and live there quietly for two or three years.  It has occurred to me to bring her here, but I had rather she developed her intellectual life in England.  It is scarcely probable that, after once quitting it, I shall return to this humdrum business; I have vast arrears to make up in all my natural pursuits, and with Thyrza to bear me company in the fields, I am not very likely to go back of my own will to a factory.  So that, after all, the future is clear enough; more peaceful and more fruitful than ever the past was.  You will often come to us, will you not?  It will be a joy to open our door to you, and to seat you at our table.  And in the evenings Thyrza shall sing to us.

’By-the-by, suppose when I offer myself to her, she refuses to marry me!—­Is it possible?  Is it impossible?  Of course, if her contentment has nothing to do with hope of seeing me again, then my appearance will only surprise and alarm and trouble her.

’Things must rest till I see you.  I will cable from New York when I am starting for Europe.  I shall be glad to see England again, glad to leave trade behind me, thrice glad to hold your hand.’

CHAPTER XXXVI

THYRZA WAITS

’I can’t promise, Mrs. Emerson, that my sister will come down and have tea with you.  Please don’t make any preparations; it’s only perhaps.’

Thyrza had looked into the sitting-room to say this late in the evening.

‘Oh, but she must!’ Clara pleaded.  ’Why not, dear?  Won’t you let me see her at all, then?’

Thyrza closed the door, which she had been holding open, and advanced into the room.  She wore a dress of light hue, and had some flowers in her girdle.  The past year had added a trifle to her stature; it could not add to her natural grace, but her manner of entering showed that diffidence had been overcome by habit.  There was very little now to distinguish her from the young lady who has always walked on carpets.

’You won’t mind if I ask you to come up to my room instead, Mrs. Emerson?’ she said, standing before the sofa on which Clara sat sewing.  ’I don’t know that it will be necessary, but, if it should be——­’

’Oh, I will gladly come.  It’s only that I didn’t like to think of not making her acquaintance at all.’

‘There’s no reason why I shouldn’t explain it to you,’ Thyrza said, holding her hands together.  ’My sister has never been with any except working people, and it is quite natural that she should feel a little afraid of meeting strangers.  I’m sure she needn’t be; but of course I must do what she wishes.’

’But, my dear, surely nobody in the world could be afraid of us!  And, as you say, I feel certain that your sister needn’t be afraid of any one.  I’ll come up and see her, and we’ll talk a little, and she’ll get used to me.’

‘Yes.  I am so glad she is coming!’

’I’m sure you are.  And how well you look to-night, dear!  It’s so seldom you have any colour in your cheeks.  There now!  If I was another sort of person, you’d go away thinking I’d said that on purpose to hurt you.’