I had been fond of the poor fellow, for his own sake as well as hers, but I never disguised his faults from her.

I often told her that I feared for Eric's future; he had no ballast, it wanted a moral earthquake to steady him, and it was no wonder that his caprices and extravagant moods angered his brother.

She used to be half offended with me for my plain speaking, but she was too gentle to resent it, and she would beg me to use my influence with Hamilton to entreat him not to be so hard on Eric.
'When the blow came, I was always up at Gladwyn once, sometimes twice, a day.

They all wanted me; it was my duty to be their consoler.

I am glad to remember now that I was some comfort to her.' 'Wait a moment, Max; I must ask you something.