It's
kind of you to come. I have a great deal to say, and I can't speak
here. Will you come round into Walcot Square?--it'll be quieter.'

She said nothing, but walked beside him. It was a new and strange
sensation to be thus accompanying Ackroyd.

She was conscious that her pulses quickened. They went on in silence
till they reached the spot which Luke had mentioned, an irregular
little square, without traffic, dark.

'I don't know how to begin to tell you, Miss Trent,' Ackroyd said, when
he stopped and turned towards her. 'It's your sister I have to speak
about.'

She had foreseen truly. Her heart sank.

'What can you have to say about my sister, Mr. Ackroyd?' she asked in a
hard voice.

'I'm not surprised that you speak in that way. I know that I shall seem
a busybody, or perhaps something worse, meddling with things that don't
concern me. It would be easier for me to leave it alone, but I couldn't
do that, because I can't think of you and your sister as strangers.
I've heard something said about Thyrza that you ought to know. Be
friendly to me, and believe I'm only telling you this because I think
it's my duty.'

Lydia was looking at him in astonishment.

'You've heard something? What? What has anybody to say about my sister?'

'I shall make no secret of anything--it's the only way to prove I'm
behaving honestly to you. I was at the club last night, and Bower came
and sat down by me, and he began to talk about Thyrza. He said it
looked strange that she should be alone with Mr. Egremont in the
library every morning. The woman that takes care of the place told him
about it, and he's seen Thyrza himself coming away at dinner-time, when
Mr. Egremont was there. He says she goes to help him to put books on
the shelves. He spoke of it in a way that showed he was telling the
story to all sorts of people, and in a way that means harm. I'd sooner
bite my tongue out than repeat such things about your sister, if it
wasn't that you ought to know. I might have told Grail, but I felt it
was better to see you first. I know I'm making trouble enough any way,
but I believe you will give me credit for acting honestly. Don't think
of me as the kind of man I've seemed since Christmas. You used to think
well of me, and you must do so now, Miss Trent. I'm speaking as a true
friend.'

He hurried out his words of self-justification, for he saw the anger in
her face.

'And you believe this?' Lydia exclaimed, when she could use