She knew that he had abandoned his evil habits of late, and she could be just enough not to refuse Totty some credit for the change.

Gilbert himself had said that the girl's influence seemed on the whole good.

But some mystery was now going to reveal itself.

It concerned Thyrza; she was sure it did.

The fact that the note was delivered in this way, and the request for secrecy which it contained, made this certain.
At dinner-time, and again in the evening, Thyrza was still in the same state of depression and feverishness.