ood to
everyone, and so is father. And then there is my cousin, Captain
Burnett, who half lives with us; he is one of the nicest men possible.'

But as Audrey spoke, she had no idea that Michael was that minute
talking to Kester. It fell out in this way: Michael found it slow on the
cricket-field without Audrey; so many people came up and talked to him
that he got quite bored. Captain Burnett was a general favourite with
men as well as women; he had the reputation of being a hero: women
pitied him for his ill-health and misfortunes, and men admired him for
the cheerful pluck with which he endured them.

'Burnett is a pleasant fellow and a gentleman,' was one observation.
'Perhaps he is a bit solemn at times, but I fancy that confounded wound
of his gives him trouble. Anyhow, he never plagues other people with his
ailments. "Grin and bear it"--I fancy that is Burnett's motto.'

Michael found the cricket-field dull without Audrey's liveliness to give
zest to the afternoon; she always took people away when he was tired. He
had had enough of it long before the match was over. Just as he was
sauntering homewards he encountered Mr. Blake, and in the course of
brief conversation he learnt that Mrs. Blake was in town.

Michael thought he would call and see if Audrey were ready to come
home--it would do no harm to inquire at the door; but Biddy, who was
scouring the doorsteps, told him abruptly to step in and he would find
the lady; and, half amused at his own coolness, he, nothing loath,
accepted the invitation.

He found Kester alone in the dining-room busy over his lessons. He
looked up in some astonishment at the sight of a strange gentleman, and
Zack, the retriever, growled rather inhospitably at Booty. Perhaps the
Dachs-hund's short legs affronted him.

'Am I disturbing you?' asked Michael in his most genial manner. And he
looked at the boy's pale intelligent face with much interest. 'I have
come to see after my cousin, Miss Ross. Is she anywhere about? My name
is Captain Burnett.'

'Oh, I know,' returned Kester, flushing a little nervously under the
scrutiny of those keen blue eyes; 'Cyril told us about you. Miss Ross is
upstairs with Mollie; they are putting the drawing-room to rights, but
they will be down to tea presently. Will you sit down,' still more
nervously, 'or shall I call Mollie?'

'No, no; there is no hurry, unless I am interrupting you,' with a glance
at Kester's books. 'You are doing Greek, eh?'