'What is it, dear?' she asked, 'Lie down and go to sleep.'
'I can't, Lyddy, I can't! I am so tired, and I haven't closed my eyes. Keep awake with me a minute, will you?'
Lydia took the sleepless girl in her arms.
'The music won't leave me,' Thyrza moaned. 'It's just as if I heard them playing now.'
Lydia nursed her into a fitful sleep.
Though Thyrza had no work to go to, she still always rose together with her sister, and, whilst the latter put the room in order, went down to assist Mrs. Grail in getting the breakfast. But on the morning after the concert Lydia was glad to see that the head beside her own was weighed down with sleep when the hour for rising had come. She dressed as quietly as possible, leaving the blind drawn, and descended to say that Thyrza would be a little longer than usual. Gilbert was in the parlour.
'Has she slept well?' he asked.
'Not very well. She couldn't get the sound of the music out of her ears. But she's fast now.'
'We shall have to be careful of her, Lyddy,' Gilbert said, anxiously.
For he had had her face before him all night, with its pale, wearied look of over-excitement. He knew how delicate a nature it was that he was going to take into his charge, and already his love was at times gently mingled with fear.