'Oh, mamma!' protested Mollie; 'I would so much rather stay here with you and Miss Ross, and I don't care about the walk.' 'But if I wish you to go;' and there was a certain inflection in Mrs. Blake's soft voice which evidently obliged poor Mollie to obey. She rose reluctantly, but there were tears of vexation in her eyes. Audrey felt grieved for her favourite, but she was unwilling to interfere; she only took the girl's hand and detained her a moment. 'Mrs. Blake, could you spare Mollie to me to-morrow afternoon? I want to show her our garden--it is looking so lovely just now.' 'You are very kind,' hesitating slightly; 'but are you sure that it will be convenient to Mrs. Ross?' 'My mother has nothing to do with it--Mollie will be my visitor,' returned Audrey quietly; and then she continued diplomatically: 'I know my mother intends to call on you next week, Mrs. Blake; she and my sister were planning it this morning--they are only waiting until you are settled.' Evidently Mrs. Blake was much pleased with this piece of intelligence; she coloured slightly, and her manner became more animated. 'That is very kind; I do so long to see Mrs. Ross: Cyril is charmed with her, and he thinks Mrs. Harcourt wonderfully handsome. Oh yes, I can easily spare Mollie; and her frock and hat will be all ready. Now off with you, child,' with laughing peremptoriness; and Mollie only paused to kiss her friend and whisper that she was quite happy now, as she would have her all to herself the next day. 'Mollie has got to a difficult age,' observed Mrs. Blake, stitching rapidly as she spoke; and Audrey again admired the lovely profile and finely shaped head; 'she is getting a little self-willed and wants her own way. And then she is such a chatterbox; she will hardly let me get in a word. Sometimes I like to have my friends to myself; you can understand that, Miss Ross?' 'Oh yes, that is easily understood,' returned Audrey, who nevertheless missed Mollie. 'I thought I could talk to you more easily without her this afternoon; I wanted to speak to you about your cousin--Captain Burnett is your cousin, is he not?' 'He is my father's cousin.' 'Ah, well, that is much the same. Is he a pale, slight-looking man with a reddish-brown moustache?' 'Certainly that description suits Michael. I think he has such a nice face, Mrs. Blake.' 'I daresay; he is not handsome, but he looks like a soldier. What keen, bright eyes he has! The children have talked about him so much that I was quite curious to see him.' 'It is certain that you have seen him; no one else in Rutherford answers to that description. It is odd how everyone makes that remark about Michael's eyes.' 'Yes, they are a little too searching. I have plenty of courage, but I am disposed to feel afraid of Captain Burnett. What I wanted to say, Miss Ross, is this--that I am truly grateful to your cousin for his kind interest in my poor boy.' 'Do you mean this as a message?'