I learned afterwards that Mr.
Tudor met them quite accidentally about three miles from Heathfield, and had accompanied them to Maplehurst, where he made himself so pleasant to the old lady that he was pressed to remain.

Oh, Mr.Tudor, I am afraid you are not quite so artless as you look! I began to wish Aunt Philippa would soon recall Jill.
I found Miss Hamilton alone, and she seemed very glad to see me; her fair face quite flushed with pleasure when she saw me enter the drawing-room.
'I was afraid it was some stupid visitor,' she said frankly, 'when I heard the door-bell ring.

Did it trouble you to come?
How tired you look! there, you shall take Giles's chair,' putting me with gentle force in a big blue-velvet chair that always stood by the fire; and then she took off my wraps and unfastened my gloves, and made me feel how glad she was to wait on me.
'You are going away,' I said, rather lugubriously, for I felt all at once how I should miss her.

She looked a little better and brighter, I thought, or was it only temporary excitement?
'Yes,' she returned seriously, but not sadly, 'I think it will be better.
I am almost glad to go away, except that I shall not see you,' looking at me affectionately.
'Oh, if you wish to go,' for I was so relieved to hear her say this.
'It is not that I wish it, exactly, but that I feel it will be better: things are so uncomfortable just now, more than usual, I think.

Etta seems always worrying herself and me; sometimes I fancy that she wants to get rid of me, that I am too troublesome,' with a faint smile.