I put down this letter with a sigh; it was the only painful one I had received from Gladys.  My remark about her writing to her brother had evidently upset her, but after this she did not speak much about Gladwyn, and by tacit consent we spoke little about any of her people except Lady Betty.  When I mentioned Mr. Hamilton I did so casually, and only with reference to my own work.  He was so mixed up with my daily life, I came so continually into contact with him, that it was impossible to avoid his name.

Gladys understood this, for she once replied,—­

’I am really and honestly glad that you and Giles work so well together.  He will be a good friend to you, I know, for when he forms a favourable opinion of a person he is slow to change it, and Giles is one who, with all his faults, will go through fire and water for his friends.  I like to hear of him in this way, for you always put him in the best light, and though you may not believe it after all my hard speeches, I am sufficiently proud of my brother to wish him to be properly appreciated.’  And after this I mentioned him less reluctantly.

Max came back about ten days after Jill had left us.  I found him waiting for me one evening when I got back to the cottage.  As usual, he greeted me most affectionately, only he laughed when I made him turn to the light that I might see how he looked.

’Well, what is your opinion, Ursula, my dear?  I hope you have noticed the gray hairs in my beard.  I saw them there this morning.’

’You are rather tanned by the cold winds.  I suppose Torquay has done you good; but your eyes have not lost their tired look, Max:  you are not a bit rested.’

‘I believe I want more work:  too much rest would kill me with ennui,’ stretching out his arms with a sort of weary gesture.  ’I walked a great deal at Torquay; I was out in the air all day; but it did not seem to be what I wanted:  I was terribly bored.  Tudor is glad to get me back.  The fellow actually seems dull.  Have you any idea what has gone wrong with him, Ursula?’ But I prudently turned a deaf ear to this question, and he did not follow it up; and a moment afterwards he mentioned that he had been at Gladwyn, and that Miss Darrell had given him a good account of Miss Hamilton.

’I had no idea that she was away until this afternoon.  Her departure was rather sudden, was it not?’

I think he was glad when I gave him Gladys’s message; but he looked rather grave when I told him how much she was enjoying her freedom.

’She seems a different creature; those Maberleys are so good to her; they pet her, and yet leave her uncontrolled to follow her own wishes.  I am more at rest about her there.’

‘A girl ought to be happy in her own home,’ he returned, somewhat moodily.  ’I think Miss Hamilton has indulged her sadness long enough.  Perhaps there are other reasons for her being better.  I suppose she has not heard—?’ And here he stopped rather awkwardly.