me; I know nothing of mathematics, but
I mean to learn. Why,' went on Kester, with an important air, 'I am so
busy now, working up for Cyril and Captain Burnett, that I can hardly
find time for Mollie's sums and Latin.'

Evidently Kester did not wish to be pitied for his additional labours.

'Poor fellow, how happy he looks!' Audrey said to herself, as she went
on. 'Michael is doing good work there.' But somehow she could not forget
those frayed wristbands all the remainder of the day; there was a button
off his jacket, too--she had noticed the unsightly gap. 'I wish Mrs.
Blake had a little more method,' she thought; 'Mollie and Kester are
certainly rather neglected. How could poor Mollie go to chapel in that
frock?'

Audrey let herself in at the green gate; but this time there was no
Mollie on the threshold. She rang, and Biddy came hobbling out of the
kitchen.

'The mistress is in there,' she said, with a jerk of her head towards
the dining-room, and then she threw open the door. 'Here's Miss Ross,
mistress,' she said unceremoniously.

Biddy was evidently unaccustomed to parlour work. Mollie, who was sewing
in the window beside her mother, threw down her work with a delighted
exclamation, and Zack gave a bark of recognition. Mrs. Blake welcomed
her very cordially.

'My dear Miss Ross,' she said in her soft, pretty voice, 'we thought you
had quite forsaken us; poor Mollie has been as restless as possible. I
cannot tell you how pleased I am to see you again; I was half afraid you
had disappeared altogether, after the fashion of a benevolent brownie.'

'I have so many friends,' began Audrey; but Mrs. Blake interrupted her:

'There, I told you so, Mollie. I said to this foolish child, when she
was bemoaning your absence, "You may take my word for it, Mollie, Miss
Ross has a large circle of friends and acquaintances--it is only to be
expected in her position--and of course we must not monopolise her;
especially as we are new-comers and comparative strangers."'

'Mollie thinks differently--don't you, Mollie? We are quite old friends,
are we not?' and Audrey gave her a kind glance.

How flushed and tired the poor child was looking! but she brightened up
in a moment.

'Of course we are not strangers,' she returned, quite indignantly;
'mamma is only saying that because she wishes you to contradict her. Oh,
Miss Ross,' nestling up to her, 'I have so wanted to see you--I have
looked out for you every day!'

'I co