But fortunately there was a friend always at hand; Mrs.Grail could not have been more anxious about a child of her own.
Her attendance was of the kind which inspires trust; Lydia, always fretting herself into the extreme of nervousness if her dear one lost for a day the wonted health, was thankful she had not to depend on Mrs.
Jarmey's offices.
Thyrza had spent a day in bed, but could now sit by the fire; her chair came from the Grails' parlour, and was the very one which had always seemed to her so comfortable.

Her wish that Lyddy should sit in it had at length been gratified.
It was seven o'clock on Friday evening.

The table was drawn near to Thyrza's chair, and Thyrza was engaged in counting out silver coins, which she took from a capacious old purse.

Lydia leaned on the table opposite.
'Twenty-four, twenty-five, twenty-six! I'm sure I saw a very nice overcoat marked twenty-five shillings, not long ago; but we can't buy one without knowing grandad's measure.' 'Oh, but you know it near enough, I think.' 'Near enough! But I want it to look nice.

I wonder whether I could take a measure without him knowing it?
If I could manage to get behind him and just measure across the shoulders, I think that 'ud do.' Thyrza laughed.
'Go now.