‘Leah,’ raising his voice a little, as Leah came downstairs with a tray of linen, ’I want to speak to you a moment.  Miss Garston has undertaken to nurse my sister, and all her orders are to be carried out.  Chatty is to attend to the sick-room for the future; there is no need for you to neglect your mistress.’

‘Very well, sir,’ replied the woman civilly; but he did not see the look she gave me.  I had made an enemy of Leah from that moment:  neither she nor her mistress would ever forgive me that slight.

‘If Miss Garston has no more orders to give me,’ observed Miss Darrell, with ill-concealed temper, ’I may as well go, for I am rather tired of this, Giles.’  And she followed Leah, and we could hear them whispering in the little passage leading to the housekeeper’s room.

‘You must not mind Etta’s little show of temper,’ remarked Mr. Hamilton apologetically.  ’She is rather put out because Gladys prefers your nursing.  Between ourselves, she is a little too fussy to suit a nervous invalid; but she is kind-hearted and means well.  I was rather sorry for her just now, but I know how to bring her round.’

‘I am no favourite with Miss Darrell,’ I returned, wondering secretly at his blind infatuation for his cousin.

’No; it is easy to see that you do not understand each other.  Etta was not quite fair to you just now.  That is why I spoke so decidedly.  I will have no interference with the sick-room:  you will have to account to me, but to no one else.’

I did not venture to raise my eyes.  I was so afraid they might betray me.  How could I repent my trust in such a man?  I felt I could wait cheerfully for years, until he chose to break down the barrier between us.

I bade him good-night, after this, and hurried back to Gladys.  I had no idea that he was following me.  As I closed the door, I said, in quite a gay tone,—­

’Well, darling, I always told you your brother was your best friend, and he has proved the truth of my words.  I knew we could trust him—­’ But a knock at the door interrupted me.  I felt rather confused when he entered, for I knew I must have been overheard; but he took no notice, and went straight up to Gladys.

‘You see, it is to be as you wished,’ he said pleasantly, ’and Miss Garston has installed herself here as your nurse.  Is your mind easier now, you foolish child?’

’Oh yes, Giles, and I am so much obliged to you; it is so good of you to allow it.’

’Humph!  I don’t see the goodness much; but never mind that now:  you must promise me to do all Miss Garston tells you, and get well as soon as you can.  Make up your mind, my dear, that you will try and overcome all these nervous fancies.’

‘Yes, Giles,’ very faintly.

’You have let yourself get rather too low, and so it will be hard work to pull you up again; but we mean to do it between us, eh, Miss Garston?’

I told him that I hoped Gladys would soon be better.