at rest; to sacrifice everything to her
advancement; and therein, easily enough, to find my own happiness. The
circumstances of my marriage will give me more opportunity of making
this aim predominant than men usually have. Thyrza will need to be
taught much, and will be eager to learn. I think I shall take a house
not far from London, and live there quietly for two or three years. It
has occurred to me to bring her here, but I had rather she developed
her intellectual life in England. It is scarcely probable that, after
once quitting it, I shall return to this humdrum business; I have vast
arrears to make up in all my natural pursuits, and with Thyrza to bear
me company in the fields, I am not very likely to go back of my own
will to a factory. So that, after all, the future is clear enough; more
peaceful and more fruitful than ever the past was. You will often come
to us, will you not? It will be a joy to open our door to you, and to
seat you at our table. And in the evenings Thyrza shall sing to us.

'By-the-by, suppose when I offer myself to her, she refuses to marry
me!--Is it possible? Is it impossible? Of course, if her contentment
has nothing to do with hope of seeing me again, then my appearance will
only surprise and alarm and trouble her.

'Things must rest till I see you. I will cable from New York when I am
starting for Europe. I shall be glad to see England again, glad to
leave trade behind me, thrice glad to hold your hand.'

CHAPTER XXXVI

THYRZA WAITS

'I can't promise, Mrs. Emerson, that my sister will come down and have
tea with you. Please don't make any preparations; it's only perhaps.'

Thyrza had looked into the sitting-room to say this late in the evening.

'Oh, but she must!' Clara pleaded. 'Why not, dear? Won't you let me see
her at all, then?'

Thyrza closed the door, which she had been holding open, and advanced
into the room. She wore a dress of light hue, and had some flowers in
her girdle. The past year had added a trifle to her stature; it could
not add to her natural grace, but her manner of entering showed that
diffidence had been overcome by habit. There was very little now to
distinguish her from the young lady who has always walked on carpets.

'You won't mind if I ask you to come up to my room instead, Mrs.
Emerson?' she said, standing before the sofa on which Clara sat sewing.
'I don't know that it will be necessary, but, if it should be----'

'Oh, I will gladly