ng to a hostess. She is so very big, Audrey, and
seems to take up so much more room than other people; and, then, she is
such a talker!'

'So she is, mother. I don't wonder poor Mrs. Charrington found herself
unable to talk to Gage.'

'No; so we did not stay long. What was the use? Well, my dear, I daresay
you wonder how we got on at the Gray Cottage? We had a very pleasant
visit, on the whole--an exceedingly pleasant visit.'

Audrey's face brightened; this was better than she expected.

'Mrs. Blake was in. I think, from her manner, that she was expecting
us.'

'Yes; certainly we were expected,' put in Geraldine, in rather a decided
voice.

'She was in the drawing-room, and everything was as nice as possible;
and the old servant is very respectable-looking. Mrs. Blake was doing
some lovely embroidery in a frame. How exquisitely she works, Audrey!
and she selects her own shades, too. That dear little Mollie was reading
to her--French history, I think. They did look so comfortable! You are
certainly right, my dear: Mrs. Blake is a most charming woman; she has
very taking manners, and is altogether so bright and expressive.'

'She is certainly very handsome,' observed Geraldine--'a most
striking-looking person, as Edith says. Mother and I agreed that her son
is very like her; but, for my own part, I prefer Mr. Blake's quiet
manners.'

'But you like her, Gage?' and Audrey looked a little anxiously at her
sister.

'I am not quite sure,' was the cautious answer. 'Mother liked her; but,
then, mother likes everyone. She was friendly and pleasant--pointedly
so; but, in my opinion, she is too impulsive, too outspoken altogether.
It is not quite good form. A grown-up person should have more reticence.
To me, Mrs. Blake is wanting in dignity.'

'I think you are rather severe on her, Gage. You and Mrs. Blake are very
different people.'

'You need not tell me that. Mrs. Blake and I are at the antipodes as far
as temperament and sympathy are concerned. You are very impulsive
yourself, Audrey, and often speak without thought; but I do not think
you are quite so outspoken as Mrs. Blake.'

'Well, perhaps not.'

'It was so unnecessary for her to tell mother, for example, that she was
too poor to indulge her social tastes, and that she hoped her Rutherford
neighbours would be very sparing of their invitations. It was not as
though we had led up to it. Nothing of the sort had been said to prompt
such an extraordinary state