ng Blake played superbly.

'You would have won every game this afternoon if you had had a better
partner,' observed Audrey, as she and Cyril walked across the lawn. She
had been playing with him the greater part of the afternoon, and had
been much struck with his quiet and finished style. 'My brother-in-law
has always been considered our champion player, but you certainly excel
him.'

'I have had a great deal of practice,' returned Cyril modestly. 'I think
you are wrong about our respective powers. Mr. Harcourt plays
exceedingly well; being so much younger, I am a little more agile--that
is all.'

'Yes; and you would have beaten him this last game, but for me. I have
played worse than usual this afternoon.'

'You must not expect me to endorse that opinion, Miss Ross. I have never
seen any lady play half so well. You took that last ball splendidly. Now
we have exchanged these mutual compliments, may I ask you to show me the
lake? Kester gave a tremendous description of it when he came home
to-day. Captain Burnett put him in the punt, and he seems to have had a
grand time altogether.'

'Oh, I heard all about it at luncheon.'

'It is good of your cousin to take all this trouble,' went on Cyril in a
lower voice, as they walked down one of the terraces. 'I was quite taken
aback when he spoke to me yesterday. I thought he could not be in
earnest. You know he asked me to go up to his private room after
luncheon, and we had a long talk until it was time to go to chapel.'

'Will it be possible for your brother to come here two or three times a
week, Mr. Blake?'

'Oh yes; he can manage that short distance--at least, when he is pretty
well; and the change will be so good for him. It is quite a load off my
mind to know he will learn mathematics as well as Greek and Latin. You
have no idea, Miss Ross, how clever that boy is. If he had only my
opportunities, he would beat me hollow in no time. I tell my mother so,
but she will not believe it; but she thinks with me that it is awfully
good of your cousin to interest himself in Kester.'

'It will be a godsend to Michael,' returned Audrey. 'You see, my
cousin's health is so bad that he cannot employ himself, and he is
debarred from so much enjoyment. He helps my father a good deal with the
boys when he is here, but sometimes the noise is too much for him. It
will suit him far better to study quietly with your brother. Of course,
he meant to be kind--he is always doing good to