this is the life that IJ should
like. Perhaps you would soon weary of it?'

'I? Not easily, I think.'

'There might be travel, too,' she went on fervently. 'We should be
rich, when other people, living in the ordinary vulgar way, would have
nothing to spare. No tours where the crowd goes; real travel in
out-of-the-way parts.'

'You are describing just what I should choose for myself; but I
shouldn't have dared to ask it of you.

'And why? I told you that you knew so little of me. We are only just
beginning to understand each other.'

'What place have you in mind?'

'None. That would have to be thought about Didn't you say you were
going to some beautiful spot in Wales?'

Harvey reflected.

'I wonder whether you would like that----'

'We are only supposing, you know. But show me where it is. If you wait
a moment, I'll fetch a map.'

She rose quickly. He had just time to reach the door and open it for
her; and as she rapidly passed him, eyes averted, the faintest and
sweetest of perfumes was wafted upon his face. There he stood till her
return, his pulses throbbing.

'This is my old school atlas,' she said gaily; 'I always use it still.'

She opened it upon the table and bent forward.

'North Wales, you said? Show me----'

He pointed with a finger that quivered. His cheek was not far from
hers; the faint perfume floated all about him; he could Imagine it the
natural fragrance of her hair, of her breath.

'I see,' she murmured. 'That's the kind of place far off, but not too
far. And the railway station?'

As he did not answer, she half turned towards him.

'The station?--Yes.--Alma!----

CHAPTER 12

Mrs. Frothingham was overjoyed. In private talk with Harvey she sang
the praises of her step-daughter, whom, she declared, any man might be
proud to have won. For Alma herself had so much pride; the
characteristic, said Mrs. Frothingham, which had put dangers in her
path, and menaced her prospects of happiness.

'There's no harm in saying, Mr. Rolfe, that I never dared to hope for
this. I thought perhaps that you--but I was afraid Alma wouldn't listen
to any one. Just of late, she seemed to feel her position so much more
than at first. It was my fault; I behaved so foolishly; but I'm sure
you'll both forgive me. For months I really wasn't myself. It made the
poor girl bitter against all of us. But how noble she is! How
high-minded! And how much, much happier she will be than if she had
strug