‘I will tell you,’ I returned, not a bit daunted either by his irritability or sternness.  In my heart I knew that he was glad that I had asked this favour of him.  Oh, I understood him too well to be afraid of his moods now!

‘I must ask you to help me,’ I went on.  ’Will you kindly send that note to Mrs. Barton.  It is to beg her to furnish me with all I need.’

‘Thornton shall take it at once,’ he returned promptly.

’Thank you.  Now about my poor people.  Little Jessie still needs care, and Janet will be an invalid for some time.  I do not wish them to miss me.’

His face softened; a half-smile came to his lips.  ’There is only one village nurse,’ he said dubiously.

’True, but I think I can find an excellent substitute.  Do you remember my speaking to you of a young nurse at St. Thomas’s who was obliged to leave from ill health?  She is better now, only not fit for hospital work.  I am thinking of writing to her, and asking her to occupy my rooms at the cottage for a week or two until Gladys is better.  Change of air will do Miss Watson good, and it will not hurt her to look after Janet and little Jessie.’

Mr. Hamilton looked pleased at this suggestion,—­’an excellent idea,’ and, as though by an afterthought, ’a very kind one.  I did not wish to add to your burdens, but Janet Coombe is hardly out of the wood yet.’

Miss Darrell tittered scornfully.  As I glanced at her, I saw she was dragging her gold bangles over her arm until there was a red line on the flesh.  Her eyes looked dark and glittering, but she was obliged to suppress her anger.

’Janet Coombe is only a poor servant.  The work is not so attractive to Miss Garston, I should think,’ she said, in a tone so suggestive that the blood rushed to my face.  Women know how to stab sometimes.  Happily, Mr. Hamilton’s common sense came to my aid.  I quieted down directly at the first sound of his voice.

’What makes you so uncharitable, Etta?  We all know our village nurse too well to believe that insinuation.  If Gladys be only nursed with half the tenderness that was shown to Janet, I shall be quite content to leave her under Miss Garston’s care.’  Then, turning to me, with something of his old cordial manner, ’Well, it is all settled, is it not, that you remain here to-night?  Is there anything else you wish to say to me?’

‘Only one thing,’ I replied quietly.  ’Will you kindly give orders that Gladys’s little maid, Chatty, waits upon the sick-room?  Leah seems to have taken that office upon herself lately, and Gladys has a great dislike to her.’

‘Really, this passes everything!’ exclaimed Miss Darrell angrily.  ’What has my poor Leah done, to be set aside in this way?’

‘She is your maid, is she not, Etta?’

‘Yes; but, Giles—­’

’And Chatty always waits on my sisters.  It is certainly not Leah’s business to wait on the turret-room.’