ing to you that--that he oughtn't to have
said!'

'Said? What did you think? You thought he--he loved _me_?'

'I didn't know, dearest.'

'Oh, if he did! He asked me not to call him 'sir,' and to be his
friend--never more than that. You thought he loved me? How could he
love a girl like me, Lyddy?'

Lydia had followed the unfolding of the tale with growing surprise. It
was impossible to doubt Thyrza's truthfulness. Yet there must be more
on Egremont's part than appeared. Why did he exact secrecy about those
meetings in the library? There was little doubt that Thyrza had
betrayed herself to him. True, he had refrained from keeping the
appointment for this morning, and it seemed he was going away till
after the marriage. But all this was too late.

Still he was innocent of the guilt she had suspected. Thyrza had not
come to the dreaded harm. Though heartbroken, she was saved. Lydia felt
almost joyous for an instant. Bower's gossip might yet be deprived of
its sting, for Mr. Egremont would be gone, and--Monday was so near.

It was the reaction from her terror. She could think of nothing for the
moment but that Thyrza must be preserved from future risk by marriage.

Thyrza was lying exhausted. Lydia, deep in thought, was surprised to
see a faint smile on the beautiful pale face.

'You thought he loved me?' was whispered. 'Oh, if he did! If he did!'

Lydia was still kneeling. New fears were making themselves heard. Was
it possible for Thyrza to marry Gilbert under such circumstances, and
within five days? What if Gilbert heard Bower's story? Nay, in any
case, what of the future? Egremont would be constantly at the library.

'Thyrza, do you never think of Gilbert?'

Thyrza raised herself, again the look of wild dread in her eyes.

'Lyddy, I can't marry him! You know now that I can't, don't you? It
would be wrong. I shall love _him_ as long as ever I live--love him and
think of him every minute. I can't marry Gilbert.'

There was silence. Lydia looked up with tearful, appealing eyes.

My dearest, think--think what that means? How can you break your word
to him--now, when the day's almost here? Think what it'll mean to him.
You'll have to tell him the reason, and then--'

'I'll tell him everything. I'll bear it. Can I help it, Lyddy? Am I
happy?'

'But you haven't thought, Thyrza. It means that Gilbert will have to go
on with his work at the factory.'

'Why? His mother will go and live with him at the library