For all her vanity, Alma had never aimed at effect by practice of deliberate insincerities.

Miss Leach was informed that her friend could not find much time for correspondence.
'I am living in the atmosphere of art, and striving patiently.

Some day you shall hear of me.' And when the letter was posted, Alma mused long on the effect it would produce.
With the distinguished violinist; the friend of Herr Wilenski, spoken of to Mrs.Frothingham, she had as yet held no communication, and through the days of early summer she continued to neglect her music.
Indolence grew upon her; sometimes she spent the whole day in a dressing-gown, seated or reclining, with a book in her hand, or totally unoccupied.

Sometimes the military bands in the public gardens tempted her to walk a little, or she strolled with Miss Steinfeld through the picture galleries; occasionally they made short excursions into the country.

The art student had acquaintances in Munich, but did not see much of them, and they were not the kind of people with whom Alma cared to associate.
In July it was decided that they should go for a few weeks to Bregenz; their health called for the change, which, as Miss Steinfeld knew of a homely _pension_, could be had at small expense.