‘What shall we talk about, then?  Shall I—­’ And then he looked at my face and checked himself.  His teasing mood, or whatever it was, changed.  Perhaps he saw my embarrassment, for his manner became all at once very gentle.  He said we must go in search of the roses; and then he began to talk to me about Gladys,—­how much brighter she looked, but still thin, oh, far too thin,—­and was I not glad to have her back again? and all the time he talked he was looking at me, as though he wanted to find out the reason of something that perplexed him.

’He will think that I am not glad to be home again, that all this gaiety has spoiled me for my work,’ I thought, with some vexation; but no effort of my part would overcome this sudden shyness, and I was much relieved when we turned the corner of the house and encountered Lady Betty coming in search of us.

‘Of course we saw you on the little lawn,’ she said eagerly, ’but we were too busy arranging the table.  Tea is ready now.  Where are you going, Giles?  Oh, don’t pick any more roses:  we have plenty for Ursula.’

’But if I wish Miss Garston to wear some of my picking, what then, Elizabeth?’ he asked, in a laughing tone, and Lady Betty tossed her head in reply and led me away; but a moment afterwards he followed us with the roses, and mollified the wilful little soul by asking Ladybird—­his pet name for her—­to fasten them in my dress.  Both the sisters wore white gowns.  I thought Gladys looked like a queen in hers, as she moved slowly under the oak-trees to meet us, the sun shining on her fair hair.  As I looked at her lovely face and figure, I thought it was no wonder that she was poor Max’s Lady of Delight.  Who could help admiring her?

She met me quite naturally, although her brother was beside us.

’Have we kept you waiting too long?  I thought you would not mind putting up with Giles’s society for a little while.  Oh, Thornton was so stupid; I suppose he did not approve of the trouble, for he would forget everything we asked him to bring.’

‘This is quite a feast, Gladys,’ observed Mr. Hamilton gaily.  And indeed it was a pretty picture when we were all seated:  a pleasant breeze stirred the leaves over our head, the rooks cawed and circled round us, Nap laid himself at his master’s feet, and a little gray kitten came gingerly over the grass, followed by some tame pigeons.

There was a basket of roses on the table, and great piles of strawberries and cherries.  Gladys poured out the tea in purple cups bordered with gold.  Mr. Hamilton held out a beautiful china plate for my inspection.  ‘This belonged to Gladys’s mother,’ he said:  ’we are only allowed to use it on high days and holidays.  Etta was unfortunate enough to break a saucer once:  we have never seen the tea-set since.’

I saw Gladys colour, but she said nothing:  only naughty Lady Betty whispered in my ear, ’She did it on purpose.  I saw her throw it down because she was angry with Gladys.’  But, happily, Mr. Hamilton was deaf to this.