Poverty could not have taken away his birthright of brains, and perhaps some such piece of luck might have fallen to him as had now to Gilbert Grail.

Perhaps, too--why not, indeed!--he would have known Thyrza Trent.

Certainly he would have seen her by chance here or there in Lambeth, and he--the young workman he might have been--assuredly would not have let her pass and forget her.
Why, in that case, perchance he might have-- He had lost himself for a moment.

Thyrza was standing before him with a cup of tea: he noticed that the cup shook a little in the saucer.
'Will you have some tea, sir ?' she said.
Mrs.Grail had been perturbed somewhat on the question of refreshments.
Gilbert decided that to offer a cup of tea would be the best thing; Egremont, he knew, dined late, and would not want anything to eat.
'Thank you, Miss Trent.' She brought him sugar and milk.

This was quite her own idea.