’Just as though those few minutes would have mattered; and I did want another look at the sea,’ returned Lady Betty pettishly; ’but no, you preferred those stupid shops.  That is why I hate to go into Brighton with you.’  But Miss Darrell only laughed at this flimsy display of wrath.

Just then Mr. Tudor had taken the other vacant chair beside me.  ’How is the village nurse?’ he asked, in his bright way.  I certainly liked Mr. Tudor, he had such a pleasant, friendly way with him, and on his part he seemed always glad to see me.  If I had ever talked slang, I might have said that we chummed together famously.  He was a year younger than myself, and I took advantage of this to give him advice in an elder-sisterly fashion.

‘You must take care that the clergy do not spoil the village nurse,’ observed Miss Darrell, who had overheard him, and this time the taper finger was uplifted against Mr. Tudor.

‘Oh, there is no fear of that,’ he returned manfully; ’Miss Garston is too sensible to allow herself to be spoiled; but it is quite right that we all should make much of her.’

‘We will ask Giles if he agrees with this,’ replied Miss Darrell, in a funny voice, and at that moment Mr. Hamilton entered the room.

I do not know why I thought he looked nicer that evening:  one thing, I had never seen him in evening dress, and it suited him better than his rough tweed; he was quieter and less abrupt in manner, more dignified and less peremptory, but he certainly looked very tired.

He accosted me rather gravely, I thought, though he said that he was glad to see me at Gladwyn.  His first remark after this was to complain of the lateness of the dinner.

‘Parker is not very punctual this evening, Etta,’ he observed, looking at his watch.

‘I think it was our fault, Giles,’ returned his cousin plaintively.  ’We kept Thornton such a long time in the study, and no doubt that is the cause of the delay.  Parker is seldom a minute behindhand; punctuality is her chief point, as Mrs. Edmonstone told me when I engaged her.  You see,’ turning to Uncle Max, ’we are such a regular household that the least deviation in our nature quite throws us into confusion.  I am so sorry, Giles, I am, indeed; but will you ring for Thornton, and that will remind him of his duty?’

Miss Darrell’s submissive speech evidently disarmed Mr. Hamilton, and deprived him of his Englishman’s right to grumble to his womankind:  so he said, quite amiably, that they would wait for Parker’s pleasure a little longer, and then relapsed into silence.

The next moment I saw him looking at me with rather an odd expression; it was as though he were regarding a stranger whom he had not seen before; I suppose the term ‘taking stock’ would explain my meaning.  Just then dinner was announced, and he gave me his arm.

The dining-room was very large and lofty, and was furnished in dark oak.  A circular seat with velvet cushions ran round the deep bay-window.  A small oval table stood before it.  Dark ruby curtains closed in the bay.