g on a subject on which we should only
disagree?' she said to him a week or two afterwards, when he had rebuked
her playfully for not telling him something. 'It was only a trifling
matter connected with Mrs. Blake.'

And when he heard that, Michael held his peace. He had been thrown
constantly into Mrs. Blake's company since their first meeting, but as
yet he had not seen fit to change his opinions.

But in spite of this little rift in her perfect harmony, Audrey
thoroughly enjoyed the next month; she was almost sorry that the
vacation was so near. It had been a very gay month. Relays of
visitors--distant relations or mere friends--had been invited to
Woodcote and Hillside. Mrs. Ross's garden-party had rivalled Mrs.
Charrington's, and there had been a succession of picnics, driving
parties, and small select dinners at all the Hill houses. But in spite
of her many engagements--her afternoons on the cricket-field, the tennis
tournament, in which she and Cyril Blake won, and various other
gaieties--Audrey had not neglected Mollie. Twice a week she devoted an
hour and a half to her pupil. When the music-lesson was over, Audrey
would read French with her or correct her exercises. She was a very
conscientious mistress, and would not allow Mollie to waste any of her
time in idle gossip. When she was putting away her books, Mollie's
voluble tongue would make amends for the enforced silence.

'Oh, Miss Ross,' she exclaimed one day, 'do you know, Cyril has given
mamma such a beautiful present! You will never guess what it is!'

Audrey prudently refrained from any guesses; besides, she was still
correcting Mollie's translation.

'It is a black silk dress--a real beauty, as mamma says. She has
borrowed Miss Marshall's last copy of the Queen, and she means to make
it up herself. Mamma is so clever! It is to have a long train; at least,
a moderately long train, and an open bodice--open in front, you
know--with tulle folds. Oh, I forget exactly; but mamma explained it to
me so nicely!'

'It was very kind of your brother,' observed Audrey gravely.

For once Mollie was not checked.

'Yes; isn't he a darling for thinking of it? He went to Attenborough
himself and chose it, and mamma thought he was on the cricket-field all
the time. He got her a pair of long gloves, too. Cyril always thinks of
everything. Mamma cried when she opened the parcel, she was so pleased;
and then Cyril laughed at her. The worst of it is'--and here Molli