’I’m not at all sure of that.  Take your things off and sit down in that chair, and talk to me as if we were in the old room at home.  I must see our room again, Lyddy.  I must see it before long.’

Lydia always had to overcome feelings of suspicion and remoteness at the beginning of her meetings with Thyrza; time had not changed her in this respect; she still feared that something was being concealed from her.  And to-day it was long before she grew sufficiently accustomed to the room to talk with freedom.  Thyrza lost all hope of persuading her to have tea with the Emersons.  She was obliged to broach the subject, however, and it excited no less opposition than she had looked for.  Lydia shrank from the thought.  Yet, when Thyrza ceased to urge, and even exerted herself to make her sister forget all about it, Lydia said all at once: 

‘Do you always have tea with them on Sundays?’

’Yes.  But it doesn’t make the least difference.  I have it here by myself other days, and I can do just as I like about it.  Don’t trouble, dear.’

‘There won’t be anybody except those two?’

‘Oh no.  There never is.’

Lydia changed her mind.  Much as she disliked meeting strangers and sitting at their table, she felt a wish to see these people with whom Thyrza lived, that she might form her own opinion of them.  Thyrza, much delighted, ran down at once to tell Mrs. Emerson.

Having made up her mind to face the trial, Lydia went through it as might have been expected, sensibly and becomingly.  Clara made much of her; Mr. Emerson—­at home for once—­was languidly polite.  After tea Thyrza was asked to sing, but she excused herself as having no voice to-day.  Her real reason was that she could only sing ‘week-day’ songs, and, though not certain, she thought it just possible that Lydia might dislike that kind of thing on Sunday.  However, the good Lyddy had not quite reached that pass.

The sisters went upstairs again.  Lydia had found Mrs. Emerson very different from her expectation, and was feeling a relief.  She talked naturally once more.  A subject of much interest to both was the approaching marriage of Totty Nancarrow.

‘But is it quite certain this time, Lyddy?’

‘Oh, quite, dear.  The names are up in the registry office.’

Lydia knew nothing of Totty’s fortune, nor did any one else in Lambeth.  To this day Totty and her husband have kept that a secret.

‘Well, what a girl Totty is!’ Thyrza exclaimed.  ’And she used to declare that she wouldn’t be married on any account.  Of course I always knew that was all nonsense.  I shall go and see her some day, Lyddy, before long.’

Lydia noticed the frequency with which Thyrza spoke of shortly seeing old places and old friends.  It puzzled her, but she asked for no explanation.  Perhaps all these mysteries would be at an end in time.

Thyrza found it very hard to part to-night.  She found numberless excuses for detaining Lydia from moment to moment, when it was really time for her to go.  She was agitated, and as if with some great joy.