heir hero.

But the next day Audrey's thoughts were diverted into a different
channel, for Geraldine's boy was born, and great was the family
rejoicing. Dr. Ross himself telegraphed to Michael. Audrey never liked
her brother-in-law so well as on the morning when he came down to
Woodcote to receive their congratulations.

Mrs. Ross was at Hillside, and only Audrey and her father were sitting
at breakfast. Mr. Harcourt looked pale and fagged, but there was
marvellous content in his whole mien. The slight pomposity that had
always jarred on Audrey had wholly vanished, and he wrung her hand with
a warmth of feeling that did him credit.

Once, indeed, she could hardly forbear a smile, when he said, with a
touch of his old solemnity, 'Nurse says that he is the finest child that
she has seen for a long time--and Mrs. Ross perfectly agrees with her;'
but she commanded herself with difficulty.

'I wonder if he is like you or Gage, Percival?'

'It is impossible to say at present--one cannot get to see his eyes, and
he is a little red. Mrs. Lockhart says they are all red at first. But he
is astonishingly heavy--in fact, he is as fine a boy as you could see
anywhere.'

Audrey went on with her breakfast. It was so inexpressibly droll to see
Percival in the character of the proud father, but Dr. Ross seemed
perfectly to understand his son-in-law. Audrey's pleasure was a little
damped when she found that she must not see Geraldine. She went about
with her head in the air, calling herself an aggrieved aunt; and she
pretended to be jealous of her mother, who had taken up her residence at
Hillside during the first week.

But when the day came for Audrey to be admitted to that quiet room, and
she saw Geraldine looking lovelier than ever in her weakness, with a
dark, downy head nestled against her arm, a great rush of tenderness
filled her heart, and she felt as though she had never loved her sister
so dearly.

'Will you take him, Aunt Audrey?' and Geraldine smiled at her.

'No, no! do not move him--let me see mother and son together for a
moment. Oh, you two darlings, how comfortable you look!' but Audrey's
tone was a trifle husky, and then she gave a little laugh: 'Actually,
boy is a week old to-day, and this is the first time I have been allowed
to see my nephew.'

'It did seem hard,' returned Geraldine, taking her hand; 'but mother and
nurse were such tyrants--and Percival was just as bad; we were not
allowed to have a wil