ly moved. Then he put his arm round her very gently and kissed her.
Somehow that silent caress touched Audrey, it was so much more eloquent
than words; and when he did speak, his speech was very grateful to her
ears.

'Your father has been so good to me.'

'Yes, I know. I told you yesterday how good he would be.'

'Ah, but I had a rather bad time of it at first,' he replied, shaking
his head. 'Do you see that chair?' pointing to the high-backed oaken
chair that always occupied the corner by the writing-table. 'Dr. Ross
sat there, and I stood leaning against the mantelpiece, just opposite to
him.'

'Do you mean that father did not ask you to sit down?'

'Oh no; he more than once pressed me to take a seat; but I felt it would
be unbecoming for a culprit not to stand before his judge. I felt such a
culprit, you see. When a man steals another man's dearest possession
without asking his leave, he must regard himself as a sort of traitor.'

Audrey smiled; but as Cyril drew her gently down beside him on the wide
cushioned window-seat, she made a faint protest.

'I think mother will be looking for us,' she said a little shyly.

'But not just now,' he pleaded. 'You will stay with me for a few
minutes, will you not, darling? I could not talk to you before your
mother, and I want to tell you what Dr. Ross said. In spite of my
presumption, he has treated me most generously; but, Audrey,' half
whispering her name, as though it thrilled him to say it, 'he says that
he will not spare you to me for at least two years.'

'Oh no, of course not; I could not leave father and mother for a long,
long time,' returned Audrey, somewhat troubled by this allusion to her
marriage. It was one thing to be engaged and to make Cyril happy, but to
be married was a far more serious consideration. 'If I had been asked, I
should have said at least three years,' she added quickly.

For one instant the young lover felt himself wounded, but his good sense
enabled him to hide this from her.

'You are right, dearest,' he said quietly. 'It would be mere selfishness
for me to wish to take you away from this beautiful home until I have
made one that shall in some degree be fitting for you. You will not
expect a grand one; you know you have linked your lot to a poor man.'

'Of course I know it,' she replied calmly; 'you need not trouble about
that, Cyril. I think I am different from other girls: I have never cared
for wealth or luxury in the least. Wo