The prospect before her was ideal, too good, of course, to
be realised. We must devise some other future for her.'

'You think of taking her definitively from her former sphere?'

'There is no choice. She can't go and work for her living in the old
way; I foresee too well what the end of _that_ would be. She must
either be raised or fall into the black gulfs--so beautifully is our
society constructed. For the present she has to recover her health; the
doctor tells me her constitution is very delicate. She must come to the
sea-side as soon as she is well enough. I mustn't have her in my house,
because Walter may come any day; but it will have to be Eastbourne, I
fancy, as I don't know how to make plans for her elsewhere. And in the
meantime we must think.'

'A question occurs to me. Is it quite certain that she won't of her own
motion communicate with Egremont?'

'It is a question, of course. But I can't do more than take all
reasonable precautions. I have a hope, though, that before long she
will confide in me completely. The poor child knows nothing of this
scandal; she even believes that Mr. Grail will take the librarianship
as if nothing had happened. I can't with certainty foresee what effect
it will have upon her when she hears the truth. Of course she must see
her sister before very long. In the meantime, I have to tell her that
things are going on quite smoothly; it is the only way to keep her
calm.'

'What of the sister? Is she a person to be trusted?'

'I don't know her; but from the way in which Thyrza always speaks of
her, I should think she is very trustworthy. She is some years older.'

After some further conversation, Mr. Newthorpe asked:

'What is Egremont doing, then, do you suppose?'

'I can form no idea.'

'Won't you write to him?'

'I think not. The poor fellow is, no doubt, going through his
'everlasting Nay,' as he used to say a few years ago; I fear it has
come in earnest this time. He will come to me when I can really be of
use to him. If I see him just now I shall have to act too much--I am
bad at that.'

'Had I better try to find him?'

'Write, if you like, and see what answer you get.'

'A gloomy business for that poor fellow in Lambeth.'

'Yes, it's hard that one can give so little thought to him. If I speak
the very truth, I still have a secret hope that she may marry him. But
all in good time. What a blessed thing Time is! It makes everything
easy.'

'It does. Most of a