There was a pause, then Thyrza resumed: 

‘I think you’ll do as you say.  Kiss me, and promise again.’

‘I will keep your secret, dearest.  I promise you.’

The other sighed deeply, and after that lay still.

CHAPTER XXIV

THE END OF THE DREAM

Gilbert did not go to work next morning.  Though Lydia had disguised her sister’s strange condition as well as she could, he knew that something was being kept from him, and his mind, ever ready to doubt the reality of the happiness that had been granted him, was at length so beset with fears that he could no longer pay attention to the day’s business.  He rose at the usual time, but with a word at his mother’s door made known his intention not to go out till after breakfast.  Having lit a fire in the parlour, he sat down and tried to read.

He had purposed working till Saturday.  To-night and to-morrow night (Thursday and Friday) Thyrza and he were to go and purchase such articles of furniture and the like as would be needed for the new house (the list was long since carefully made out, and the places of purchase decided upon), and these would be taken in by Mrs. Butterfield.  On Saturday afternoon the contents of Gilbert’s own room were to be removed; on that and the following night he would sleep under the new roof, and by Monday morning would have things in sufficient order to allow of Mrs. Grail and Lydia coming, for these two were to keep each other company whilst he and his wife were away.  By this scheme he might work on to the end of the week, and suffer no loss of wages.

But Gilbert was not a machine, unhappily for himself.  Even had nothing external occurred to trouble the order he had planned, his own mood would probably have rendered steady work impossible now that he could positively count on his fingers the days before his marriage day—­before the day which would make him a free man.  It was hard to believe that two such blessings could descend upon a mortal at once.  It seemed to him that the very hours, as they went by, looked on him with faces of mysterious menace, foretelling a dread successor.  Since Monday he had with difficulty accomplished his tasks; each time he hastened home it was with unreasoning fear lest something bad come to pass in his absence.  And now it was no longer only apprehension.  Thyrza was changing under his eyes.  She was physically ill, and he knew that some agitation possessed her mind.  She shrank from him.

The glimmer of early morning at the parlour window was cold and threatening.  A faint ray of sunlight showed itself, only to fade upon a low, rain-charged sky.  The sounds of labour recommencing were as wearisome to him as they always are to one who has watched through an unending night.  The house itself seemed unnaturally silent.

Mrs. Grail came in at length, and looked at him anxiously.  Her own eyes lacked the refreshment of sleep.