124

LOVER OR FRIEND?

claim acquaintance with a large circle. She was soon busily questioning him in her turn. Had he seen that pretty little Mrs. Maddox? and was the baby christened? and who was the second godfather? and so on, until the gong warned them to disperse.

The conversation at dinner ran on the same topics, but just before they rose from the table Mrs. Ross asked Michael if he did not admire Mrs. Blake.

66

66

Very much indeed," he returned, without a moment's hesitation. She has three very excellent points for a woman: she is pretty, lively, and amusing. I had quite a long talk with her." And then he changed the subject-whether intentionally or unintentionally Audrey could not tell-and began telling them about a picture one of his friends was painting for the next Exhibition.

Michael was very much engaged the next few days. He had told Kester to come to him every morning that week, to make up for the lessons he had lost, and as a succession of garden-parties occupied Audrey's afternoons, she did not find time for one of those confidential chats with Michael which they both so much enjoyed. When Thursday came Michael escorted her to the Charringtons' garden-party. Mrs. Ross and her husband were to come later.

Audrey was among the tennis-players, but, as she passed to and fro with her various partners, she saw Michael more than once talking to Mrs. Blake. The first time he gave her a nod and a smile, but when she passed them again he seemed too much engrossed with Mrs. Blake's lively conversation to notice her.

Audrey had just finished her second game with Mr. Blake, and he was taking her to the house in search of refreshment. As Audrey eat her strawberries, she wondered a little over Michael's abstraction.

"He certainly seems to admire her," she said to herself. Michael and she were to dine at Hillside that evening, and as they walked home together in the summer moonlight, Audrey bethought herself at last of asking that question.

Michael, I want you to tell me what you think of Mrs. Blake. I am quite sure you like her very much indeed.?'

"You are wrong, then. I wonder what put such a notion in your head-because I was talking to her so much this afternoon? That was more her fault than mine. No, Audrey; I am sorry to say it, but I do not like Mrs. Blake at all.'

"Michael!" and Audrey stood still in the road. This was a shock indeed. She was prepared for criticism: Michael always criticised her friends; he felt it a part of his duty; but

this utter disapprobation was so unexpected; it was crushing -absolutely crushing! Michael, too, whose opinion she trusted so entirely. "Oh, I hope you don't mean it-that you are only joking," she said, so earnestly that he felt a little sorry for his abruptness; but it was too late to retract; besides, Michael nerer retracted.

66

'I am sorry you asked me the question; but I am bound to tell you the truth, you know.

66

66

And is it really the truth?" he asked a little piteously. "And it is very soon for you to have made up your mind that you do not like her; why, you have only spoken to her twice." Yes; but I have had plenty of time to form my opinion of her. Look here, Audrey, you must not be vexed with me. I would not have found fault with your fair friend if you had not asked my opinion. Of course I admire her; one has seldom seen a prettier woman, and her style is so uncommon, too.'

"Don't, Michael; you will be praising her hair and complexion next, as Gertrude Fortescue did the other afternoon. It is the woman, Mrs. Blake herself, I want you to like."

66

Ah, just so!"

"And now I am so disappointed. Somehow I never enjoy my friends quite so much if you do not care for them. I thought we always liked the same people, but now—” Here Audrey stopped. She felt vexed and mortified; she did want Michael to share her interest in the Blakes.

66

And now you will look on me as a broken reed; but, after all, I am not so bad. 1 like Kester-he is a fine fellow; and I like your little friend Mollie-she is true as steel; and," after a moment's pause, 66 I like Mr. Blake."

66

66

Are you quite sure of that, Michael?"

Yes, I'm quite sure of it. If I know anything of human nature, Mr. Blake is worthy of my esteem: as far as any man is good, he is good. And then he has such splendid capabilities."

Audrey felt vaguely that this was generous on Michael's part; and yet she could not have told herself why it was generous. If she had an idea of the truth! But as yet she was only dimly conscious of the nobility of Michael's nature.

"Mr. Blake is clever," he continued, "but he does not think much of himself; it is rare to find such modesty in a young man of the present day. Still, he is very young; one can hardly tell what he may become.

a

"Father says he is three-and-twenty, Michael."

66

Still, Audrey, a man's character is not always fully developed at three-and-twenty; at that age I was a conceited

cub.

I am seven-and-thirty now, and I feel my opinions are as settled as Doctor Ross's are."

66

"I wish you would not always talk as though you were father's contemporary; it is so absurd, Michael, when every one else thinks you a young man!"

66

"I am a very old young man," he returned with a whimsical smile; "I have aged prematurely, and my wisdom has developed at the same rapid rate. Among my other gifts I have that of second-sight."

66

Indeed!" with incredulous scorn. "You are not very humble in your own estimation.

66

My dear, old young men are never humble. Well, my gift of second-sight has put me up to a thing or two. Do you know," turning away and switching the hedge-rows carelessly as he spoke, "I should be very sorry if any girl in whom I took a deep interest were to be thrown too much into Mr. Blake's company.

Audrey faced round on her cousin in extreme surprise.

"You are very incomprehensible to-night, Michael; at one moment you praise Mr. Blake, and say nice things about him, and the next minute you are warning people against becoming intimate with him-that is surely very inconsistent."

66

"Oh, there is method in my madness," he returned, quietly. "I have nothing to say against the young man himself. As far as I can tell, there is no harm in him; but he is so young, and is such a devoted son, that he is likely to be influenced by his mother."

66

66

And it is on her account that you would dislike any such intimacy? Oh, Michael," very sorrowfully, "I had no idea you would dislike her so!"

"It seems rather unreasonable-such a pretty woman, too. On the whole, I think I do like talking to her, she is so amusing. But, Audrey, I must say one thing; you are always talking about her frankness. Now, I do not agree with you. *I don't understand you, Michael. I have never known

any one so outspoken.'

66

Outspoken-yes. Well, I will explain myself. You are frank, Audrey; you hide nothing, because there is nothing to hide; and if there were, you would not hide it. Now, Mrs. Blake has her reserves; with all her impulsiveness, she has thorough self-command, and would never say a word more than suited her own purposes. It is her pleasure to indulge in a wild, picturesque sort of talk; it is effective, and pleases people; and Mrs. Blake, in common with other pretty women,

likes to please. There is no positive harm in it-perhaps not, but it detracts from reality.

"But, Michael, I like to please people too."

"Certainly you do. Have I not often called you a little hypocrite for pretending to like what other people like? How often have we fallen out on that point! But you and Mrs. Blake are very different people, my dear; with all your faults, your friends would not wish to see you changed.

But the dark shade of the shrubbery walk they were just entering hid the strangely tender look that was in Michael's eyes as he said the last words.

CHAPTER XV.

MRS. BLAKE HAS HER NEW GOWN.

Thou art a girl of noble nature's crowning:
A smile of thine is like an act of grace;
Thou hast no noisome looks, no pretty frowning,
Like daily beauties of a vulgar race.

When thou dost smile, a light is on thy face,
A clear, cool kindliness, a lunar beam

Of peaceful radiance, silvering o'er the stream
Of human thought with beauteous glory,
Not quite a waking truth, nor quite a dream:
A visitation-bright though transitory.

HARTLEY COLERIDGE.

AUDREY was much disappointed by the result of her conversation with her cousin. It was true that Michael had tried to efface the severity of his own words by remarking that a third interview might somewhat alter his opinion of the fascinating widow-that he might even grow to like her in time. Audrey knew better. Michael had a certain genius of intuition; he made up his mind about people at once, and she had never known him to reverse his decision. As far as regarded the younger members of the Blake family, they would still be able to work happily together. Michael was certainly much interested in Kester; he had adopted him in the same manner as she had adopted Mollie. It was a comfort also that he approved of Mr. Blake. Michael had spoken of him with decided approval, and without any stint or limit of praise; nevertheless, she was well aware that Michael would willingly have restricted their intimacy, and that he saw with some reluctance her father's growing partiality for the young master. Audrey had only spoken the simple truth when she owned that Michael's approval was necessary to her perfect enjoy. ment of her friend. She might still maintain her own opin

ions of Mrs. Blake. Nevertheless, the first fine flavor of her pleasure had been destroyed by Michael's severe criticism; delicate bloom had been impaired. She would hold fast to h new friend; she would even be kinder to her, as though to make up for other people's hard speeches; but much of her enthusiasm must be locked in her own breast.

"What is the use of talking on a subject on which we should only disagree?" she said to him a week or two afterward, when he had rebuked her playfully for not telling him something. "It was only a trifling matter connected with Mrs. Blake.'

66

And when he heard that, Michael held his peace.

He had been thrown constantly into Mrs. Blake's company since their first meeting, but as yet he had not seen fit to change his opinions.

But in spite of this little rift in their perfect harmony, Audrey thoroughly enjoyed the next month; she was almost sorry that the vacation was so near. It had been a very gay month. Relays of visitors-distant relations or mere friends--had been invited to Woodcote and Hillside. Mrs. Ross's garden-party had rivaled Mrs. Charrington's, and there had been a succession of picnics, driving-parties, and small select dinners at all the Hill houses. But in spite of her many engagements-her afternoons on the cricket-field, the tennis tournament, in which she and Cyril Blake won, and various other gayetiesAudrey had not neglected Mollie. Twice a week she devoted an hour and a half to her pupil. When the music-lesson was over, Audrey would read French with her or correct her exercises. She was a very conscientious mistress, and would not allow Mollie to waste any of her time in idle gossip. When she was putting away her books, Mollie's voluble tongue would make amends for the enforced silence.

"Oh, Miss Ross," she exclaimed one day, "do you know, Cyril has given mamma such a beautiful present! You will never guess what it is!"

Audrey prudently refrained from any guesses; besides, she was still correcting Mollie's translation.

66

It is a black silk dress-a real beauty, as mamma says. She has borrowed Miss Marshall's last copy of the Queen,' and she means to make it up herself. Mamma is so clever! It is to have a long train; at least, a moderately long train, and an open bodice-open in front, you know-with tulle folds. Oh, I forget exactly; but mamma explained it to me so nicely.