I disclaimed the notion of any family disagreement with some warmth, but I do not think she believed me.  She had evidently got it into her head that I was a strong-minded young woman with an uncertain temper, who could not live peaceably at home.  No doubt she had hinted this to Mrs. Maberley and other ladies.  She would make this the excuse for discouraging any degree of intimacy with her cousins.  I should not be asked very often to Gladwyn if it depended on Miss Darrell; but Mr. Hamilton had a will of his own, and if he chose me as a companion for his sisters, Miss Darrell would find it difficult to exclude me.

One could see at a glance that Mr. Hamilton was master in his own house.  Miss Darrell seemed perfectly submissive to him.  There was something almost obsequious in her manner to him.  She watched his looks anxiously, and, though she coaxed and flattered him, she did not seem quite certain how he would take her speeches.

‘We are a strange household; don’t you think so, Miss Garston?’ she observed presently.  ’Giles is our lord and master.  None of us poor women dare to contradict him.  When dear mamma was alive, she had a great deal of influence over him.  He was very fond of her.  Her death made a great difference in the house.’

‘It must have been a great trouble to you, Miss Darrell.’

’Yes, indeed.  I was almost broken-hearted.  She had been the dearest and most indulgent of mothers; but Giles was very good to me.  Gladys and Lady Betty were very devoted to her; perhaps you have heard them speak of Aunt Margaret.  Ah!  I forgot, you have only seen Gladys twice.’  And here she looked at me rather sharply, but I nodded acquiescence.  ’Gladys was always a favourite with her.’

‘Miss Hamilton must be a general favourite,’ I replied, a little unguardedly.

‘Ah!  I suppose you think her handsome,’ in rather a forced manner:  ’many people say she is too pale, and rather too statuesque, for their taste.’

‘In my opinion she is very beautiful,’ I replied quickly, ’I told Uncle Max the other day that I thought her face almost perfect.’

‘And what did he say?’ she asked, rather eagerly.  ’Did he agree with you?’ But I was obliged to confess that I had forgotten his answer.

‘I know Mr. Cunliffe thinks Gladys cold,’ she went on.  ’He is too kind-hearted to say so; but I know he feels hurt at her desertion of her post.  It was a strange whim on her part to give up all her parish work.  I am afraid it was a little bit of temper.  Gladys has a temper, though you may not think so.  She is very firm, and does not brook the least interference on my part.  Poor dear! if it were not wrong, I should say she was a little jealous of my influence with Giles, because he likes me to do things for him; but how am I to help doing what he asks me, when I owe the very bread I eat to his kindness?’

Miss Darrell was poor and dependent then.  This piece of news surprised me.  I thought of the glittering rings and silver-mounted dressing-case and all the luxurious appliances in her toilet, and wondered if Mr. Hamilton had paid for them.