I think not.' He moved in surprise.
'You say she has gone?
What makes you think she has left us ?' To hide anything now was worse than useless.

Without speaking, she held to him the scrap of paper.

He, having read, turned to his mother.
'Will you let us be alone, mother ?' The poor old woman went with bowed head from the room.

Gilbert's voice dropped to a lower note.
'Lydia, as you have shown me this, you must have decided that you cannot keep the promise which is spoken of here.' 'I can't keep it, Gilbert, because you might think worse of Thyrza if I do.' 'Think worse?
Then you suppose I believe what is said about her--about Thyrza ?' 'I can't think you believe what Mr.Bower _wishes_ people to, but you can't know how little she's been to blame.' He was silent, then said: 'I came home a few minutes ago, thinking that what Bunce has just told was a mere lie, set afloat by someone who wished us harm.

I thought Thyrza knew of the lie, and that it had made her ill--that she could not bring herself to speak to me of it.