Despite this judgment, which he would have been the first to repudiate from any lips but his own, he went to her as often as he wished for an agreeable listener, which was not seldom. Towards Phyllys she was disposed from the first to show an interest differing in kind from that paid out by the gallon. Phyllys had her faults, but she was true and dependable; and perhaps it was mainly this, combined with originality and charm, that appealed to the young widow, who gave much and received little, and who was at heart lonely, despite her popularity. For if Kathleen were a humbug, she was so unknowingly; and beneath a stratum of unreality lay a heart which had loved and could love, though few came into touch with it. She was feeling her loneliness the morning after Giles' return, not knowing of that return; and she sent her small boy, Gordon, to Castle Hill with a message, "Would Phyllys come to luncheon and spend the afternoon with her?" Gordon arrived in time to hear that Phyllys had started with Giles some time before. He was a young man with independent views for his limited age, and he promptly resolved to follow them up, breathing no hint of his intentions, since he would certainly be forbidden. Having in a casual fashion asked the walkers' direction, he strolled out of sight, presumably on his way home, and then started at a trot. But his legs were very short, and the chase proved a long one. No question had arisen that morning as to studio-work, for Colin had not appeared. "One of his worst headaches," explained Mrs. Keith. "His own fault entirely, poor boy! If only he would have the sense not to be always at that ridiculous modelling!" Phyllys fired up in his defence, with a promptitude which for once rendered Mrs. Keith dumb. Giles' face had darkened at the news of Colin's state; and he now looked at her strangely. She was soon ashamed of her little outburst. What most vexed her was the calling of Colin "poor." Whether she liked him or Giles the more she could not decide; but no question existed about her admiration for Colin, whom she regarded as one gifted beyond the common run. No more was said, and the walk came as a matter of course. It was a perfect morning, and she might have congratulated herself on being in the open air, instead of having to sit for two hours like a waxen image—only such congratulation seemed unkind to Colin. She felt it to be hard that whatever he set himself to do should be hampered by ill-health, and opposed by the one individual of whose sympathy he ought to have been sure. Giles had everything—good health, vigour of mind and body, wealth, position, and the favour of Colin's mother. And yet—Phyllys felt that, had the choice been offered to her whether to possess Giles' many gifts or Colin's one gift, she would have had no hesitation in choosing the latter.