She could not raise her head.  Ackroyd too kept silent.  She asked at length:  ‘Have you anything more to tell me?’

’Yes, I have something more.  It’s another thing that I found out last night, after leaving Bower.  Say that you don’t accuse me of conduct as bad as Bower’s!’ he added, vehemently.  ’I must tell you everything, and it makes me seem as if I told it for the sake of telling.  Say you believe in my honesty, at all events!’

‘I don’t accuse you of anything,’ she replied, still under her breath.  ‘What is it you have to say?’

’I went to see Miss Nancarrow.  I had no thought of repeating the story to her—­you must believe me or not, as you like, but I am telling you the truth.  I wanted to see if she had heard anything from the Bowers, and I wanted to try and find out, if I could, whether Thyrza had told her any secret.  It wasn’t out of a wish to pry into things I’d no concern with, but because I felt afraid for Thyrza, and because I wanted to be sure that there was sufficient reason for it before I came to you to put you on your guard.  I said to Totty:  ’Have you any reason to think that Thyrza cares for somebody else more than for Grail?’ She got angry at once. and said she knew all about it, that she’d no patience with Thyrza, and that she wasn’t going to have anything more to do with the affair.  I’ve told you plainly, Lydia, told you everything.  I hope I’ve done it for the best.’

She stood as if she heard nothing.  Her arms hung down; her eyes were fixed on the ground.  She was thinking that now she understood Thyrza’s urgency in wishing to see Totty.  Now she understood everything.

She moved, as if to go away.  Ackroyd could find no word.  All he had to say was so much sheer cruelty, and to attempt comfort would be insult.  But Lydia faced him again.

‘And you think the worst of my sister?’

Again her look was defiant.  She had no enemy in the world like the man who could accuse Thyrza of guilt.  It was one thing to point out that Thyrza was in danger of being columniated, another to believe that the evil judgment was merited.

‘I don’t think the worst of her, Lydia,’ he replied, firmly.  ’I think it likely that she has been doing something very thoughtless, and I am quite sure that that man Egremont has been doing something for which he deserves to be thrashed.  But no more than that.  More than that I won’t believe!’

’Thank you, Mr. Ackroyd!  A minute ago I hated you, now I know that I have always been right in thinking you had a good heart.  Thyrza may have been foolish in keeping things from me, but she’s no more to blame than that.  You can believe me.  I would say it, if it was my life or death!’

He took her hand and pressed it.

‘And you think Mr. Bower is telling everyone?’ she asked, her voice wonderfully changed, for all at once she became a woman, and felt her need of a strong man’s aid.