‘Yours used not to ache last summer,’ persisted Uncle Max, but she did not seem to hear him.  She had turned to me, and there was almost an appealing look in her beautiful eyes, as though she were begging me to talk.

‘Oh, do you know, Miss Garston,’ she said nervously, ’that Giles was very nearly sending for you last night?  He was with Mrs. Blagrove’s little girl until five this morning; the poor little creature died at half-past four, and he told us that he thought half a dozen times of sending for you.’

‘I wish he had done so.  I should have been so glad to help.’

’Yes, he knew that, but he said it would have been such a shame rousing you out of your warm bed; and he had not the heart to do it.  So he stopped on himself; there was really nothing to be done, but the parents were in such a miserable state that he did not like to leave them.  He was so tired this afternoon that he dropped asleep instead of writing his letters:  that is why Etta has to do them.’

‘Who is talking about Etta?’ observed Miss Darrell, coming in at that moment, with a quick rustle of her silk skirt, looking as well-dressed, self-possessed, and full of assurance as ever.  ’Why are you good people sitting in the dark?  Thornton would have lighted the candles if you had rung, Gladys; but I suppose you forgot, and were dreaming over the fire as usual.  Miss Garston, I suppose I ought to apologise for being late, but we are such busy people here; every moment is of value; and though Gladys asked you to come early, I never thought you would be so good as to do so.  Friendly people are scarce, are they not, Mr. Cunliffe?  By the bye,’ holding up a taper finger loaded with sparkling rings, ’I have a scolding in store for you.  Why did you not examine my class as usual last Sunday?—­the children tell me you never came near them.’

‘I had so little time that I asked Tudor to take the classes for me,’ he returned quickly, but he was looking at Miss Hamilton as he spoke.  ’I am always sure of the children in that class:  they have been so thoroughly well taught that there is very little need for me to interfere.’

‘It would encourage their teachers if you were to do so,’ returned Miss Darrell, smiling graciously.  She evidently appropriated the praise to herself, but I am sure Uncle Max was not thinking of her when he spoke.  Just then Lady Betty came into the room, followed by Mr. Tudor.

Lady Betty looked almost pretty to-night.  She wore a dark ruby velveteen that exactly suited her brown skin; her fluffy hair was tolerably smooth, and she had a bright colour.  She came and sat down beside me at once.

’Oh, I am so vexed that we are so late! but it was all Etta’s fault:  she would look in at every shop-window, and so of course we lost the proper train.’

‘What does the child say?’ asked Miss Darrell good-humouredly.  She seemed in excellent spirits this evening; but how silent Miss Hamilton had become since her entrance!  ’Of course poor Etta is blamed; she always is if anything goes wrong in the house; Etta is the family scapegoat.  But who was it, I wonder, who wanted another turn on the pier?  Not Etta, certainly.’