ment. I am sure Percival would have called
that bad form.'

'How I do hate that expression!' exclaimed Audrey, rather pettishly. She
thought Geraldine more than usually trying this afternoon.

'Still, I am sure you would have agreed with me that it was most
uncalled for. Mother was quite taken aback for a moment. She told me so
afterwards--did you not, mother?'

'Yes, dear; and, of course, it put me in a difficult position. I am sure
I do not know what we were talking about, Audrey. I think I was saying
something about Rutherford being a sociable little place.'

'Yes; and then she interrupted you, mother, and said, in an abrupt sort
of way, that its sociability would matter very little to her, for,
dearly as she loved gaiety, she could not afford to indulge in it. "So I
hope no kind neighbours will ask me to dinner, or to any kind of evening
entertainment, for I should be obliged to refuse." Now, do you call that
quite in good taste, Audrey?'

'I think that it was, at any rate, very honest. I can see none of that
pretentiousness that Edith Bryce led us to expect.'

'I don't know,' rather doubtfully. 'Mrs. Blake is certainly not a humble
person; she thinks a great deal of herself. At times her manner was
almost patronising. She talks a great deal too much about her son. Of
course she has a right to be proud of him; but it was a pity to be quite
so gushing.'

'It is useless to talk to you, Gage,' returned Audrey impatiently.
'Edith Bryce has prejudiced you too much. You are judging Mrs. Blake
very unfairly.'

'I hope not. I do not wish to be unfair to anyone; but I must own that I
am sorry that you have such an infatuation for her.'

'I don't know about that; but I am certainly very much interested in the
whole family.'

'Yes; and I could not help observing to mother that I thought it a great
pity. They evidently look upon you as a close friend. It was "dear Miss
Ross" every minute from one or other of them.'

'Audrey has been so good to them, you see,' returned Mrs. Ross, whose
soft heart had been much touched by her daughter's praises. 'I am quite
sure, Geraldine, that Mrs. Blake meant every word she said; there were
tears in her eyes once when she mentioned how unused they were to such
kindness. Audrey, my dear, I have asked Mrs. Blake to waive ceremony and
come to us on Monday, and I assure you she was quite pleased. She said
it was such a treat to her to watch tennis, and that she loved to see
her son p