Thyrza checked a movement.
'I promised Mr. Grail to be back before dark,' she said.
'Oh, but that will scarcely leave you any time at all. Is there any other need for you to return to-day? Suppose I telegraphed to say that I was keeping you—wouldn't Mr. Grail forgive me?'
'I think I might stay, if I could be back to-morrow by tea-time. I must go to work on Monday morning.'
Mrs. Ormonde sighed involuntarily. That work, that work: the consumer of all youth and joy!
'Unfortunately there's no train to-morrow that would help us.'
Thyrza longed to stay; the other could read her face well enough.
'There's an early train on Monday morning,' she continued doubtfully. 'Do you live with parents?'
'Oh, no, ma'am. My parents died a long time ago. I live with my sister. We two have a room to ourselves; it's in the same house where Mr. Grail lives: that's how I got to know him.'
'And is your sister older than yourself?'