I was rather hard on you.'

'You certainly made me very wretched.'

'Yes, I felt I was very cruel; but one cannot measure one's words at
such a moment. I felt as though my children and I were being driven out
of our paradise.'

'And you thought it was my fault?' but Audrey blushed a little as she
asked the question.

'Oh, hush!' and Mrs. Blake glanced at her son with pretended alarm; 'do
you know that in spite of all I had done for him, that ungrateful boy
actually presumed to lecture me. He would have it that I had been cruel
to you, and that no one but a woman would have taken such a mean
advantage; but all the time he looked so happy that I forgave him.
"All's well that ends well." That is what I told him.'

Cyril shook his head. Even in his happiness he had been unable to
refrain from uttering his disapproval of his mother's tactics. His
nature was almost as simple and transparent as Audrey's. It hurt him to
remember how his mother had appealed to this girl's sense of compassion.

'Do not let us talk any more of it,' he said quickly. 'I think Audrey
has a great deal to forgive; but you and I, mother, know her
generosity.'

And the look that accompanied these words left Audrey silent for a
moment.

'Where is Mollie?' she exclaimed presently, when, after a little more
conversation, Mrs. Blake insisted that she must have just one cup of
tea. In vain Audrey protested that they had had tea already at Woodcote,
that in another hour or so they would have to dine. Mrs. Blake could not
be induced to let them off.

'Where is Mollie?' she continued; 'may I go and look for her, Mrs.
Blake?'

But before Mrs. Blake could answer, Audrey had exchanged a glance with
Cyril and disappeared.

She found Mollie in the dining-room; she was pacing up and down the room
with a small black kitten in her arms, but the moment Audrey appeared
the kitten was discarded, and flung upon four trembling, sprawling legs,
and Mollie sprang towards her, almost overwhelming her with her girlish
vehemence.

'Oh, Miss Ross, my dear Miss Ross! is it really true? Cyril said so this
morning, but I could not believe him; I must hear it from your own
lips.'

'Do you mean, is it true that I hope one day to become your sister? Of
course it is true, dear Mollie.'

'Oh, I am so glad! I am more than glad; I have been crying with joy half
the day. But is he good enough for you, Miss Ross?' gazing at her idol
with intense anxiety. 'I am very fond o