?'

There was no answer for a little, then Thyrza, with sudden revival of
memory like a light kindled in her eyes, said painfully:

'Lyddy?--does Lyddy know?'

'Not yet. Do you wish her to?

'No!--Don't tell Lyddy!--I shall be better--'

'No one shall know, Thyrza. Don't speak now. I am going to sit by you.'

Much mental disturbance was evident on the pale face for some time
after this, but Thyrza did not speak again, and presently she appeared
to sleep. Mrs. Ormonde left the house at midnight and was back again
before nine the next morning. Thyrza had been perfectly conscious since
daybreak, and had several times asked for the absent friend. She smiled
when Mrs. Ormonde came at length and kissed her forehead.

'Better this morning?'

'Much better, I think, Mrs. Ormonde. But I can't lift my arm--it's so
heavy.'

The doctor came late in the morning. He was agreeably surprised at the
course things were taking. But Thyrza was forbidden to speak, and for
much of the day she relapsed into an apathetic, scarcely conscious
state. Mrs. Ormonde had preferred not to leave her the evening before,
and had explained by telegram her failure to keep her appointment with
Mrs. Emerson. To-night she visited her friends by Regent's Park. On
looking in at the eating-house before going to her hotel for the night,
she found the patient feverish and excited.

'She has been asking for you ever since you went away,' whispered the
nurse.

Thyrza inquired anxiously, as if the thought were newly come to her:

'How did you know where I was, Mrs. Ormonde?'

'Mrs. Gandle found my name and address in your pocket, and wrote to me.'

'In my pocket? Why should she look in my pocket?'

'She was anxious to have a friend come to you, Thyrza.'

'Does any one else know? Lyddy doesn't--nor anybody?'

'Nobody.'

'Yes, it was in my pocket. I kept it from that time when I went
to--to--oh, I can't remember!'

'To Eastbourne, dear.'

'Yes--Eastbourne!'

The only way of quieting her was for Mrs. Ormonde to sit holding her
hand. It was nearly dawn when the fit of fever was allayed and sleep
came.

A week passed before it was possible to think of removing her from
these miserable quarters to the other room which awaited her. Mrs.
Ormonde's presence had doubtless been a great aid to the sufferer in
her struggle with intermittent fever and mental pain. As Thyrza
recovered her power of continuous thought, she showed less disposition
to talk;