This reply despatched, Harvey congratulated himself on being quits with Miss Frothingham.

Her letter, however amusing, was deliberate impertinence; to have answered it in a serious tone would have been to encourage ill-mannered conceit which merited nothing but a snub.
But what had excited her anger?
Had Mrs.Frothingham been guilty of some indiscretion, or was it merely the result of hotheaded surmises and suspicions on the girl's part?
Plainly, Alma had returned to England in no amiable mood; in all probability she resented her step-mother's behaviour, now that it had been explained to her; there had arisen 'unpleasantness' on the old, the eternal subject--money.
Ignoble enough; but was it a new thing for him to discern ignoble possibilities in Alma's nature?
Nevertheless, his thoughts were constantly occupied with the girl.

Her image haunted him; all his manhood was subdued and mocked by her scornful witchery.

From the infinitudes of reverie, her eyes drew near and gazed upon him--eyes gleaming with mischief, keen with curiosity; a look now supercilious, now softly submissive; all the varieties of expression caught in susceptible moments, and stored by a too faithful memory.

Her hair, her lips, her neck, grew present to him, and lured his fancy with a wanton seduction.