Exactly at the moment appointed, a closely-wrapped figure hurried through the darkness out of Kennington Road to the door where Lydia had been waiting for several minutes.  The door was at once opened.  Thyrza ran silently up the stairs; her sister followed; and they stood together in their old home.

Thyrza threw off her outer garments.  She was panting from haste and agitation; she fixed her eyes on Lydia, but neither spoke nor smiled.

‘Are you sure you did right to come, dearest?’ Lydia said in a low voice.

‘Yes, Lyddy, quite sure,’ was the grave answer.

‘You look worse to-night—­you look ill, Thyrza.’

‘No, no, I am quite well.  I am glad to be here.’

Thyrza seated herself where she had been used to sit, by the fireside.  Lydia had made the room as bright as she could.  But to Thyrza how bare and comfortless it seemed!  Here her sister had lived, whilst she herself had had so many comforts about her, so many luxuries.  That poor, narrow bed—­there she had slept with Lyddy; there, too, she had longed vainly for sleep, and had shed her first tears of secret sorrow.  Nothing whatever seemed altered.  But yes, there was something new; above the bed’s head hung on the wall a picture of a cross, with flowers twined about it, and something written underneath.  Noticing that, Thyrza at once took her eyes away.

‘It’s a bitter night,’ Lydia said, approaching her and examining her face anxiously.  ’You must be very careful in going back; you seem to have got a chill now, dear; you tremble so.  I’ll stir the fire, and put more coals on.’

‘You told Gilbert?’ Thyrza asked, suddenly.  ’You didn’t mention it in your letter.  He’ll see me, won’t he?’

’No, I haven’t spoken to him yet, dear.  I thought it better to leave it till you were here.  I’m sure he’ll see you, if you really wish.’

’I do wish, Lyddy.  I’m sorry you left it till now.  Why did you think it better to leave it?’

‘I don’t quite know,’ the other said, with embarrassment.  ’It seemed strange that you wanted to see him.’

‘Yes, I wish to.’

‘Then I’ll go down in a few minutes and tell him.’

They ceased speaking.  Lydia had knelt by her sister, her arm about her.  Thyrza still trembled a little, but was growing more composed.  Presently she bent and kissed Lydia’s hair.

‘You didn’t believe me when I said I should come,’ she whispered, smiling for the first time.

‘Are you sure you ought to have come?  Would Mrs. Ormonde mind?’

’I am quite free, Lyddy.  I can do as I like.  I would come in daylight, only perhaps it would be disagreeable for you, if people saw me.  I know they have given me a bad name.’

‘No one that we need to care about, Thyrza.’

‘Gilbert has no such thoughts now?’

‘Oh, no!’

‘Shall I see much change in him?’

‘Not as much as he will in you, dearest.’