"I hope so," he assented absently, putting his tea aside. "How long are you and Mrs. Lessingham likely to stay?"
"At least till February, I think."
"Shall you get as far as Amalfi some day?"
"Oh yes! And Miriam will come with us, I hope. And to Capri too."
"I must see Capri. I shouldn't wonder if I go there soon; probably it would suit my purpose better than Amalfi. Yet I must be alone, if I am to work. I haven't Mallard's detachment. That seems to you a paltry confession of weakness."
"No, indeed. I am told that Mr. Mallard is quite exceptional in his power of disregarding everything but his work."
"Exceptional in many things, no doubt. I must seem very insignificant in comparison."
"Why should you? Mr. Mallard is so much older; he has long been fixed in his course."
"Older, yes," assented Elgar, with satisfaction. "Perhaps at his age I too may have done something worth doing."
"Who could doubt it?"