‘Yes,’ said Mr. Newthorpe, gravely, the worry he no longer cared to conceal making him look old and feeble, ’yes, but that project has hardly become more hopeful during the last few weeks.’

’We have to think of a lifetime.  I have by no means lost hope.  I fear the atmosphere in which you are living has some effect upon you.  The case stands thus:  Walter has done nothing in the least dishonourable, but he has been carried away, as any imaginative young fellow would probably have been under the circumstances.  The girl is very beautiful, wonderfully sweet and lovable; if a man ruined himself to obtain her I dare say it would be a long time before he repented.’

‘At least six months.’

’No, I can’t joke about Thyrza.  I love her myself, and if I can by any means guide her life into a smooth channel it will make me very happy.  But she must not marry Walter; that would assuredly not be for her happiness.  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.’