s. How often have you
heard me say the same thing, Cyril! That is why I took such a dislike to
Headingly--the people there were so terribly exclusive and purse-proud.'

'Not purse-proud, mother. You are wrong there.'

'Well, they were very stiff and inhospitable; there was no getting on
with them at all. I think the Bryces were the worst. Mrs. Bryce is the
proudest woman I know.'

'Mother,' observed Cyril warningly, 'it is never safe to mention names.
I think--that is, I am sure I have heard that Mrs. Bryce is a connection
of Miss Ross.'

'Oh, I hope not!' in an alarmed voice. 'Do--do forgive me my very plain
speaking.'

'There is no harm done,' returned Audrey lightly. 'Mrs. Bryce is only a
connection of my sister's by marriage. She is Mr. Harcourt's sister. I
am afraid I sympathise with you there. I have no special liking for Mrs.
Bryce myself; she is clever, an excellent manager, but she is a little
too proper--too fond of laying down the law for my taste.'

'Oh, I am so glad!' clapping her hands. 'Cyril is always keeping me in
order; he is so afraid what I may say next.'

'You certainly are a most incautious person, mother.'

'See how my children keep me in order,' with an air of much humility.
'Mrs. Harcourt is your sister, and lives at Rutherford. I do hope she is
like you, Miss Ross.'

'No, indeed,' shaking her head and laughing. 'We are very different
persons. Geraldine is far better than I am. She is exceedingly clever,
most accomplished, and so handsome that everyone falls in love with her
at first sight. She is quite a little queen here, and no one disputes
her sway.'

Mrs. Blake gave an eloquent shrug, but she did not venture on a more
direct answer; and Audrey sat and smiled to herself as she thought that
Geraldine and Edith Bryce were certainly pattern women.

How pleasant it all was! Audrey had never enjoyed herself more; she was
making herself quite at home with these Blakes. But surely there was no
need to hurry home; Gage was with her mother. She might indulge herself
a little longer. She longed to talk more to Kester and Mollie, but she
found it impossible to draw them into the conversation. They sat quite
silent, only every now and then Audrey's quick eyes saw an intelligent
look flash between them--a sort of telegraphic communication.

'I hope those two poor children are not left out in the cold,' she
thought uneasily. 'Their brother does not seem to notice them; he and
his mother are