In one of the two rooms above, Egremont happened to be taking certain measurements.  Impatient to get his plans completed in detail, he had resolved to come for half an hour on this same day which had been appointed for Grail’s visit.  Curious as he was to see the woman whom Grail was about to marry—­as yet he knew nothing more of her than her casually learnt name—­delicacy prevented him from using the opportunity this afternoon would give; the two were to arrive at three o’clock, and long before that time he would have finished his measuring and be gone.  And now he was making his last notes, when the sound of as sweet a voice as he had ever heard made him pause and listen.  The singer was approaching; her voice grew a little louder, though still in the undertone of one who sings but half consciously.  He caught a light footstep, then the door was pushed open.

His hand fell.  Even such a face as this would he have desired for her whose voice had such a charm.  Her dress told him her position; the greater was his wonder at the features, which seemed to him of faultless delicacy—­more than that, of beauty which appealed to him as never beauty had yet.  Thyrza stood in alarm; the murmur had died instantly upon her lips, and for a moment she met his gaze with directness.  Then her eyes fell; her cheeks recovered with interest the blood which they had lost.  She turned to retreat.

But Egremont stepped rapidly forward, saying the first words that came to him.

’Pray don’t let me be in your way!  I’m this moment going—­this moment.’

From her singing, he concluded that she was accustomed to be here.  Thyrza again met his look.  She guessed who this must be.  The kindness of his face as he stood before her caused her to speak the words she was thinking: 

‘Are you Mr. Egremont, sir?’

Then she was shocked at her boldness; she did not see the smile with which he replied: 

‘Yes, that is my name.’

’I am Miss Trent.  Perhaps you have—­perhaps Mr. Grail has told you —­’

This, Miss Trent?  This, Gilbert Grail’s wife?  His astonishment scarcely allowed him to relieve her promptly.

’Oh then, we already know each other, by name at least.  You have come to look at the building.  Mr. Grail is downstairs?’

‘No, sir.  I came in alone.  I thought I should like to see—­’

‘Of course.  You have been over the house?’

He wondered rather at her coming alone, but supposed that Grail was withheld by some business.

‘Yes, sir,’ she answered.

’I’m afraid you think it doesn’t look very promising.  But I’m sure we can do a great deal to improve it.’

‘I think it’s very nice,’ Thyrza said, not at all out of politeness, but because she did indeed think so.

’I will do my best to make it so, as soon as it is vacant.  These two rooms,’ he added, loth to take leave at once, ’we shall use for lectures.  Have you been into the other one?’