half-hour spent with the Grails had troubled his
imagination, and thoughts of Thyrza had been revived in him. Yes, he
had loved Thyrza; all folly put aside, he knew that the memory of the
sweet-voiced, golden-haired girl would for ever remain with him. And
all this night he did not once think of Totty Nancarrow.

Fortunately, as it was Saturday, they had no need to think of work next
morning. Jim would not go to bed; he kept up the most determined
struggle with sleep, subduer of mortals. His wife came down now and
then, and was angry with him for his useless obstinacy, so plain it was
that he could scarcely hold up his great thick head. There was nothing
good to report of the patient; he had not recovered consciousness.

At five o'clock, when, in spite of fire and lamp, the little kitchen
looked haggard, Mrs. Poole entered hurriedly.

'Do you think the doctor 'ud come, Luke, if you went for him? He can't
get breath. Lydia does want the doctor fetching.'

Luke was off in an instant.

Lydia stood by the bed, pale, anguished. Happily, that struggle, which
seemed of death, did not last very long. The worn old face, almost
venerable at length in spite of the grotesqueness of its features, fell
into calm. Then, almost as in a natural waking from sleep, the eyes
opened and were aware of things.

'Are you feeling better, grandad dear?' Lydia asked.

He looked surprised, tried to speak; but there was no voice.

Luke was long.

The two women stood side by side. The old man kept endeavouring to
utter words; his powerlessness was dreadful to him, his face showed.
But at length he spoke.

'Lyddy!--Thyrza!'

'She shall come and see you, grandad. She shall come very soon.'

Again a vain endeavour to speak. His face altered; it expressed Lydia
knew not what. A supreme effort, and he again spoke.

'Mary Bower gave me all I wanted, Be friends with her, Lyddy!'

No more than that. Gradually, an end of struggle, an end of pain, an
end of all things.

The doctor came. He said that no doubt there would have to be an
inquest.

They left Lydia alone in the room, When it was midway through the
winter morning, Mrs. Poole came down and told Luke that the girl wished
to speak to him; he would find her in the parlour.

She had swollen eyes, but spoke with perfect calmness.

'Mr. Ackroyd, what did he mean? The last thing he said was, 'Mary Bower
gave me all I wanted.' I don't know what he meant. Your sister says
you'll tell me