'Totty! Will you help me? Thyrza has left me—gone away. I was out for half an hour. She left a note for me, to say good-bye. Help me to find her! Do you know anything? Can you think where she'd go?'
Totty was on her knees, lighting a fire. In her amazement she made no effort to rise. A lighted piece of paper was in her hand; forgetting it, she let the flame creep on till it burnt her fingers. Then she stood up.
'What does she say in the note?' she asked with deliberation.
Lydia opened her hand and spread out the crumpled paper. She was going to read aloud, but checked herself and looked at the other piteously.
'You know all about it, don't you? Thyrza told you?'
'I suppose I know pretty well,' Totty replied, in the same deliberate and distant way.
'Has she said anything to you about going away?'
'I don't know as she has.'
'Then look what she's written.'
Totty hesitated, then said: