he
was among his bins again; in his mind's eye he was measuring out his
oats and beans. I think I hear him repeating again what he once said to
me: "It is such a clean, wholesome business, Captain. I often dream I am
back in the shop again, with my wife laying the tea in the back-parlour.
I can feel the grain slithering between my fingers, and even the
dropping of the peas on the counter out of the overfilled bags is as
plain as possible. Mat always did his work so awkwardly."'

'I don't think he has ever got over the loss of his wife, Michael.'

'Of course not. Is he likely to do so, with Mrs. Baxter's lugubrious
countenance opposite him morning, noon, and night? I don't wonder her
husband ran away from her; it would take a deal of principle to put up
with such a trying woman.'

'Michael, I will not have you so severe on my friends! Mrs. Baxter is a
very good woman, and she takes great care of her father. We cannot all
be gifted with good spirits. Poor Priscilla Baxter is a disappointed
woman.'

Michael shrugged his shoulders, but he was spared making any reply, as
just then they encountered Geraldine and her husband. They were
evidently looking for Audrey.

'Are you going, Gage?' observed Audrey serenely. 'I was just coming up
to the house to wish you good-bye, only Michael detained me.'

'I thought you were with Mr. Blake,' returned her sister, in a puzzled
tone. 'I wish you would come up to luncheon to-morrow--I have scarcely
spoken two words to you this afternoon. Edith is coming.'

'It will be a pity to interrupt your _tete-a-tete_,' returned Audrey
pleasantly; 'Mrs. Bryce has always so much to say, and she comes so
seldom.' And, as her sister's face clouded, she continued: 'I will run
up for an hour on Wednesday, but I really cannot neglect Mr. O'Brien any
longer--he will have been looking for me day after day.'

'Oh, if you are going to Vineyard Cottage,' in a mollified tone that
Audrey perfectly understood, 'you will have tea there, of course.'

'Do you think Mrs. Baxter would let me come away without my tea?'
returned Audrey quickly.

She was inwardly somewhat annoyed at this questioning. She had meant to
go to the Gray Cottage on her way; but now she must give that up: Mollie
must watch for her a little longer. Perhaps she could go to Hillside in
the morning and keep her afternoon free. And as she came to this
conclusion, she bade her sister an affectionate good-bye. But as
Geraldine took her hus