‘It’s my chest as is weak,’ she said.  ’The nurse says it’ll get stronger as I get older, but it’s my belief that it’s just the other way about.  You never had a weak chest, had you, Miss Trent?  You haven’t that look.  I dessay you’re always well; I shouldn’t mind if I was the same.’  She laughed, and made herself cough.  ’I can’t see why everybody shouldn’t be well.  Father says the world’s made wrong, and it seems to me that’s the truth.  Perhaps it looks different to you, Miss Trent.’

‘You had better call me Thyrza, Bessie.  That’s my name.’

’Is it?  Well, I don’t mind, if you don’t.  I never knew anybody called Thyrza.  But I dessay it’s a lady’s name.  You’re a lady, ain’t you?’

’No, I’m not a lady.  I go to work with Miss Nancarrow.  You know her?’

’I can’t say as I know her.  She lives in the next room to us, but we don’t often speak.  But I remember now; I’ve seen yea on the stairs.’

’Miss Nancarrow has made friends with your brother and sister whilst you’ve been in the hospital.’

’Have she now!  They didn’t tell me about that when they come to see me last time.  I suppose things is all upside down.  By rights I’d ought to have gone home for a day or two, just to see that the room was clean.  Mrs. Larrop comes in wunst a week, you know, she’s a charwoman.  But I haven’t much trust in her; she’s such a one for cat-licking.  The children do make such a mess; I always tell them they’d think twice about coming in with dirty shoes if only they had the cleaning to see after.’

Then she began to talk of Mrs. Ormonde, and Thyrza encouraged her to tell all she could about that lady.

‘I tell you what, Thyrza,’ said Bessie, confidentially, ’when Nelly gets old enough to keep things straight and look after father, do you know what I shall do?  I mean to go to Mrs. Ormonde and ask to be took on for a housemaid.  That’s just what ’ud suit me.  My chest ain’t so bad when I’m there, and I’d rather be one of Mrs. Ormonde’s servants than work anywhere else.  But then I perhaps shan’t live long enough for that.  It’s a great thing for carrying people off, is a weak chest.’

Both grew excited as the train neared their destination.  Bessie recalled the stations, and here and there an object by the way.  It was Thyrza who felt herself the child.

The train entered the station.  Bessie had her head at the window.  She drew it back, exclaiming: 

‘There’s Mrs. Ormonde!  See, Thyrza! the lady in black!’

Thyrza looked timidly; that lady’s face encouraged her.  Mrs. Ormonde had seen Bessie, and was soon at the carriage door.

‘So here you are again!’ was her kindly greeting.  ’Why, Bessie, you must have been spending all your time in growing!’

She kissed the child, whose thin face was coloured with pleasure.

‘This is Miss Trent, mum,’ said Bessie, pointing to her companion, who had descended to the platform.  ’She’s been so kind as to take care of me.’