ith, and we shall get tea there or at Kew."

"I don't want to interfere with your amusements, but doesn't it strike
you as--er--a little imprudent to go about so much with 'Ted,' as you
call him?"

"No, of course not. He's not going to throw me overboard. It's the most
natural thing in the world that I should go with him."

"Yes--to you, my dear, and I daresay to the young man himself. But if
you are seen together, people are sure to talk."

"Let them. I don't mind in the least--I rather like it."

"_Like_ it?"

"Yes. You must own it's flattering. People here wouldn't take the
trouble to talk if I were nobody. London isn't Oxford."

"No; you may do many things in Oxford which you mayn't do in London. But
times have changed. I can't imagine your dear mother saying she would
'like' to be talked about."

"Please don't speak about mother in that way; you know I never could
bear it. Oh, there's a ring at the front door! That's Ted." She stood
on tiptoe, bending forward, and held her ear to the half-open door.
"No, it isn't; it's some wretched visitor. Don't keep me, Cousin Bella,
or I shall be caught."

"Really, Audrey, now we are on the subject, I must just tell you that
your conduct lately has given me a great deal of anxiety."

"My conduct! What _do_ you mean? I haven't broken any of the seven
commandments. (Thank goodness, they've gone!)"

"I mean that if you don't take care you'll be entangling yourself with
young Mr. Haviland, as you did----"

"As I did with Vincent, I suppose. That _is_ so like you. You're always
thinking things, always putting that and that together, and doing it
quite wrong. You were hopelessly out of it about Vincent. Whether you're
wrong or right about Mr. Haviland, I simply shan't condescend to tell
you." And having lashed herself into a state of indignation, Audrey went
on warmly--"I'm not a child of ten. I won't have my actions criticised.
I won't have my motives spied into. I won't be ruled by your miserable
middle-class, provincial standard. What I do is nobody's business but my
own."

"Very well, very well; go your own way, and take the consequences. If
it's not my business, don't blame me when you get into difficulties."

Audrey turned round with a withering glance.

"Cousin Bella, you are really _too_ stupid!" she said, with a movement
of her foot that was half rage, half sheer excitement. "Ah, there's Ted
at last!" She ran joyously away. Miss Craven sank back in her chai