XXI In spite of the pleasant conditions under which the tour proceeded it began to be evident to Alexandra that Mrs. Lambert was suffering from acute nervous strain. She would spend hours on the sofa in thoughtful silence. Conversely, she showed undue vivacity on the stage at night. Sometimes she evinced an almost feverish interest in the financial side of her tour, growing depressed when business was indifferent and unduly elated when it was extra good. During this period Alexandra learnt for the first time that Mrs. Lambert had a daughter. Inconsequently enough, as it seemed to her, Mrs. Lambert’s reference to the fact was the outcome of a talk between them one day concerning Maggy. It showed the elder woman in a new aspect, strongly maternal in her feelings. The child’s absence evidently distressed her. "Why don’t you have her with you?" was the natural inquiry that rose to Alexandra’s lips. The reply to this was as spontaneous as the question. "I would love to! But how could I? Baba is ten. There’s Chalfont.... Children are so quick to notice things...." Alexandra’s puzzled look showed that she placed a very innocent construction on the intimacy of these two. "You didn’t think we were only friends?" Mrs. Lambert inquired a little reluctantly. "It’s not so. I supposed you knew." The admission did not actually shock Alexandra, but it pained her. She found it difficult to associate Mrs. Lambert with any form of liaison. Lord Chalfont, moreover, had also given her the impression of being a man averse from it. That these two, in Alexandra’s estimation so free from the taint of theatrical libertinism, should not have been superior to circumstances was singularly disconcerting. "I did think you were only friends," she said. Her voice was so full of disappointment that Mrs. Lambert half-regretted her frankness. She knew Alexandra to be a very pure-minded girl. She felt she owed her an explanation. "Friendship as you understand it is difficult, almost impossible, between a man and woman in circumstances like ours," she said. "Lord Chalfont has remained unmarried on my account. I think you must know that my husband and I are separated. Well, a woman is a very lone creature without love and sympathy. There are so many things she cannot do for herself. If there were nothing else there would always be the difficulty of business. I have to work for Baba’s sake. I couldn’t do it alone. I _must_ leave her independent of the stage." "I am so sorry," was all Alexandra could say.