‘Isn’t it right?’ she asked, keeping her eyes down.

‘I think so—­it doesn’t matter.’

She drew near again, as if to inspect her work.  Perhaps there was a slight lack of smoothness over the temple; she touched the spot with her fingers.

‘Why are you so unkind to me, Thyrza?’

The words had come involuntarily; the voice shook as they were spoken.

‘I don’t mean to be, Lyddy—­you know I don’t.’

’But you do things that you know ’ll make me angry.  I’m quick-tempered, and I couldn’t bear to think of you going to that place; I ought to have spoke in a different way.’

‘Who told you I’d been singing?’

’Mrs. Jarmey.  I’m very glad she did; it doesn’t seem any harm to you, Thyrza, but it does to me.  Dear, have you ever sung at such places before?’

Thyrza shook her head.

‘Will you promise me never to go there again?’

’I don’t want to go.  But I get no harm.  They were very pleased with my singing.  Annie West was there, and several other girls.  Why do you make so much of it, Lyddy?’

’Because I’m older than you, Thyrza; and if you’ll only trust me, and do as I wish, you’ll see some day that I was right.  I know you’re a good girl; I don’t think a wrong thought ever came into your head.  It isn’t that, it’s because you can’t go about the streets and into public-houses without hearing bad things and seeing bad people.  I want to keep you away from everything that isn’t homelike and quiet.  I want you to love me more than anyone else!’

‘I do, Lyddy!  I do, dear!  It’s only that I—­’

‘What—?’

’I don’t know how it is.  I’m discontented.  There’s never any change.  How can you be so happy day after day?  I love to be with you, but—­ if we could go and live somewhere else!  I should like to see a new place.  I’ve been reading there about the seaside what it must be like!  I want to know things.  You don’t understand me?’

’I think I do.  I felt a little the same when I heard Mrs. Isaacs and her daughter talking about Margate yesterday.  But we shall he better off some day, see if we aren’t!  Try your best not to think about those things.  Suppose you ask Mr. Grail to lend you a book to read?  I met Mrs. Grail downstairs last night, and she asked if we’d go down and have tea to-day.  I can’t, because Mary’s coming, but you might.  And I’m sure he’d lend you something nice if you asked him.’

’I don’t think I durst.  He always sits so quiet, and he’s such a queer man.’

‘Yes, he is rather queer, but he speaks very kind.’

’I’ll see.  But you mustn’t speak so cross to me if I do wrong, Lyddy.  I felt as if I should like to go away, some time when you didn’t know.  I did, really!’

Lydia gazed at her anxiously.

‘I don’t think you’d ever have the heart to do that, Thyrza,’ she said, in a low voice.

‘No,’ she shook her head, smiling.  ’I couldn’t do without you.  And now kiss me properly, like you always do.’