Giles never did care for money; he is ready to fling it away to any one who asks him.' Miss Hamilton kept up this desultory talk all tea-time.

She spoke with great animation about her brother, and I could hardly believe it was the same girl who had sat so silently at the head of the table that evening at Gladwyn.

The sad abstracted look had left her face.

It seemed as though for a little while she was determined to forget her troubles.
When Mrs.Barton had taken away the tea-tray, she asked me, with the same wistful look in her eyes, to sing to her if I were not tired, and I complied at once.
I sang for nearly half an hour, and then I returned to the fireside.

I saw that Miss Hamilton put up her hand to shield her face from the light; but I took no notice, and after a little while she began to talk.
'I never heard any singing like yours, Miss Garston; it is a great gift.
There is something different in your voice from any one else's: it seems to touch one's heart.' 'If my singing always makes you sad, Miss Hamilton, it is a very dubious gift.' 'Ah, but it is a pleasant sadness,' she replied quickly.