they are only waiting until you
are settled.'

Evidently Mrs. Blake was much pleased with this piece of intelligence;
she coloured slightly, and her manner became more animated.

'That is very kind; I do so long to see Mrs. Ross: Cyril is charmed with
her, and he thinks Mrs. Harcourt wonderfully handsome. Oh yes, I can
easily spare Mollie; and her frock and hat will be all ready. Now off
with you, child,' with laughing peremptoriness; and Mollie only paused
to kiss her friend and whisper that she was quite happy now, as she
would have her all to herself the next day.

'Mollie has got to a difficult age,' observed Mrs. Blake, stitching
rapidly as she spoke; and Audrey again admired the lovely profile and
finely shaped head; 'she is getting a little self-willed and wants her
own way. And then she is such a chatterbox; she will hardly let me get
in a word. Sometimes I like to have my friends to myself; you can
understand that, Miss Ross?'

'Oh yes, that is easily understood,' returned Audrey, who nevertheless
missed Mollie.

'I thought I could talk to you more easily without her this afternoon; I
wanted to speak to you about your cousin--Captain Burnett is your
cousin, is he not?'

'He is my father's cousin.'

'Ah, well, that is much the same. Is he a pale, slight-looking man with
a reddish-brown moustache?'

'Certainly that description suits Michael. I think he has such a nice
face, Mrs. Blake.'

'I daresay; he is not handsome, but he looks like a soldier. What keen,
bright eyes he has! The children have talked about him so much that I
was quite curious to see him.'

'It is certain that you have seen him; no one else in Rutherford answers
to that description. It is odd how everyone makes that remark about
Michael's eyes.'

'Yes, they are a little too searching. I have plenty of courage, but I
am disposed to feel afraid of Captain Burnett. What I wanted to say,
Miss Ross, is this--that I am truly grateful to your cousin for his kind
interest in my poor boy.'

'Do you mean this as a message?'

'That is just as you think proper; but in my opinion he ought to know
how much Kester's mother appreciates his kindness. When I first heard of
the plan, I will confess to you honestly, Miss Ross, I was a little bit
alarmed. Kester did not explain things properly--he would have it that
Captain Burnett meant to give him lessons here, and I told Cyril that
would never do. Cyril was a trifle bothered about it himself, un