Dymes, when you have learnt the elements of good
manners.'

She nodded in a friendly way, and left him.

Their next meeting was at a music-shop, where Dymes came in whilst Alma
was making purchases. The composer, clad in a heavy fur overcoat,
entered humming a tune loudly, by way of self-advertisement; he was at
home here, for the proprietors of the business published his songs. On
perceiving Alma, he dropped his blustering air, bowed with exaggerated
politeness, and professed himself overjoyed.

'I looked in just to try over a thing I've got in my head. Do come and
listen to it--will you? It would be so kind of you to give me your
opinion.'

He pointed to a room at the back, visible between plush curtains. Alma,
wishing to refuse, murmured that she had very little time; but Dymes
prevailed, and she followed him. They passed into the pleasant warmth
of a blazing fire. The musician flung off his coat, and at once sat
down at the grand piano, open for the convenience of such favoured
persons as himself; whilst Alma seated herself in an easy-chair, which
she had pushed forward so as to allow of her being seen from the shop.
After some preliminary jingling, Dymes played an air which the listener
could not but like; a dainty, tripping melody, fit for a fairy song,
with strange little echoes as of laughter, and a half-feigned sadness
in the close. With hands suspended, Dymes turned to see the effect he
had produced.

'Is that your own?' Alma asked.

'I'm under that impression. Rather good, I think--don't you?'

'Very pretty.'

She hardly believed his assurance, so strong was the contrast between
that lightsome lyric and the coarse vanity of the man himself. He
played it again, and she liked it still better, uttering a more decided
word of praise.

'Dicky must write me patter for that!' Dymes exclaimed, when he saw
that she smiled with pleasure. 'You don't know Dicky Wellington? A
cousin of Ada's. By-the-bye, her concert will be at the end of
May--Prince's Hall, most likely. You shall have a ticket.'

'Very kind of you.'

'You know that Mrs. Rayner Mann is giving a charity concert next week?'

'I have been asked to take part in it,' said Alma quietly.

'I'm awfully glad of that!' shouted Dymes. 'So I shall hear you again.
The fact is, you know, I don't think of you as an amateur. I can't
stand amateurs, except one or two. I've got it into my head that you've
been one of us, and retired. Queer thing, isn't it?'