"That wouldn't prevent me from going to a gallery—if you thought of it."
"You will have much to talk of. And your stay in Rome won't be long after that."
Miriam made no reply.
"I wish your brother had been coming," he went on. "I should have liked to hear from him about the book he is writing."
"Shall you not be in London before long?" she asked, without show of much interest.
"I think so, but I have absolutely no plans. Probably it is raining hard in England, or even snowing. I must enjoy the sunshine a little longer. I hope your health won't suffer from the change of climate."
"I hope not," she answered mechanically.
"Perhaps you will find you can't live there?"
"What does it matter? I have no ties."
"No, you are independent; that is a great blessing."