"I had two or three things done at the College concerts," Heath continued. "I don't think they were much liked. They were considered very clever technically. But what's that? Of course, one must conquer one's means or one can't express oneself at all." "And now you work quite alone?" "Yes. I've got just a thousand a year of my own," he said abruptly. "You are independent, then." "Yes. It isn't a great deal. Of course, I quite realize that the sort of thing I do could never bring in a penny of money. So I've no money temptation to resist in keeping quiet. There isn't a penny in my compositions. I know that." Mrs. Mansfield thought, "If he were to get a mystical libretto and write an opera!" But she did not say it. She felt that she would not care to suggest anything to Heath which might indicate a desire on her part to see him "a success." In her ears were perpetually sounding the words, "and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the Kings of the East might be prepared." They took her away from London. They set her in the midst of a great strangeness. They even awoke in her an almost riotous feeling of desire. What she desired she could not have said exactly. Some form of happiness, that was all she knew. But how the thought of happiness stung her soul at that moment! She looked at Heath and said: "I quite understand about Mrs. Shiffney now." "Yes?" "You have the dangerous gift of a very peculiar and very powerful imagination. I think your music might make you enemies." Heath looked pleased. "I'm glad you think that. I know exactly what you mean." They sat together on the settle and talked for more than an hour. Mrs. Mansfield's feeling of shyness speedily vanished, was replaced by something maternal with which she was much more at ease. Mrs. Searle let her out. She had said good-bye to Heath in the studio and asked him not to come to the front door. "Good-night, Mrs. Searle!" she said, with a smile. "I hope I haven't stayed too long?" "No, indeed, ma'am. I'm sure you'd ado him good. He do like them that's nat'ral. But he don't like to be bothered. And there's people that do keep on, ma'am, isn't there?" "I daresay there are." "Specially with a young gentleman, ma'am. I always do say it's the women runs after the men. More shame to us, ma'am." "Has Fan begun yet?" Mrs. Searle blushed. "Well, ma'am, really I don't know. But she's awfully put out if anyone interrupts her when she's with Mr. Heath." "I must take care what I'm about." "Oh, ma'am, I'm sure--" The motor moved away from the little old house. As Mrs. Mansfield looked out she saw a faint gleam in the studio. Involuntarily she listened, almost strained her ears. And she murmured, "And the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the Kings of the East might be prepared." The gleam was lost in the night. She leaned back and found herself wondering what Charmian would have thought of the music she had just heard. CHAPTER V