‘It is just as well that this piece of work has come to me,’ I said presently, ’for I was feeling terribly idle.  Since Elspeth’s death I have not had a single case, and have employed my leisure in writing long letters to my relations and taking country rambles with Tinker.’

‘That is right,’ he returned heartily.  ’I am sure we worked you far too hard at one time.’

’It did not hurt me, and I should not care to be idle for long.—­Yes, I have heard from Gladys,’ for his eyes fell on the open letter that lay beside us.  ’I am rather disappointed that I shall not see her before I go away.’

‘Are you going away, then?’ he asked, very quickly, and I thought the news did not seem to please him.

’Not for three weeks.  I hope my patient will be getting on by that time, and will be able to spare me:  at any rate, I can give his mother a lesson or two.  You know my cousin is to be married, and I have promised to help Aunt Philippa.’

‘How long do you think you will be away?’ he demanded, with a touch of his old abruptness.

’For a fortnight.  I could not arrange for less.  Sara is making such a point of it.’

’A whole fortnight!  I am afraid you are terribly idle, after all, Miss Garston.  You are growing tired of this humdrum place.  You are yearning for “the leeks and cucumbers of Egypt,"’ with a grim smile.

‘You are wrong,’ I returned, with more earnestness than the occasion warranted.  ’I feel a strange reluctance to re-enter Vanity Fair.  The splendours of a gay wedding are not to my taste.  Sara tells me that her reception after the ceremony will be attended by about two hundred guests.  To me the idea is simply barbarous.  I expect I shall be heartily glad to get back to Heathfield.’

I was surprised to see how pleased Mr. Hamilton looked at this speech.  I had been thinking of my work and my quiet little parlour, not of Gladwyn, when I spoke; but he seemed to accept it as a personal compliment.

‘I assure you that we shall welcome you back most gladly,’ he returned.  ’The place will not seem like itself without our busy village nurse.  Well, you have worked hard enough for six months:  you deserve a holiday.  I should like to see you in your butterfly garb, Miss Garston.  I fancy, however, that I should not recognise you.’

With a sudden pang I remembered Elspeth’s words.  He does not think that such home attire will become me.  I thought he preferred me in my usual nun’s garb of black serge.

‘Oh,’ I said, petulantly and foolishly, ’I must own that I shall look rather like a crow dressed up in peacock’s feathers in the grand gown Sara has chosen for me’; but I was a little taken aback, and felt inclined to laugh, when he asked me, with an air of interest, what it was like in colour and material.

‘Sara wished it to be red plush,’ I replied demurely; ’but I refused to wear it; so she has waived that in favour of a dark green velvet.  I think it is absolutely wicked to make Uncle Brian pay for such a dress; but it seems that Sara will get her own way, so I must put up with all they choose to give me.’