How I wished Chatty would hold her tongue sometimes! but most likely Miss Darrell had questioned her.

‘Mr. Hamilton’s business is not our affair,’ I returned coldly.

‘That means I am not to ask; but all the same you are in his secret,’ with one of her old sneers.  ‘Will he be back to-night?’

‘No, not to-night; to-morrow morning early.’

‘That is all I want to know, Miss Garston,’ hesitating a little nervously.  ’I have never liked you, but all the same I have not injured you.’

‘Have you not, Miss Darrell?’

‘No,’ very uneasily; but she did not meet my eyes.  ’I defy you to prove that I have.  Still, if I were your enemy, ought you not to heap coals of fire on my head?’

‘Possibly.’

My coolness seemed to frighten her; she lost her sullen self-possession.

‘Have you no heart?’ she said passionately.  ’Will you not hold up a finger to help me?  You have influence with Giles; do not deny it.  If you ask him to keep me here he will not refuse you, and you will make me your slave for life.’

I heard this proposition with disgust.  She could cringe to me whom she hated.  I shook my head, feeling unable to answer her.

‘I could help you,’ she persisted, fixing her miserable eyes on me.  ’Oh, I know what you want:  you cannot hide from me that you are unhappy.  I know where the hindrance lies; one word from me would bring Giles to your feet.  Am I to say that word?’

‘No,’ I returned indignantly.  ’Do you think that I would owe anything to you?  I would rather be unhappy all my life than be under such an obligation.  You are powerless to harm me, Miss Darrell; your plots are nothing to me.’

‘And yet a word from me would bring him to your feet.’

‘I do not want him there,’ I replied, irritated at this persistence.  ’I do not wish you to mention his name to me; if you do so again I will leave you.’

‘On your head be your own obstinacy,’ she returned angrily; but I could see the despair in her eyes, and I answered that.

‘Miss Darrell,’ I went on, more gently, ’I cannot help you in this.  How could I ask Mr. Hamilton to keep you under his roof, knowing that you have poisoned his domestic happiness?  Even if I could be so mad or foolish, would he be likely to listen to me?’

‘He would listen to you,’ half crying:  ’you know he worships the ground you walk on.’

I tried to keep back the rebellious colour that rose to my face at her words.

‘Do not cheat yourself with this insane belief,’ I returned quietly.  ’Mr. Hamilton is inexorable when he has decided on anything.’

‘Inexorable! you may well say so!’ rocking herself in an uncontrollable excitement.  ’Giles is hard,—­cruel in his wrath:  he will send me away and never see me again.’  And now the tears began to flow.

‘Miss Darrell,’ I continued pityingly, ’for your own sake listen to me a moment.  You have failed most miserably in the past:  let the future years be years of repentance and atonement.  Mr. Hamilton will not forgive until you have proved yourself worthy of forgiveness:  remember you owe the future to him.’