her features were
small and delicate, and her face had the fine oval that one sees in the
portraits of Mary Queen of Scots; her complexion was pale and somewhat
creamy in tint, and set off the dark hazel eyes and dark smooth coils of
hair to perfection.

The long black dress and widow-like collar and cuffs suited the tall,
graceful figure; and as Audrey noticed the quick changes of expression,
the bright smile, and listened to the smooth, harmonious voice, she
thought that never before had she seen so fascinating a woman.

'Gage will rave about her,' was her mental critique. 'She will say at
once that she has never seen a more lady-like person--"lady-like," that
is Gage's favourite expression. And as to Michael--well, it is never
Michael's way to rave; but he will certainly take a great deal of
pleasure in looking at Mrs. Blake.'

'Will you sit by me, Miss Ross?' asked her hostess in a winning voice;
and Audrey woke up from her abstraction, colouring and smiling.

'I have taken a great liberty with your house,' she said, feeling for
the first time as though some apology were due; for the queenly
beneficence of Mrs. Blake's manner seemed to imply some condescension on
her part in accepting such favours. 'I called to see if you needed any
assistance from a neighbour, and I found poor Mollie looking so tired
and perplexed that I stayed to help her.'

'Mollie does her best,' replied Mrs. Blake gently; 'but she is a sad
manager, and so is Biddy. They nearly worry me to death between them. If
they put a thing straight, it is sure to be crooked again the next
moment.'

'I am sure Mollie works hard enough,' grumbled Kester; but his mother
did not appear to hear him.

'I am a wretched manager myself,' she went on. 'If it were not for
Cyril, I do not know what would become of us. Poor Kester is no use to
anyone. Would you believe it, Miss Ross, that, when we arrived last
night, not a bedstead was up? That was Biddy's fault; she forgot to
remind the men. We all slept on the floor except Kester. Cyril would put
up his bed for him, though I told him that just for once, and on a
summer's night, it would not hurt him.'

Mollie and Kester glanced at each other; and then Kester bit his lip,
and looked down at his plate.

'Oh, mamma,' began Mollie eagerly; but Mrs. Blake gave her a quick,
reproving look.

'Please don't interrupt, Mollie. I want Miss Ross to understand; she
must be quite shocked to see such confusion. Cyril