ays talk as though you were father's
contemporary; it is so absurd, Michael, when everyone else thinks you a
young man!'

'I am a very old young man,' he returned with a whimsical smile; 'I have
aged prematurely, and my wisdom has developed at the same rapid rate.
Amongst my other gifts I have that of second-sight.'

'Indeed!' with incredulous scorn. 'You are not very humble in your own
estimation.'

'My dear, old young men are never humble. Well, my gift of second-sight
has put me up to a thing or two. Do you know,' turning away and
switching the hedgerows carelessly as he spoke, 'I should be very sorry
if any girl in whom I took a deep interest were to be thrown too much
into Mr. Blake's company.'

Audrey faced round on her cousin in extreme surprise.

'You are very incomprehensible to-night, Michael: at one moment you
praise Mr. Blake, and say nice things about him, and the next minute you
are warning people against becoming intimate with him--that is surely
very inconsistent.'

'Oh, there is method in my madness,' he returned quietly. 'I have
nothing to say against the young man himself. As far as I can tell,
there is no harm in him; but he is so young, and is such a devoted son,
that he is likely to be influenced by his mother.'

'And it is on her account that you would dislike any such intimacy? Oh,
Michael,' very sorrowfully, 'I had no idea you would dislike her so!'

'It seems rather unreasonable--such a pretty woman, too. On the whole, I
think I do like talking to her, she is so amusing. But, Audrey, I must
say one thing: you are always talking about her frankness. Now, I do not
agree with you.'

'I don't understand you, Michael. I have never known anyone so
outspoken.'

'Outspoken--yes. Well, I will explain myself. You are frank, Audrey; you
hide nothing, because there is nothing to hide; and if there were, you
would not hide it. Now, Mrs. Blake has her reserves; with all her
impulsiveness, she has thorough self-command, and would never say a word
more than suited her own purposes. It is her pleasure to indulge in a
wild, picturesque sort of talk; it is effective, and pleases people; and
Mrs. Blake, in common with other pretty women, likes to please. There is
no positive harm in it--perhaps not, but it detracts from reality.'

'But, Michael, I like to please people too.'

'Certainly you do. Have I not often called you a little hypocrite for
pretending to like what other people like! How often ha