home; but,
then, as everyone said, there were few daughters so devoted to their
mother as young Mrs. Harcourt.

Audrey, who was presiding at the tea-table, saw her sister looking at
Mr. Blake with reluctant admiration; she had never before noticed the
quiet ease of his manners. He had lost his first shyness, and was now
making himself exceedingly pleasant to Mrs. Ross's guests. Mr. Cardell,
who was a stiff, solemn-faced young man, was placed at a decided
disadvantage; clever and gentlemanly as he was, he looked positively
awkward beside Mr. Blake. Mr. Blake seemed to see everything--to notice
in a moment if a lady wanted her cup put down, if her tea were not to
her taste; he carried sugar and cream to one, cake or bread and butter
to another. He seemed to know by instinct when the teapot wanted
replenishing, and was ready to lift the heavy kettle; but he never
remained by Audrey's side a moment.

As Audrey busied herself among her teacups she was amused by overhearing
a fragment of conversation behind her. Emily Cardell, a plain,
good-natured sort of girl, had seated herself beside Geraldine.

'Mr. Blake seems a decided acquisition,' she observed, in a loud whisper
that was distinctly audible. 'We ought all to be very much obliged to
Dr. Ross. He is very young, but so distinguished-looking. Poor Oliver is
quite cast in the shade.'

'I don't know about that, Emily.'

'I suppose you think comparisons are odious? But, all the same, I am
sure you must admire Mr. Blake.'

'I think he is very gentlemanly and pleasant.'

'Dear me, Geraldine! that is very moderate praise. I never saw anyone
with more finished manners.'

Here Audrey moved away, but her lip curled a little. Would Geraldine's
tone have been so utterly devoid of enthusiasm if she had not known her
sister was within earshot?

Just then Mollie touched Audrey on the arm.

'Miss Ross, Cyril says that I have been here long enough, and that he is
going to take me away.'

'Are you sure that I worded it quite so ungraciously?' observed Cyril,
who had followed her. 'All the same, I think you will endorse my
opinion, Miss Ross. Mollie has been here all the afternoon.'

'It has been a very pleasant afternoon,' returned Audrey, with one of
her kind looks at Mollie; 'and I hope we shall have many more. Mollie
and I mean to see a good deal of each other.' And then she bade them
good-bye and turned to the other guests, who were also making their
adieux.

Geraldi