I was glad to hear her say this, but her voice was a little constrained.

‘He seems very far from happy just now,’ was my answer:  ’he looks worn and thin, as though he were overworking himself.  I asked him the other night what ailed him.  Are you cold, Miss Hamilton?  I thought you shivered just now.’

‘No, no,’ she returned, a little impatiently:  ’you were speaking of your uncle.’

’Yes.  I could not get him to tell me what was the matter; he began to joke:  you know his way; men are so tiresome sometimes.’

‘It is not always easy to understand them,’ she said, turning away her face:  ’perhaps they do not wish to be understood.  It must be a great comfort to Mr. Cunliffe to have you so near him.  I have thought lately that he has seemed a little lonely.’

‘But he comes here very often,’ I said, rather quickly; ’he need not be dull, with so many friends.’

To my surprise, Miss Hamilton’s fair face flushed almost painfully.

’He does not come so often as he used; perhaps he finds us a little too quiet.  I am sorry for Giles’s sake—­oh yes, I do not mean that,’ as I looked at her rather reproachfully.  ‘Of course we all like Mr. Cunliffe.’

I was about to reply to this, when Miss Hamilton suddenly grew a little restless, and the next moment the door-bell sounded.

I rose at once.  ’They have come back from church.  I will bid you good-bye now.’  And, as I expected, she made no effort to keep me.

‘You will come again,’ she said, kissing me affectionately.  ’I have so enjoyed our little talk; you have done me good, indeed you have, Ursula,’ watching me from the threshold.  I knew I could not escape my fate, so I walked downstairs as coolly as I could, and encountered them all in the hall.  Miss Darrell gave a little shriek when she saw me.

’Dear me, Miss Garston, how you startled me!  Who would have thought of finding you here on Sunday evening, when all good people are at church!’ but here Mr. Hamilton put her aside with little ceremony:  he really seemed as though he were glad to see me.

’You came to sit with Gladys:  it was very kind and thoughtful of you.  Poor girl, she seemed rather dull, but now you have cheered her up.’

‘Perhaps Miss Garston will extend her cheering influence, Giles,’ observed Miss Darrell in her most staccato manner, ’and remain to supper.  Leah will see her home.’

‘I am going to perform that office myself, Etta.  Will you stay?’ looking at me in a friendly manner.

‘Not to-night,’ I returned hurriedly; ’and, indeed, I can very well walk alone.’  But Mr. Hamilton settled that question by putting on his greatcoat.

‘Oh, of course Giles will walk with you:  how could he do less?’ replied Miss Darrell, with a scarcely perceptible sneer.  ’You have timed your visit so well that he will be just back to supper.  So you have been sitting with dear Gladys?  I wonder how you knew she had a cold:  private information, I suppose.  I should hardly have thought Gladys was well enough to see visitors, she was so feverish when I left her; but that stupid Chatty makes such mistakes.’