Giles would be kind, I know,--he is always kind in illness,--but he lets Etta influence him.

Ursula, she influenced him and turned him against my poor boy; with all Giles's faults,--and he can be very hard and stern and unforgiving,--I am sure that of his own accord he would never have been so harsh to Eric.' 'But Mrs.Maberley told me that Miss Darrell took your brother Eric's part.' 'Yes, I know, she believes in Etta, and so does Giles; but she is not true; she has a dangerous way of implying blame when she is apparently praising a person: have you never noticed this?
Giles was always more angry with Eric after Etta had been into the study to intercede for him.
If she would only have let him alone; but that is not Etta's way: she must make or mar people's lives.' There was a concentrated bitterness in Gladys's voice, and her face grew stern.
'There was no love between them.

Eric detested Etta, and on her side I know she disliked him.

Eric never would tell me the reason; he was always hinting that he had found her out, and that she knew it, and that in consequence she wanted to get rid of him; but I thought it was all fancy on the poor boy's part, and I used to laugh at him.

I wish I had not laughed now, for there was doubtless truth in what he said.' 'You were very fond of him, Gladys ?' I asked softly, and as I spoke her face changed, and its expression grew soft and loving in a moment.
'Love him?
he was everything to me: he was my twin, you know,--and so beautiful.