nued:

'You told me yesterday morning that Thyrza still wished to marry me.
This note shows me why you said that, and in what sense you meant it. I
don't blame you, Lydia; you were loyal to your sister. But I must ask
you something else now, and your answer must be the simple truth. Does
Thyrza love Mr. Egremont?'

'Yes, Gilbert.'

She said it with failing voice, and, as soon as she had spoken, burst
into tears.

'Oh, I have broken the promise I made to my dear one! The last thing
she asked, and perhaps I shall never see her again! What could I do,
Gilbert? If I kept it back, you'd have thought there was something
worse. She seems to have behaved cruel to you, but you don't know what
she's gone through. She's so ill; she'll go somewhere and die, and I
shall never hear her speak to me again! I've been unkind to her so
often; she doesn't know how I love her! Gilbert, help me to find her! I
can't live without my sister. Don't be angry with her, Gilbert; she's
suffered dreadful; if you only knew! She tried so hard. Her last
thought was about you, and how she could spare you. Forgive her, and
bring her back to me. What shall we do to find her? Oh, I _can't_ lose
her, my little sister, my dear one!'

One would have thought Gilbert had no grief of his own, so anxiously
did he try to comfort her.

'Lyddy,' he said, when she could listen to him, 'you are _my_ sister,
and will always be. If I could think unkindly of Thyrza now, I should
show that I was never worthy of her. Don't hurt me by saying such
things. We will find her; have no fear, we will find her.'

'And you'll do as she wished? You'll still go to the library?'

'I can't think of myself yet, Lyddy. You must have her back again, and
there'll be time enough to think of trifles.'

'But let me tell you all I know, Gilbert. He doesn't love her; you
mustn't think that. There's never been a word between them. She went to
help him with the books, and so it came on her.'

'It's true, then,' he said gravely, 'that they met there?'

'He didn't encourage her. She told me again and again he didn't. She
went on Wednesday morning, and he never came. That was on purpose, I'm
sure.'

'But why wasn't I told about the books?'

'He wanted to surprise you. And now he's gone away, Gilbert. He told
her he wouldn't be back till after her marriage.'

'He's gone away?'

She raised her face, and continued eagerly:

'You see why he went, don't you? I had hard thoughts of him