Then he opened the door for her. After standing for a few moments in the vestibule, he went to speak a word to the caretaker. Thyrza walked home, looking neither to right nor to left. There was a little spot of colour on each cheek which would not melt away. Reaching the room upstairs, she sat down without taking off her things. She ought to have prepared her dinner, but did not think of it, and at length she was startled by hearing a clock strike three. She ran down to the Grails' room. Gilbert and his mother had just finished their meal. The latter gossiped for a moment, then went out. 'I want you to go somewhere with me,' Gilbert said. 'Yes, I'm quite ready; but--' 'But--' 'I have something to tell you, Gilbert. I wonder whether you'll be cross.' 'When was I cross last, Thyrza?' 'No, but I'm not sure whether I ought to have done something. As I was coming home, I thought I'd walk past the house. When I got there, I thought I'd just go up the passage and look. And that old woman met me, and asked me if it was me that was going to live there. How did she know?' Gilbert laughed. 'That's more than I can tell.' 'But that isn't all. She said I might go in and look about if I liked. And I thought I would--did I do wrong?' She saw a shade of disappointment on his face. But he said: 'Not at all. Did you go over all the rooms?' 'Yes. But there's something else. I went into those school-rooms upstairs, never thinking there was any one there, because the old woman told me there wasn't. But there _was_--and it was Mr. Egremont.' 'Really? Did he knew who you were?' 'I told him, Gilbert.' He laughed again, and there was a look of pride in his eyes. 'Well, there's nothing very dreadful yet. And did he speak nicely?' 'Yes, very nicely. And when I went away, he shook hands.' 'It's a very queer thing that you happened to go just today. That's exactly where I meant to take you this afternoon. I'm rather disappointed.' 'I'm very sorry. But couldn't I go with you again? We shall be alone this time: Mr. Egremont said he was just going.' 'It won't tire you?' 'Oh, but I should like to go! I made up my mind which'll be Lyddy's room. I wonder whether you'll guess the same.' 'Come along, then!' CHAPTER XIV MISTS Paula Tyrrell was married at Easter. Convenience dictated this speed--in other words, Paula resolved to commence the season as Mrs. Dalmaine and in a house of her own. Mr. Dalmaine had pointed out the advantage of using the Easter recess. As there was scarcely time to select and make ready an abode for permanence, it was decided to take a house in Kensington, which friends of the Tyrrells desired to let for the year. Annabel was not present at the wedding. It was the second week in March before Mr. Newthorpe felt able to leave Ullswater, and Annabel had little mind to leave him for such a purpose immediately after their establishment at Eastbourne. Indeed, she would rather not have attended the wedding under any circumstances.