blue sky before her.  Ah, that was the sea, then; its breath came with wondrous sweetness on her heated face.  But what was the sea to her!  Along here to the left again.  She must be very near now.  Again she asked, and in so uncertain a voice that she had to repeat her question before it was understood.  Number so-and-so; why, it was just over yonder; the cottage that seemed to be built of some glistening white stone.  And so she stood at the door.

A child opened, and, without questioning, laughed and said, ’Come in, please.’  She found herself at once in a comfortable kitchen.  The child pointed to an inner door, which, in the same moment, softly opened.

‘Lyddy!’

So it had come at last.  Once again they were heart to heart, Lydia cried as though something dreadful had befallen her; Thyrza sobbed once or twice, but she had shed so many tears for misery that none would come at the bidding of joy.

They were in a little room which looked through a diamond-paned lattice upon the flat beach which lies at this side of Eastbourne.  In front was a black, tar-smeared house of wood for the keeping of fishers’ nets, and fishing boats lay about it.  When Lydia’s emotion had spent itself, Thyrza drew her to the window, threw back the lattice, and said ‘Look!’

‘I can’t look at anything but you, dearest,’ was the answer.

’But let us look together, just for a minute, then we shall come fresh again to each other’s faces.  The sea, Lyddy!  I love it; it seems to me the best friend I ever had.’

’You’re very pale still, darling.  You’ve been ill, and you wouldn’t send for me.  How cruel that was of you, Thyrza!  You might have got so bad you couldn’t send; you might have died before I could know anything.  Dear, you don’t love me as I love you.  I couldn’t have given you that pain, no, not for any one, not for any one in the world.  Oh, why didn’t you let me go away with you?  I’d have gone anywhere; I’d have done anything you asked me.  Are you sure you’re well again?  Do you feel strong?—­What is it?’

Thyrza had let herself sink upon a chair, and her face, which had indeed been strangely colourless, was for a moment touched with pain.  But she laughed.

’It’s only with exciting myself so, Lyddy.  I haven’t stood or sat still a minute since I got up.  Oh, I’m as well as ever I was, better than ever I was in my life.  Don’t I look happy?  I only wanted you; that was the only thing.  I never felt so well and happy.’

Somebody knocked at the door.

‘That’s something for you to eat after your journey,’ said Thyrza.  ‘It’s too early for dinner yet, but you must have just a mouthful.’

She went out and came back with a tray, on which was milk and cake.

Lydia shook her head.

‘I can’t eat, Thyrza.  I want you to tell me everything.’