odcote is my home, and I love every
stone of it; but I could be just as happy in a cottage.'

'If it were like the Gray Cottage, for example?'

'Oh, I have always been fond of the Gray Cottage!' she returned, smiling
at him; and the look of those sweet gray eyes made the young man's
pulses beat faster. 'I should be perfectly satisfied with a home like
that. Why,' as he interrupted her with a rapturous expression of
gratitude, 'did you think I should be hard to please? I am not a fine
lady, like Geraldine!'

'You are the finest lady in the world to me!' was Cyril's answer. It
took all his self-control to sit there, just holding her hand and
listening to her. He felt as though in his joy he could have been guilty
of any extravagance--as though he ought to be kneeling before her, his
lady of delight, pouring out his very soul in a tumultuous, incoherent
stream of words. But it spoke well for his knowledge of Audrey's
character that he restrained himself so utterly: any such passionate
love-making would have disturbed her serenity and destroyed her ease in
his society; her inborn love of freedom, and a certain coyness that was
natural to her, would have revolted against such wooing. Cyril had his
reward for his unselfish forbearance when he saw how quietly she rested
against his arm, how willingly she left her hand in his, as she talked
to him in her frank, guileless way.

'I suppose your mother is pleased about this?' she said presently.

'You would have said so if you had heard us talking last night, until
one o'clock in the morning! You have made more than one person happy,
dear; my mother will be your debtor for life.'

'I wonder she is not a little jealous of me,' returned Audrey. 'She has
had you so long to herself, I should think she would find me a little in
her way.'

'Oh no! she is too grateful to you for making me happy. My darling, it
would cause me utter misery if you and my mother did not get on. I have
been her one thought all these years; it is not right, of course,' as
Audrey's eyes expressed disapproval at this. 'I have had more than my
fair share; but I am only stating facts from her point of view. If you
had refused me--if we had gone away--she would have broken her heart; as
it is, she is ready to worship you for your goodness to me.'

'You must take me to her by and by,' returned Audrey gently; 'but now,
Cyril, indeed we must go to my mother;' and this time he made no
objection.

Mrs. Ross w