Thyrza (Volume 1); A Tale

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1907. Excerpt: ... the funeral. On the evening before, she left at the house a small wreath of white flowers. Lydia, Gilbert, Mary Bower, Luke Ackroyd and his sister, these only went to the cemetery. He whom Thyrza would have wished to follow her, in thought at least, to the grave, was too far away to know of her death till later. The next day, Lydia sat for an hour with Ackroyd. They did not speak much. But before she left him, Lydia looked into his face and said: 'Do you wish me to believe, Luke, that I shall never see my sister again?' He bent bis face and kept silence. 'Do you think that I could live if I believed that she was gone for ever? That I should never meet Thyrza after this, never again?' 'I shall never wish you to think in that way, LydJy, ' Le answered, kindly. 'I've often talked as if I knew things for certain, when I know nothing. You're better in yourself than I am, and you may feel more of the truth.' The next morning, Lydia went to her work as usual. Gilbert had already returned to his. The clear winter sunshine was already a thing of the far past; in the streets was the slush of thaw, and darkness fell early from the obscured sky. CHAPTER XLI THE LIVING This winter the Newthorpes spent abroad. Mr. Newthorpc was in very doubtful health when he went to Ullswater, just before Egremont's return to England, and by the end of the autumn his condition was such as to cause a renewal of Annabel's former fears. On a quick decision, they departed for Cannes, and remained there till early in the following April. 'There's a sort of absurdity, ' Mr. Newthorpe remarked, 'in living when you can think of nothing but how you're to save your life. Better have done with it, I think. It strikes me ae an impiety, too, to go playing at hide-and-seek with the gods.' They came b...