re of a well-dressed English gentlewoman.

Audrey had to inflict another disappointment before she could get her
own way. Michael wanted her to go with him to the cricket-field. There
was a match being played, and on these occasions Audrey was always his
companion. She understood the game as well as he did, and always took an
intelligent interest in it. Audrey was sorry to refuse him and to see
him go off alone.

'Never mind; I daresay I shall only stay for an hour,' he said, as he
took down his hat and walked with her to the gate of the Gray Cottage.

Mollie was on the watch for her, and darted out to meet her.

'Oh, Miss Ross,' she said excitedly, 'I have so much to tell you! Mamma
has had to go up to London this morning on business, and she is so sorry
because she did not see you yesterday; and I was to give you all sorts
of messages and thanks. And now please do come into the kitchen a
moment, and you will see how hard we have worked.'

Audrey followed her at once.

'Oh, Mollie, how could you have done so much!' she exclaimed in genuine
surprise, as she looked round her.

The plates and dishes were neatly arranged on the dresser, the
dish-covers and tins hanging in their places, the crate of glass and
china emptied of its contents and in the yard. The floor had been
scrubbed as well as the table, and Biddy stood by the side of her
freshly-blackleaded stove, with the first smile Audrey had yet seen on
her wrinkled face.

'It is not all Miss Mollie's doing,' she said, with a chuckle, as she
carried off the kettle.

'Did your mother help you?' asked Audrey, for Mollie only looked
mysterious.

'Mamma! Oh dear no! She was busy all the evening with the curtains. Oh,
what fun! I do wish Kester were here, but he is studying his Greek. Dear
Miss Ross, you do look so puzzled. It was not mamma, and it was not
Biddy, though she cleaned the kitchen this morning; and of course it
could not be Kester.'

'I will give it up,' returned Audrey, laughing. 'Some magician must have
been at work--and a very clever magician, too.'

'Oh, I will tell Cyril that!' replied Mollie, clapping her hands. 'Why
did you not guess Cyril, Miss Ross? He is clever enough for anything.'

'Do you mean Mr. Blake put up all these plates and dishes?' observed
Audrey, feeling as much surprised as an Athenian damsel would have been
if she had heard of Apollo turning scullion.

'Yes, indeed! I must tell you all about it,' returned Mollie
garrul