.
Blake. From the first moment I have distrusted her, and I know Percival
feels the same.'

'But, Gage, do be reasonable. I am going to marry Cyril, not Mrs.
Blake!'

'When a woman marries she enters her husband's family,' returned
Geraldine in her old decided manner; 'you will belong to them, not to
us--at least,' correcting herself, as the thought of her daily visits to
Woodcote occurred to her, 'you will have to share your husband's
interests and responsibilities with regard to his family. You cannot
divide yourself from him without failing in your wifely duty.'

'I am quite of your opinion,' returned Audrey happily; 'Cyril's mother
and Kester and Mollie will be very dear to me. I never dreamt for one
moment of separating my interests from his.'

'If I thought you really loved him----' observed Geraldine, but here she
stopped, warned by an indignant flash in Audrey's gray eyes.

'You might have spared me that, Gage,' she said, rather sadly; 'I think
I have had enough to bear already from you and Percival. You have done
your best to depress and dishearten me; you have not even wished me
happiness.' Then Geraldine burst into tears.

'I don't want to be unkind,' she sobbed, in such distress that Audrey
repented her quick words; 'but you must give me time to get over this.
It is the first real trouble I have ever had.' And then, as Audrey
kissed her and coaxed her, she allowed herself to be somewhat consoled.

'You know you must think of yourself, Gage; you must not make yourself
ill about me. I am not worth it.' Then Geraldine did summon up a smile.

'And you will be good to Cyril? The poor fellow could not help falling
in love with me, you know.'

'Of course we shall behave properly to him,' returned Geraldine, drawing
herself up a little stiffly; 'you must not expect us to receive him with
open arms. Mr. Blake must know how entirely we disapprove of the
engagement; but, of course, as my father has given his consent, we have
no right to make ourselves disagreeable. You must give me a little time,
Audrey, just to recover myself, and then he shall be asked to dinner.'

'I hope you will not ask me at the same time!' exclaimed Audrey in
genuine alarm; and Geraldine looked rather shocked.

'Of course you must come with him! that is understood. You will be asked
everywhere if--if----' looking at her suggestively, 'you mean your
engagement to be known.'

'Most certainly! I object very strongly to secrecy under a