’If I were like the Hebrew steward, and asked you to let down your pitcher and give me a draught, I wonder what you would answer?’

’That would depend on circumstances.  You would find it difficult to persuade me that you were thirsty, or needed anything that I could give.’

‘Would it be so difficult as all that?’ he returned thoughtfully.  ’I thought we were better friends; that you had penetrated beneath the upper crust; that in spite of my faults you trusted me a little.’

His earnestness troubled me.  I hardly knew what he meant.

‘Of course we are friends,’ I answered hastily.  ’I can trust you more than a little.’  And I would have risen from my seat, but he put his hand gently on my sleeve.

’Wait a moment.  You are going away, and I may not have another opportunity.  I want to tell you something.  You have done me good; you have taught me that women can be trusted, after all.  I thank you most heartily for that lesson.’

‘I do not know what you mean,’ I faltered; but I felt a singular pleasure at these words.  ’I have done nothing.  It is you that have been good to me.’

‘Pshaw!’ impatiently.  ’I thought you more sensible than to say that.  Now, I want you,’ his voice softening again, ’to try and think better of me; not to judge by appearances, or to take other people’s judgments, but to be as true and charitable to me as you are to others.  Promise me this before you go, Miss Garston.’

I do not know why the tears started to my eyes.  I could hardly answer him.

‘Will you try to do this?’ he persisted, stooping over me.

‘Yes,’ was my scarcely audible answer, but he was satisfied with that monosyllable.  He walked away after that, and joined Lady Betty.  Miss Darrell had not moved; she still lay back on the cushions, and I thought her face looked drawn and old.  When I spoke to her, for it was getting late, she roused herself with difficulty.

‘My head is very bad, and I shall have to go to bed, after all,’ she said, giving me her hand.  ’I am afraid your beautiful singing has been thrown away on me, for I was half asleep.  I thought I heard you and Giles talking by the piano, but I was not sure.’

Mr. Hamilton walked home with me.  He had resumed his usual manner; he told me he had had a letter that day that would oblige him to go to Edinburgh for a week or so.

’I think I shall take the night mail to-morrow evening, though it will give me a busy day:  so, after all, I shall not miss you, Miss Garston.’  And after a little more talk about the business that had summoned him, we reached the White Cottage and he bade me good-bye.

’I hope you will have a pleasant holiday.  Take care of yourself, for all our sakes.’  And with that he left me.

It was long before I slept that night.  I felt confused and feverish, as though I were on the brink of some discovery that would overwhelm and alarm me.  I could not understand myself or Mr. Hamilton.  His words presented an enigma.  I felt troubled by them, and yet not unhappy.