e upon
his face that seemed to baffle her--a smile so penetrating and sweet
that it lingered in her memory long afterwards.

And a few minutes later Michael proved the truth of his words. He was
showing her the ring that he had chosen--a half-hoop of diamonds of the
finest water, and their lustre and brilliancy almost dazzled Audrey.

'I remember your love for diamonds,' he said, as he took her hand.

But she did not answer him. She was looking rather sadly at a little
gold ring she had always worn.

'Do not take it off!' he said hastily, as he read the tender reluctance
in her face. 'Dear Audrey, why should not my diamonds keep company with
his ring?' And, as her eyes expressed her gratitude, he slipped the
brilliant ring into its place. 'They will soon have to make way for
another. The diamonds will make a capital guard.'

But though he evidently expected an answer to this, Audrey made no
response, except to remark on the lateness of the hour; and then Michael
did consent to adjourn to the drawing-room.

They were eagerly expected and heartily welcomed, and as her father
folded her in his arms with a murmured blessing, and she received her
mother's tearful congratulations, Audrey felt how truly they appreciated
her choice. On this occasion there were no drawbacks, no whispered fear
of what Geraldine and her husband might say. Mrs. Ross begged that she
might be allowed to carry the good news to Hillside. They were coming up
to dinner, and she thought that it was due to them that they should be
prepared beforehand; and, as everyone assented to this, Mrs. Ross
started early the next morning on her delightful embassage.

But she had miscalculated the amount of pleasure that her news would
impart. Geraldine cried with joy when she heard the news, and nothing
would satisfy her except to put on her bonnet and walk back with her
mother to Woodcote.

She interrupted a delightful _tete-a-tete_ between the lovers. Not that
either of them minded; for, as Michael sensibly remarked, he expected
that they would have plenty of _tete-a-tetes_ in their life, and Audrey
was sufficiently fond of her sister to welcome her under any
circumstances.

'How did you think I could wait until the evening?' she said, as she
threw her arms round Audrey. 'Oh, my darling, do you know how glad I am
about this? And to think that no one ever imagined it would be Michael!'
And then, as he gave her a brotherly kiss, and begged that he, too,
mig