t the Cottage and drove on to Woodcote. His day's
work had been somewhat arduous, and he felt fagged and weary. It was
long past tea-time, he knew, but he wondered if he could ask Crauford to
bring him some. Michael's long years of ill-health made him depend on
this feminine panacea for all ills more than most men. That Michael
hated to miss his tea was a well-known fact in the Ross household.

Another time Audrey would have cared for his comforts, he thought, as he
dragged himself up the stairs in a spiritless manner. Tired Nature was
avenging herself in her usual fashion, and Michael's head and limbs were
aching. Perhaps something else ached too.

But his mood changed when he entered his room. After all, he had not
been forgotten. A cheery little fire burnt and spluttered as though
newly lighted, and a tiny kettle sang merrily on its trivet; the
tea-tray was on the table, and, as Michael regarded these preparations
with an expression of satisfaction, he heard Audrey's well-known knock
at the door.

'Shall I make your tea, Michael,' she asked, 'or would you rather be
alone? Gage and Percival are downstairs, and, as I was sure you would
be tired, I told Crauford to bring up the kettle. Shall I stay or not?'
she continued, a little surprised by his silence.

'Stay, by all means!' was his only reply, as he threw himself into his
easy-chair.

He would have thanked her--and she evidently expected to be thanked--but
he was afraid he should say too much. She had thought of him and his
comfort in her own unhappiness, though her face was still pale with her
inward trouble.

'You have had a trying day,' she continued, as she knelt down on the rug
a moment to coax the fire to burn more brightly; 'and of course it has
taken it out of you. I was quite sure that you would not be in the mood
for Gage and Percival. Percival is very kind, but somehow he is not
restful; he is so very bracing.' And she sighed as though she had found
him so.

'People are not always in a condition for a tonic, are they, Audrey?'

'No,' she replied quietly; 'and then it is no use forcing it on them.
But I must not be hard on Percival; he was very kind, only somehow his
conversation was a little too bracing. He and Gage were full of plans;
they meant it all for my good: but it was a little tiring.'

'Poor child!' and Michael's sympathising tone was very healing.

'But we will not talk about my silly self,' rousing herself; 'there is
something els