Thyrza drew near. She did not hear very distinctly what Egremont was saying, but certainly he was offering to shake hands. Then Gilbert placed the easy chair in a convenient position, and she did her best to sit as she always did. Her manner was not awkward--it was impossible for her to be awkward--but she was afraid of saying something that 'wasn't grammar,' and to Egremont's agreeable remarks she replied shortly. Yet even this only gave her an air of shyness which was itself a grace. When Grail had entered into the conversation she was able to collect herself. Gilbert said presently: 'Miss Trent is going to take Bunce's child to Eastbourne to-morrow, to Mrs. Ormonde's.' 'Indeed!' Egremont exclaimed. 'I was there on Wednesday and heard that the child was coming. But this arrangement hadn't been made then, I think?' 'No. Somebody else was to have gone, but she has found she can't.' 'You will be glad to know Mrs. Ormonde, I'm sure,' Egremont said to Thyrza. 'And I'm glad to go to the seaside,' Thyrza returned. 'I've never seen the sea.' 'Haven't you? How I wish I could have your enjoyment of to-morrow, then!' Mrs. Grail was knitting. She said: 'I think you have voyaged a great deal, sir?' It led to talk of travel. Egremont was drawn into stories of East and West. Ah, how good it was to get out of the circle of social prophecy! It was like breathing the very mid Atlantic sky to talk gaily and freely of things wherein no theory was involved, which left aside every ideal save that of joyous living. Thyrza listened. He--he before her--had trodden lands whereof the names were to her like echoes from fairy tales; he had passed days and nights on the bosom of the great sea, which she looked forward to beholding almost with fear; he had seen it in tempest, and the laughing descriptions he gave of vast green rolling mountains made to her inward sight an awful reality. 'You never thought of going to one of the Colonies?' Egremont asked of Gilbert. 'Yes, years ago,' was the reply, in the tone of a man who sees the trouble of life behind him. 'I think at one time my mother rather despised me because I couldn't make up my mind to go and seek my fortune.' 'I never despised you, my dear,' said the old lady, 'but that was when some friends of ours were sending wonderful news from Australia, sir, and I believe I did half try to persuade Gilbert to go. His health was very bad, and I thought it might have done him good in all ways.' 'By-the-by,' remarked Gilbert, 'Ackroyd talks of going to Canada.' 'Ackroyd?' said Egremont. 'I'm not surprised to hear that.' Thyrza had looked at Gilbert anxiously. 'Who told you that?' she asked. 'He told me himself, Thyrza, last night.' She saw that Egremont was gazing at her; her eyes fell, and she became silent.