ance.

CHAPTER XIII

THYRZA SINGS AGAIN

Egremont had a fear that he might seem ungrateful to the man Bower. It
was Bower to whom he had gone for help when he first sought to gather
an audience, and on the whole the help had been effectual. Yet Bower
had not borne the test of nearer acquaintance; Egremont soon knew the
vulgarity of his nature, and had much difficulty in sustaining the show
of friendly intercourse with him. One evening in mid-February, he
called the portly man to speak with him after lecture, and, with what
geniality he could, explained to him the details of his library project
and told whom he had chosen for librarian. Bower professed himself
highly satisfied with everything, and, as usual, affected Egremont
disagreeably with his subservience. The latter was not surprised to
find that Grail had kept silence on the subject; but it was time now
for the arrangements to be made public.

From the lecture-room, Mr. Bower went to a club where he was wont to
relax himself of evenings; here he discussed the library question with
such acquaintances as were at hand. He reached home just after the
closing of the shop. Mary was gone to bed. Mrs. Bower had just finished
her supper, and was musing over the second half of her accustomed pint
of ale. Her husband threw himself into a chair, with an exclamation of
scornful disgust.

'What's wrong now?' asked Mrs. Bower.

'Well, I don't know what _you'll_ call it, but _I_ call it the
damnedest bit of sneaking behaviour as I ever knew! He's given the
librarianship to that fellow Grail. There's the 'ouse at the back for
him to live in, and rent free, no doubt; and there's a good lumping
salary, _that_ you may go bail. Now what do you think o' that job?'

'And him not as much as offerin' it to you!'

'Not so much as offerin' it! How many 'ud he have got to hear his
lectures without me, I'd like to know! I shouldn't have taken it; no,
of course I shouldn't; it wouldn't a' suited me to take a
librarianship. But it was his bounden duty to give me the first offer.
I never thought he'd make one of _us_ librarian; if it had been some
stranger, I shouldn't have made so much of it. But to give it to Grail
in that sneaking, underhanded way! Why, I'd be ashamed o' myself. I've
a rare good mind never to go near his lectures again.'

'You'd better go,' said Mrs. Bower, prudently. 'He might pay you out at
the works. It 'ud be a trick just like him, after this.'

'I'll