someone or other--but
this time the kindness will benefit himself. He quite enjoyed his
morning. He told me so in a tone as though he meant it.'

'And Kester looked ever so much brighter. What comfortable quarters
Captain Burnett has! I had no idea he had a private sitting-room, and he
tells me he has rooms in town as well.'

'Yes; but we do not let him use them oftener than we can help. It is so
dull for him to be alone. My father is anxious for him to live
altogether at Woodcote--he thinks the Rutherford air suits him so much
better than that of town; but Michael cannot be persuaded to give up his
rooms. I tell him it is all his pride, and that he wishes to be
independent of us.'

'He is your father's cousin, you say?'

'Yes; and he is just like his son,' returned Audrey, wondering why Mr.
Blake looked at her so intently. 'You know, I told you that we looked
upon Michael as our own brother. Here we are at the pond--or lake, as we
prefer to call it--and there are the swans, Snowflake and Eiderdown, as
I have christened them.'

'It is a charming spot,' observed Cyril, leaning over the fence to look
at the beautiful creatures. He was quite unaware, as he lounged there,
that he added another picturesque effect to the landscape, his bright
blue coat and peaked cap making a spot of colour against Audrey's white
gown. 'So that is the island where Kester found the forget-me-nots for
Mollie? It looks as though one could carry it off bodily in one's arms,'
he continued, after a reflective pause.

'Mr. Blake, I will not permit such remarks,' returned Audrey, laughing.
'I have often paddled myself about the lake. At least, it is deep enough
to drown one. Now tell me how Mollie is.'

'Mollie is inconsolable because she has not seen you for two whole
days. She spent most of the morning at the window in the hope of seeing
you pass.'

'Nonsense!'

'Oh, it is a fact, I assure you. My mother told me so herself. Will
there be any chance of your looking in to-morrow, Miss Ross? I am going
back now, and I am sure such a message would make Mollie happy for the
remainder of the evening.'

Audrey smiled.

'I do not think I will send the message, Mr. Blake. I half thought of
calling on some friends of mine who live a little way out of Rutherford,
but if I have time----'

She paused, not quite knowing how to finish her sentence.

'Well, I will say nothing about it,' he returned quickly. 'You have been
far too good to us alre