red terms; and then she is so
injudicious with her children. She absolutely adores her eldest son,
Cyril; but Edith will have it that she neglects her daughter. And there
is an invalid boy, too--a very interesting little fellow; at least, I
don't know how old he is--and she is not too attentive to him.
Housekeeping worries her, and she is fond of society; and I know the
Bryces think that she would marry again if she got the chance.'

'Let the younger widows marry. I hope you do not mean to contradict St.
Paul. Have we quite finished the indictment, Gage? Be it known unto the
inhabitants of Rutherford that a certain seditious and dangerous person
of the name of Blake is about to take up her residence in the town--the
list of her misdemeanours being as follows, to wit, as they say in old
chronicles: an uncommon style of beauty, an inclination to replace the
deceased Mr. Blake, imperfect temper, impulsiveness tempered with
reserve, unconventionality of habit, poverty combined with
pretentiousness, and a disposition to slight her maternal duties--really
a most interesting person!'

'Michael, of course you say that to provoke me; please don't listen to
him, mother. You understand me if no one else does; you know it is
Audrey of whom I am thinking. Yes,' turning to her cousin, 'you may
amuse yourself with turning all my speeches into ridicule, but in your
heart you agree with me. I have often heard you lecturing Audrey on her
impulsiveness and want of common-sense. It will be just like her to
strike up a violent friendship with Mrs. Blake--you know how she takes
these sudden fancies; and father is quite as bad. I daresay they will
both discover she is charming before twenty-four hours are over; that is
why I am begging mother to be very prudent, and keep the Blakes at a
distance.'

'You agree, of course, Cousin Emmeline?'

'Well, my dear, I don't quite like the account Geraldine gives me. Mrs.
Bryce is a very shrewd person; she is not likely to make mistakes. I
think I shall give Audrey a hint, unless you prefer to do so,
Geraldine.'

'I think it will come better from me, mother; you see, I shall just
retail Edith's words. Audrey is a little difficult to manage sometimes;
she likes to form her own notions of people. There is no time to be lost
if they are coming in to-morrow.'

'I thought your father said it was to-day that they were expected?'

'No; I am positive Percival said to-morrow. I know the old servant and
s