dy speaks against Mr. Ackroyd, and you'd believe them, whatever
they said. I'll never go to chapel again with you, Mary, as long as I
live! You're unkind, and it's your chapel-going that makes you so!
You'd no business to call me in to tell me things of this kind. After
to-day, please don't mention Mr. Ackroyd's name; you know nothing at
all about him.'

Without waiting for a reply she left the parlour and went on her way.
Mary was rather pale, but she felt convinced of the truth of what she
had reported, and she had done her plain duty in drawing the lesson.
Whether Lydia would acknowledge that seemed doubtful. The outburst of
anger confirmed Mary in strange suspicions which had for some time
lurked in her mind.

On Sunday evening Lydia dressed as if to go to chapel, and left the
house at the usual hour. She had heard nothing from Mary Bower, and her
resentment was yet warm. She did not like to tell Thyrza what had
happened, but went out to spend the time as best she could.

Almost as soon as her sister was gone Thyrza paid a little attention to
her dress and went downstairs. She knocked at the Grails' parlour; it
was Gilbert's voice that answered.

'Isn't Mrs. Grail in?' she asked timidly, looking about the room.

'Yes, she's in, Miss Trent, but she doesn't feel very well. She went to
lie down after tea.'

'Oh, I'm sorry.'

She hesitated, just within the door.

'Would you like to go to her room?' Gilbert asked.

'Perhaps she's asleep; I mustn't disturb her. Would you lend me another
book, Mr. Grail?'

'Oh, yes! Will you come and choose one?'

She closed the door and went forward to the bookcase, on her way
glancing at Gilbert's face, to see whether he was annoyed at her
disturbing him. It was scarcely that, yet unmistakably his countenance
was troubled. This made Thyrza nervous; she did not look at him again
for a few moments, but carried her eyes along the shelves. Poor little
one, the titles were no help to her. Gilbert knew that well enough, but
he was watching her by stealth, and forgot to speak.

'What do you think would do for me, Mr. Grail?' she said at length. 'It
mustn't be anything very hard, you know.'

Saying that, she met his eyes. There was a smile in them, and one so
reassuring, so--she knew not what--that she was tempted to add:

'You know best what I want. I shall trust you.'

Something shook the man from head to foot. The words which came from
him were involuntary; he heard them as