’Dear Mr. Egremont,—­Father desires me to answer your very kind letter of a week ago.  He has delayed, hoping from day to day to be able to write himself.  I grieve to say that he is suffering more than at any time in the last month.  I am very anxious, full of trouble.  Mrs. Tyrrell wishes to come to me, and I am writing by this post to say that I shall be very glad of her presence.  Our doctors say there is absolutely no ground for fear, and gladly I give them my faith; but it tortures me to see my dear father so overcome with pain.  The world seems to me very dark, and life a dreadful penalty.

’We read with the greatest interest of what you are doing and hoping.  I cannot tell you how we rejoiced in the happiness of Mr. Grail.  That is a glorious thing that you have done.  I trust his marriage may be a very happy one.  When we are at Eastbourne and father is well again, we must come to see your library and no less your librarian.  Do not be discouraged if your lectures seem to fail of immediate results.  Surely good work will have fruit, and very likely in ways of which you will never know.

’The Tyrrells will have constant news of father, and I am sure will gladly send it on to you.—­I am, dear Mr. Egremont, yours sincerely,

‘ANNABEL NEWTHORPE.’

It was the first letter he had received from Annabel.  For some days he kept it close at hand, and looked over it frequently; then it was laid away with care, not again to be read until the passing of years had given it both a sadder and a dearer significance.

CHAPTER XIII

THYRZA SINGS AGAIN

Egremont had a fear that he might seem ungrateful to the man Bower.  It was Bower to whom he had gone for help when he first sought to gather an audience, and on the whole the help had been effectual.  Yet Bower had not borne the test of nearer acquaintance; Egremont soon knew the vulgarity of his nature, and had much difficulty in sustaining the show of friendly intercourse with him.  One evening in mid-February, he called the portly man to speak with him after lecture, and, with what geniality he could, explained to him the details of his library project and told whom he had chosen for librarian.  Bower professed himself highly satisfied with everything, and, as usual, affected Egremont disagreeably with his subservience.  The latter was not surprised to find that Grail had kept silence on the subject; but it was time now for the arrangements to be made public.

From the lecture-room, Mr. Bower went to a club where he was wont to relax himself of evenings; here he discussed the library question with such acquaintances as were at hand.  He reached home just after the closing of the shop.  Mary was gone to bed.  Mrs. Bower had just finished her supper, and was musing over the second half of her accustomed pint of ale.  Her husband threw himself into a chair, with an exclamation of scornful disgust.