‘I won’t go back home unless you wish, Harvey.’

‘Do you feel able to go?’

‘If you wish me.  If not, I’ll go somewhere else.’

He sat down by her.

‘Are you yourself, Alma?  Do you know what you are saying?’

’Yes —­ indeed I do.  I know I lost myself; my head went round; but I am well again now.’

’Then tell me in a word —­ is there any reason why you should not go home with me?’

‘What’s the use?  You won’t believe me.  You can’t believe me!’

He grasped her hand, and spoke imperatively, but not unkindly.

‘Stop that!  Answer me, and I will believe what you say.’

‘There is no reason.  I have done no wrong.’

‘Then come, if you feel able to.’

She rose without help, and walked to a mirror, at which she arranged her dress.  Harvey opened the door, and found all quiet.  He led her through the passage, out into the common staircase, and down into the street.  Here she whispered to him that a faintness was upon her; it would pass if she could have some restorative.  They found a four-wheeled cab, and drove to a public-house, where Rolfe obtained brandy and brought it out to her.  Then, wishing to avoid the railway station until Alma had recovered her strength, he bade the cabman drive on to Notting Hill Gate.

‘May I sit at your side?’ she asked, bending towards him in the darkness, when they had been silent for a few minutes.

Harvey replied by changing his own place.

‘I want to tell you,’ she resumed, her face near to his.  ’I can’t wait, and know you are thinking about me.  There isn’t much to tell.  Are you sure you can believe me?’

‘I have promised that I will.’

’I don’t ask you to be kind or to love me.  You will never love me again.  Only believe that I tell the truth, that’s all.  I am not like that woman.’

‘Tell me,’ he urged impatiently.

’I wanted to make use of Mr. Redgrave to use his influence with people in society, so that I could have a great success.  I knew he wasn’t to be trusted, but I had no fear; I could trust myself.  I never said or did anything —­ it was only meeting him at people’s houses and at concerts, and telling him what I hoped for.  You couldn’t take any interest in my music, and you had no faith in my power to make a success.  I wanted to show you that you were wrong.’

‘I was wrong in more ways than one,’ said Harvey.

’You couldn’t help it.  If you had tried to make me go another way, it would only have led to unhappiness.  At that time I was mad to make my name known, and, though I loved you, I believe I could have left you rather than give up my ambition.  Mr. Redgrave used to invite people to his house in the summer to afternoon tea, and I went there once with a lady.  Other people as well —­ a lot of other people.  That’s how I knew the house.  I was never there alone until that last evening. —­ Don’t shrink away from me!’