‘Oh, I met them,’ he returned absently, ’and they told me that you were to dine with them to-morrow.  I call that nice and friendly, asking you without ceremony.  What time shall you be ready, Ursula? for of course I shall not let you go alone the first time.’

I was glad to hear this, for, though I was not a shy person, my first visit to Gladwyn would be a little formidable; so I told him briefly that I would be ready by half-past six, as they wished me to go early, and it would never do to be formal on my side.  And then I gave him an account of Lady Betty’s visit, but it did not seem to interest him much:  in fact, I do not believe that he listened very attentively.

‘She is an odd little being,’ he said, rather absently, ’and prides herself on being as unconventional as possible.  They have spoiled her among them, Hamilton especially, but her droll ways amuse him.  She has sulked with me lately because I will not give in to her absurd fad about Lady Betty.  I tell her that she ought not to be ashamed of her baptismal name; the angels will call her by it one day.’

’She is very amusing.  I think I shall like her, Max; but Miss Darrell does not please me.  She is far too gushing and talkative for my taste; she patronised and repressed me in the same breath.  If there is anything I dislike, it is to be patted on the head by a stranger.’

‘Miss Hamilton did not pat you on the head, I suppose.’

’Miss Hamilton!  Oh dear, no; she is of another calibre.  I have quite fallen in love with her:  her face is perfect, only rather too pale, and her manners are so gentle, and yet she has plenty of dignity; she reminds me of Clytie, only her expression is not so contented and restful:  she looks far too melancholy for a girl of her age.’

‘Pshaw!’ he said, rather impatiently, but I noticed he looked uncomfortable.  ’What can have put such ideas in your head?—­you have only seen her twice:  you could not expect her to smile in church.’

Max seemed so thoroughly put out by my remark that I thought it better to qualify my speech.  ‘Most likely Miss Darrell had been nagging at her.’

His face cleared up directly.  ’Depend upon it, that was the reason she looked so grave,’ he said, with an air of relief.  ’Miss Darrell can say ill-tempered things sometimes.  Miss Hamilton is never as lively as Miss Elizabeth; she is always quiet and thoughtful; some girls are like that, they are not sparkling and frothy.’

I let him think that I accepted this statement as gospel, but in my heart I thought I had never seen a sadder face than that of Gladys Hamilton; to me it looked absolutely joyless, as though some strange blight had fallen on her youth.  I kept these thoughts to myself, like a wise woman, and when Max looked at me rather searchingly, as though he expected a verbal assent, I said, ‘Yes, you are right, some girls are like that,’ and left him to glean my meaning out of this parrot-like sentence.