opic offered to her understanding. The
sarcastic curve round Mr. Harcourt's mouth relaxed; he grew less dry and
didactic in speech; each moment his manner showed more earnestness and
interest. The silent young master was by no means annihilated; on the
contrary, he proved himself a worthy antagonist. Audrey was quite sorry
when Geraldine, stifling a yawn, gave her mother an imploring glance.
Mrs. Ross willingly took the hint, and as Michael opened the door for
them he whispered in Audrey's ear: 'He is quite capable of taking care
of himself.' And Audrey nodded assent.

She lingered in the hall a moment to look out on the moonlight, and on
opening the drawing-room door she heard a few words in Geraldine's
voice:

'Splendidly handsome--dangerously so, in my opinion; what do you think,
mother?'

'Well, my dear, I have seldom seen a finer-looking young man; and then
his manners are so nice. Some clever young people are always pushing
themselves into the conversation; they think nothing of silencing older
men. Mr. Blake seems very modest and retiring.'

'Yes, but he is too handsome,' was the regretful reply; and then Audrey
joined them.

'I knew you would say so,' she observed, with quite a pleased
expression. 'Handsome is hardly the word; Mr. Blake has a beautiful
face--he is like a Greek god.'

Geraldine drew herself up a little stiffly.

'My dear Audrey, how absurd! do Greek gods have olive complexions? How
Percival will laugh when I tell him that!'

'To be sure,' returned Audrey calmly; 'thank you for reminding me that
you are married, Gage; I am always forgetting it. That is the worst of
having one's sister married; one is never sure that one's little jokes
and speeches are not repeated. Now, as my confidences are not intended
for Percival, I will learn slowly and painfully to hold my tongue for
the future.'

This very natural speech went home, as Audrey intended it should. With
all her dictatorial ways and clever management, Geraldine had a very
warm heart.

'Oh, Audrey dear,' she said, quite grieved at this, 'I hope you are not
speaking seriously. Of course I will not repeat it to Percival if you do
not wish it; but when you are married yourself you will know how
difficult it is to keep back any little thing that interests one.'

'When I am married--I mean, if I be ever married,' substituted Audrey,
blushing a little, as girls will--'I hope I shall be quite as capable of
self-control and discrimination