ason
why he shouldn't, Mrs. Ormonde.'

She grew so agitated that Mrs. Ormonde, whilst asking herself what
further light this threw on the matter, endeavoured to remove her
trouble.

'Then no doubt he has gone, Thyrza. We shall hear all about it very
soon.'

'You think he really has? We were to have been away for a week, and
then have gone to live at the library. Haven't you heard anything
from--'

'From whom, dear?'

'Anything from Mr. Egremont? He was beginning to put the books on the
shelves--I was told about that. It was all ready for Gilbert to go and
begin. Haven't you heard about it, Mrs. Ormonde?'

'I've been away from home, you see. No doubt there are letters for me.'

'I shall be so glad when I know, Mrs. Ormonde. You'll tell me, when
you've heard, won't you, please? I've been thinking about it a long
time--before I was ill, and again since I got my thoughts back. I want
to be sure of that, more than anything. I'm sure he must have gone. Mr.
Egremont was going away somewhere, and when he came back of course he
would be told about--about me, and he wouldn't let that make any
difference to Gilbert. And then I told Lyddy in the letter that I
should come back some day. I'm quite sure it wouldn't keep him from
going to the library.'

Mrs. Ormonde was herself very desirous of knowing what turn things had
taken in Lambeth. She had no ready means of inquiry. But doubtless Mr.
Newthorpe would have intelligence; it was only too certain that the
affair was being discussed to its minutest details among the people who
knew Egremont. She determined to see Mr. Newthorpe as soon as Thyrza
was transported to the house by Regent's Park.

This took place on the following day, with care which could not have
been exceeded had the invalid been a person as important and precious
as even the late Miss Paula Tyrrell. Mrs. Gandle was adequately
recompensed; her conviction that Mrs. Ormonde was a real lady suffered
no shock under this most delicate of tests. Mrs. Ormonde bade farewell
to Bank Street and Caledonian Road with a great hope that duty or
necessity might never lead her thither again.

Thyrza still, of course, needed the nurse's attendance, and
accommodation was found for that person under the same roof. When the
party arrived, at mid-day, Mrs. Emerson was at home by appointment. She
assisted in carrying the invalid upstairs, where a bright warm room was
in readiness--as pleasant a change after the garret in Bank