I was provoked by this, and determined not to say a word.  So presently she came out of her muff and asked me, with mirthful eyes, for whom I took her.

‘You are Lady Betty, I understood,’ was my stiff response.

’Yes, of course; every one calls me that, except the vicar, who will address me as Miss Elizabeth.  I never will answer to that name; I hate it so.  The servants up at Gladwyn never dare to use it.  I would get Etta to dismiss them if they did.  Is it not a shame that people should not have a voice in the matter of their name,—­that helpless infants should be abandoned to the tender mercies of some old fogey of a sponsor?  Miss Garston, if I were ever to hear you address me by that name it would be the death-warrant to our friendship.’

’Let me know who you really are first, and then I will promise not to offend your peculiar prejudice.’

‘Dear me!’ she answered pettishly, ’you talk just like Giles.  He often laughs at me and makes himself very unpleasant.  But then, as I often tell him, philanthropists are not pleasant people with whom to live; a man with a hobby is always odious.  Well, Miss Garston, if you will be so prying, my name is Elizabeth Grant Hamilton; only from a baby I have been called Lady Betty.’

‘I shall remember,’ I replied quietly, for really the little thing seemed quite ruffled.  This was evidently more than a whim on her part.  ’It would have seemed to me a liberty to use a family pet name.  But of course if you wish me to do so—­’

‘I do wish it,’ rather peremptorily.  ’That is partly why Mr. Cunliffe and I are not good friends,—­that, and other reasons.’

‘Oh, I am sorry you do not like Uncle Max,’ I said, rather impulsively; but she drew herself up after the manner of an aggrieved pigeon.  She was rather like a bright-eyed bird, with her fluffy hair and quick movements.

’Oh, I like him well enough, but I do not understand him.  Men are not easy to understand.  He is quiet, but he is disappointing.  We must not expect perfection in this world,’ finished the little lady sententiously.

‘I have never met any one half as good as Uncle Max,’ was my warm retort.  ‘He is the most unselfish of men.’

‘Unselfish men make mistakes sometimes,’ she returned drily.  ’Giles and he are great friends.  He is up at Gladwyn a great deal; so is Mr. Tudor.  Mr. Tudor is not a finished character, but he has good points, and one can tolerate him.  There, how vexing, we were just beginning to talk comfortably, and I see the shadow of her majesty’s gown at the gate.  Come, Nap, we must fly to Mrs. Barton’s for refuge. Au revoir, Miss Garston.’  And, kissing her little gloved hand, this strangest of Lady Betties vanished, followed by the obedient Nap.

My pulses quickened a little at the prospect of seeing the beautiful face of Gladys Hamilton in my little room; but it was not she who entered first, but Miss Darrell, whose sharp incisive glance had taken in every detail of my surroundings before her faultlessly-gloved hand had released mine; and even when I turned to greet Miss Hamilton, her peculiar and somewhat toneless voice claimed my attention.