’Not stranger than Miss Hamilton’s manner the whole evening, I never felt more puzzled.  When I came in she was alone.  Hamilton did not follow me for five minutes.  She came across the room to meet me, with one of her old smiles, and I thought she really seemed glad to see me; but afterwards she was quite different.  Her manner changed and grew listless.  She did not try to entertain me; she left me to talk to her brother.  I don’t think she looks well, Ursula.  Hamilton asked her once if her head ached, and if she felt tired, and she answered that her head was rather bad.  I thought she looked extremely delicate.’

‘Oh, Gladys is never a robust woman.  She is almost always pale.’

‘It is not that,’ he returned decidedly.  ’I consider she looked very ill.  I don’t believe the change has done her the least good.  There is something on her mind:  no doubt she is longing for her cousin.’

I thought it well to remain silent, though Max’s account made me anxious.  If only I could have spoken to him about Eric!  Most likely Gladys was fretting because there was no news from Joe Muggins.  She was certainly not fit for any fresh anxiety.  I felt my banishment from Gladwyn acutely.  If Gladys were ill or dispirited, she would need me more than any one.

I think both Max and I were sorry when Mr. Tudor came back and interrupted our conversation.  He carried me off presently to show me some improvements in the kitchen-garden; but Max was too lazy to join us, and we had quite a confidential talk, walking up and down between the apple-trees.  Mr. Tudor told me that, after all, he was becoming fond of his profession, and that the old women did not bore him quite so much.  When we returned, Max was not on the lawn, but a few minutes afterwards he appeared at the study window.

‘I was just speaking to Hamilton,’ he said.  ’He came while you were in the kitchen-garden, but he was in a hurry and could not wait.  By the bye, he told me that I was not to let you sit out there any longer, as the dews are so heavy.  So come in, my dear.’

I obeyed Max without a word.  He had been here, and I had missed him!  Everything was flat after that.

I took my leave early, feeling as though all my merriment had suddenly dried up.  How would he have met me?  I wondered.  Would Max have noticed anything different?  ‘How long will this state of things go on?’ I thought, as I bade Max good-bye in the porch.

I waited for some days for Gladys to come to me, and then I wrote to her just a few lines, begging her to have tea with me the following afternoon; but two or three hours afterwards Chatty brought me a note.

‘Do not think me unkind, Ursula,’ she wrote, ’if I say that it is better for us not to meet just now.  I have twice been on my way to you, and Etta has prevented my coming each time.  My life just now is unendurable.  Giles notices nothing.  I sometimes think Etta must be possessed, to treat me as she does:  I can see no reason for it.  I hope I am not getting ill, but I do not seem as though I could rouse myself to contend with her.  I do not sleep well, and my head pains me.  If I get worse, I must speak to Giles:  I cannot be ill in this place.’