nner-party or a
succession of dinner-parties? You know they are perpetual in Rutherford;
every house invites every other house to dinner. In Rutherford we are
terribly given to dining out.'

'Oh, I see; and relays of gowns would be required,' returned Cyril in a
dejected voice. 'I am afraid I must give it up, then. My mother would
certainly not be able to afford that for the present.'

'But when one wears black, a change of dress is not so necessary,'
interrupted Audrey eagerly. 'If I were poor, I should not allow poverty
to debar me from the society of my fellow-creatures, just because I
could not make as great a display as other people. No, indeed; I would
not be the slave of my clothes.'

'I can believe that,' with an admiring glance.

'I would have one good black dress--and it should be as nice as my means
would allow--and I would wear it everywhere, and I would not care a bit
if people looked as though they recognised it. "You are noticing my
gown!" I would say to them. "Yes, it is an old friend. Old friends are
better than new, and I mean to cling to mine. By and by, when I am a
little richer, I will buy another."'

'Miss Ross, if my mother could but hear you!'

'Tell her what I say, and bid her do the same. Black suits her so
perfectly, too.'

'Oh, she never means to wear anything else but black,' he returned
gravely.

'Let her get a soft silk--a Surah, for example--and if it be made
prettily and in the newest fashion, it will look well for a long time.
Yes'--reflectively--'Mrs. Blake would look well in Surah.'

'Would she? Do you mind telling me how to spell it?' and Cyril produced
his pocket-book.

'S-u-r-a-h.'

'Thank you a thousand times, Miss Ross! And about the cost--would five
pounds do?' looking at her anxiously.

'Oh yes, I should say that would do,' replied Audrey, who in reality
knew very little about it.

Mr. Blake would have done better to have consulted Geraldine, she
thought. Geraldine would have told him the price to a fraction of a
shilling; she would have directed him to the best shop for making an
excellent bargain. Geraldine had a genius for these practical things,
whereas she--Audrey--was liable to make mistakes.

'I am sure five pounds will do,' she repeated, by way of encouragement;
and again Cyril thanked her fervently.

There was no more opportunity for carrying on this interesting
discussion, for the others were now standing quite still in the
shrubbery walk, waiting