"What is to prevent you reading the service in your own room ?" I used to say to her.

"It cannot be your duty to disobey your brother and make yourself ill."' 'The illness lay in your own imagination, Etta,' observed Miss Hamilton coldly.

'Giles would never have found out my chest was delicate if you had not told him so.' Miss Darrell gave her favourite little shrug, and inspected her rings.
'See what thanks I get for my cousinly care,' she said good-humouredly.
'I suppose, Gladys, you were vexed with me for telling him that you were working yourself to death,--that the close air of the schoolroom made your head ache, and that so much singing was too much for your strength.' 'If you please, Etta, we will talk about some other subject; my health, or want of health, will not interest Miss Garston.' She spoke with dignity, and then, turning to me with a winning smile, 'Giles has told me about your singing.

Will you be good enough to sing something to us?
It would be a great pleasure: both Lady Betty and I are so fond of music.' 'Miss Garston looks very tired, Gladys; it is almost selfish to ask her,' observed Miss Darrell softly; and then I knew that Miss Hamilton's request did not please her.
I had vowed to myself that no amount of pressing should induce me to sing that evening, but I could not have refused that gentle solicitation.

As I unbuttoned my gloves and took my place at the grand piano, I determined that I would sing anything and everything that Miss Hamilton wished; Miss Darrell should not silence me; and with this resolve hot on me I commenced the opening bars of 'The Lost Chord,' and before I had finished the song Miss Hamilton had crept into the corner beside me, and remained there as motionless as though my singing had turned her into stone..