TEMPTING FORTUNE Thyrza continued to be far from well.

The day-long darkness encouraged her natural tendency to sad dreaming.

When alone, in Lydia's absence at the work-room, she sometimes had fits of weeping; it was a relief to shed tears.

She could have given no explanation of the sufferings which found this outlet; her heart lay under a cold weight, that was all she knew.
Lydia pursued her course with the usual method and contentment, yet, in these days just before Christmas, with a perceptible falling off in the animation which was the note of her character.

Perhaps she too was affected by the weather; perhaps she was anxious about Thyrza; one would have said, however, that she had some trouble distinct from these.
On Christmas Eve she ran round to Paradise Street, to make arrangements for the next day.