‘Your word!’ was the disdainful reply; and then he pointed to the door.  ‘Go at once!’ But she still lingered.  There was a spark of good even in this woman.  She was unwilling to quit our presence without knowing what was to become of her mistress.

’You will not be hard on Miss Etta, sir?  She has done wrong, but she is a poor creature, and—­’ But Mr. Hamilton walked to the door and threw it open with a gesture that compelled obedience.

The next moment, however, he recoiled with a low exclamation of horror; for there, drawn up against the wall, in a strange half-crouching attitude, as though petrified with terror, was his miserable cousin.

I heard Leah’s shocked ‘Miss Etta!  How could you be so mad?’ And then Mr. Hamilton put out his hand, as though to forbid approach; but with a cry of despair Miss Darrell seemed to sink to the ground, and held him convulsively round the knees, so that he could not free himself.

‘Get up, Etta!’ he said indignantly.  ‘It is not to me you have to kneel’; for he thought her attitude one of supplication.  But I knew better.  She had not strength to stand or support herself, and I passed behind him quickly and went to her help.

‘You cannot speak to him like that, Miss Darrell.  He will not hear you.’  But, though Leah assisted me, we had some difficulty in inducing her to relax her frantic grip.  And even when we placed her in a chair she seemed as though she would sink again on the ground.  She was trembling all over, her teeth chattering; the muscles of her face worked convulsively.

‘Giles, Giles,’ she screamed, as he seemed about to leave her, ’you may kill me if you like, but you shall not look at me like this.’  But, without vouchsafing her any answer, he turned to me.

‘Will you wait with my cousin a moment?  I will be back directly.’  I nodded assent.  I knew he wished to see Leah safely in her room, but as he closed the door Miss Darrell clutched my arm.  She seemed really beside herself.

’Where has he gone?  Will he fetch the police, Miss Garston?  Will they put me in prison for it?’

‘No,’ I returned sternly.  ’You know you are safe with him.  He will not hurt a hair of your head, because you are a woman, and his own flesh and blood.’

‘But he will banish me from his house!’ she moaned.  ’He will never forgive me or let me see his face again.  He will tell—­oh, I cannot bear it!’—­her words strangled by a hoarse scream.  ’I cannot and will not bear it.’

I put my hand on her shoulder.  ‘You must control yourself,’ I said coldly.  ’Would you wish Mr. Hamilton to treat you as a mad woman?  Listen to me, Miss Darrell.  One part of your secret is safe with me.  Try and restrain yourself, and I will promise you that it shall never pass my lips.’

Even in her hysterical excitement she understood me, and a more human expression came into her hard, glaring eyes.  ‘Say it again; promise me,’ she moaned.  ‘I hate you, but I know you are to be trusted.’