew on.