Thyrza

ith the sickly ray of gas or lamp; the roads were trodden into viscid foulness; all night the droppings of a pestilent rain were

hastening to get back to her sister. But fortunately there was a friend always at hand; Mrs. Grail could not have been more anxious about a child of her own. Her attendance was of the kind whi

om the Grails' parlour, and was the very one which had always seemed to her so

rza's chair, and Thyrza was engaged in counting out silver coins, which

ry nice overcoat marked twenty-five shillings, not long ag

now it near en

take a measure without him knowing it? If I could manage to get beh

a lau

sitting with the Bowers

ring; then he wouldn't thi

on her hat

. Play with the money like a good b

ia had taken incredible pains to stop every possible draught at door

a sort of brownish coat, with laps over the pockets; it was hanging just by the d

Good-bye,

ssing through Lambeth Walk, Lydia stopped at the clothing shop of which Thyrza had spoken. The particular brownish coat had seemingly been carried off by a purchaser, but she was gla

at Lydia's entrance, looked up with some annoyance at being interrupted. Mr. Boddy sat in his accustom

ia asked, as sh

ithout sayin' prayers an' singin' 'ymns all the week long. There's the Sunday for that, an' I can't see as it's pleasin' to God neither to do so much of it at other times. Now suppose I give somebody credit in the shop, on the understandin' as they come an' pay their bill once a week reg'lar; do you think I should like to have 'em lookin' in two or three

gy. He had a bad cold, poor old man, and for the moment it made him look as if he

y dear?' he asked, as L

is so kind to her, you wouldn't believe. S

arked Mr. Bower. Why, you're getting gr

e reall

ee much of Gr

sometimes have t

ellow, is Grail. I dare say he tells you

urer, that the two often remained together after the class had dispersed; it was a privilege which he regarded disapprovingly, because it lessened his own dignity in the eyes of the other

lectures,' said Lydia. 'He sa

eks ago; just told him in a quiet way as I thought he was going too far into things that weren't very interesting, but he didn't seem quite to see it. It's always the way with young men of his kind; when you giv

ou'll go, Mr. Bo

waistcoat pockets, held his head as o

like to make the lectures successful; I believe they're a good thing, if they are properly carried out. I'm a believer in education. It's the educated men as get on in the world. Teach a man to use his brains and he'll soon be worth double wages. But Egrem

d at her affectionately, then continued to pay attention to the weighty words which fell from Mr. Bower. Mrs. Bower, who was loss impressed by her husband's utter

use waiting for Mar

before nine o'clock,' Mrs. Bower rep

t'll do a

lap and settling the upper part of her stout body in an attitude of dign

st down

re I don't know whether Thyrza 'll be well eno

quiet little fam'ly dinner this year. Y

eave. As she left the shop, she heard Mr. Bow

rail just descending the stairs. The old lady never spoke a

a minute,'

he table. A volume lent by Egremont lay before him, and he was making notes f

I made this afternoon,' Mrs. Grail said, apart

, but I couldn't have believed a day or two 'ud have mad

think you oug

ounded an unusual summons, a rat-tat, not loud indee

aid Lydia. 'They're gone to the theat

s not at a

ll

without; he inquired in a pleasa

said. 'Will you pl

d back to

ment which any little out-of-the-way occurrence produces in those who live a life v

Egremont! Thank you, Miss T

d his surmise was confirmed. Egremont was there, sheltering himsel

d, with friendly freedom. 'I should ha

lad. Will y

t the house. Gilbert conducted him into the pa

id. 'Mr. Egremont, mother;

riosity, and bowed to him. A few friendly word

have left a message, asking you

leave the room; Egremo

I've found a building that will suit us. Do you know a school in B

new it; his mother als

old that evening classes are held there, I thought I'd come and have a look at the place to-night. At last it is something like what we

essed his

t on, with a glance at the tab

but Gil

could stay a few minutes.

at are you

spun itself from that centre. He was pleased with Grail's home; it was very much as he had liked to picture it since he had known that Gilbert lived with his mo

, as he took up his hat. 'I know very few people indee

from the door with

fellow, mother? I'm so

plied. 'He's not quite the picture I'd made of him, but hi

has a mind; I wish you could hear one of his lectures; he speaks in just the same easy running way, and constantly says things one would be glad to remember. The

d presently to a

t poor old Mr. Boddy a top-coat for Christmas. When I went up with the jelly, Thyrza had the money out

ther seldom elicited a word from

. Already night had begun to close in, a sad wind moaned about the streets, and the cold grey of the s

laimed, 'to have developed even so much

rrow entrance, which, as well as the windows on the ground floor, was surrounded with a wholly inappropriate pointed arch. Iron railings ran along the two sides which abutted upon pavements, and

use,' said Egremont, when they had cast

r's dwelling, which was the rear portion of the school building. A knock at the door brought a very dirty and very asthmatical old woman, who appeared to resent their visit. When Egremont e

eps!' snarle

en the warning was given, but at the same moment a doo

u can complain to them if you like; I'm used to it from all sorts, an' 'taint for much longe

e, but it seemed better to say nothing. He began to

how come in from the street. The lower half of each window was guarded with lattice-work of thin wire; the windows themselves were grimy, and would have made it dusk within even on a clear day. The wh

ry,' observed Walter, '

one hand pressed against her bosom, the other behind her back; her h

he windows. 'It will serve tolerably as a reading-room, too. Nothing like as large a

. He could not feel the interest and hope which hitherto this project had inspired him with. The figure of the old caretaker impressed him painfully. For

Egremont asked, whe

ill do very well. Wh

hould use those for le

ibule, out of which, on one hand, a door led into a cloak-room, while on the other ascended a flight of stone stairs. The

d below, contenting herse

aid. He himself had ceased to tal

tened to reply. 'I think it is as g

Fire and light and comfortable furniture would mak

f for taking so coldly hi

'The room below will be a grand sigh

er inquiries, but I thin

choing up to the roof. The old woman still stood at the fo

she asked, 'or do you wa

e the back part agai

rlour. Here she lit a lamp; then, without speaking, guided them over the house, of which she appeared to be the only inhabi

remont remarked, lookin

t is,' was the u

u any more at present, but I shall prob

you'll fin

pe. The weather gives you

ed it in the hand which was against her bosom, and

hey walked away. 'I should feel relieved if I knew that she

n't a very ch

It has fallen into such neglect. Wait till sprin

t, and after a little further

ontinued to suffer even more than his wont from mental drea

r o'clock

hyrza to come and have

ed up a

ere here la

they like to come, and I'

day, mother. You don't mind? I

fer opposition when his mother had expressed

ight, my dear. Next

nvisible men and women hurrying to factories made a muffled, ghastly sound; harsh bells summoned through the darkness, the voice of pitiless taskmasters to whom all was indifferent save the hour of toil. Gilbert was rack

ert always gave this season to companionship with his mother. About seven o'clock they were talking quietly together of memories light and grave, of Gi

roke the sil

lonely man

y, mother. I might

that I can give you. I should like to see you

ad no rep

ave a better judgment of you. Haven't you thought that somebody looks always very pleased when you read

ve thought nothing of the kind. Put that o

. The lines of his face hardened. Mrs. Gra

red a letter at the house. Whilst the two still sat

for you, M

e resumed his seat and opened the envel

d to h

ly examining it and finding it still to my mind. It will be free at the end of March. By that time I hope

n of librarian: I am sure I could not find anyone better suited for the post, and certainly there is no man whom I should like so well to see occupying it. I propose that the salary be a hundred pounds a year, with free tenancy of the dwelling-house at present so doloro

f course, too long for you alone; I would provide you with an assistant, so that you could assure for yourself, let us say, four hours free out of the twelve. But details would be easily arranged

you are now occupied. It would, moreover, leave you a good deal of time for study; we are not likely to be overwhelmed with readers and borrowers dur

. Will you write to me at the end of

R EGRE

d conversation held her musing. When Gilbert had folded the sheets, and, in th

ibrary. He's taken the

her minute the clock on the mantel-piece ticked loud; t

e seated himself. Presently he felt a painful surging in his throat, then a gush of warm tears forced its way to his eyes. It cost him

lf in the glass, bathed his face. Then he took down his overcoat from t

e said, standing at the door.

dear,' was th

to his direction. Then he looked at the upper windows of the house, as we saw h

gent on the wind. He walked a short distance among the crowd, then found the noise oppressive and turned into a by-way. As he did so, a stre

he significance of that vulgar clanging of melody; a pathos of which you did not dream will touch you, and therein the secret of hidden London will be half revealed. The life of men who toil without hope, yet with the hunger of an unshaped desire; of women in whom the sweetness of their sex is perishing under labour and misery; the laugh, the song of the girl who strives to enjoy her year or two of youthful vigour, kno

hes; incapable of taking a partner, she stumped round and round, circling upon the pavement, till giddiness came upon her and she had to fall back and lean against

the river; the bells were ringing a harsh peal of four notes, u

night invests it with a certain grim severity; the archway, with its bolted metal plates, its wire-woven cables, over-glimmered with the yellowness of t

the base of the Houses of Parliament the few sparse lamps contrasted with the line of brightness on the Embankment opposite. The Houses themselves rose grandly in obscure magnitude; the clock-tower beaconed with two red circles against the black sky, t

of radiance, blackening the mid-current. From that the eye rose to St. Thomas's Hospital, spreading block after block, its windows telling of the manifold woe within. Nea

nder the bridge, its spreading track caught the reflected gleams and flung them away to die on unsearchable depths. Then issued from beneath a

had stood there and wished that the dread tide could whelm him. His mood was far other now; some power he did no

direct way, he walked along the Embankment It was all but deserted; the tread of a policeman echoed from the distance. But in spite of the bitter sky, two people were sitting together on on

t had no knowledge-Miss Totty Nancarrow. They were talking in a merry, careless way: Ackroyd smoked a cigar, and Totty walked with her usual independence, with that swaying of the haunches and swing of the hands with pal

m the other side watched them as they stood talking. Now they were taking leave of each other. Ackroyd appeared to hold the girl's hand longer

the street, the young man moved on and turned into a public-house. Gilbert again stopped, and, d

ready, with some mince

as they sat down, 'I say to

,' Gilbert replied, cheerily. The wind had brought a t

any upstairs?' h

r. Do you t

hould th

oked at him and

ld sit on into the still hours which were so precious to him. And again, before