CONTENTS
| CHAP. | PAGE | |
| 1. | The Blake Family are discussed | [1] |
| 2. | Audrey introduces Herself | [9] |
| 3. | The Blake Family at Home | [18] |
| 4. | Michael | [28] |
| 5. | The New Master | [36] |
| 6. | The Gray Cottage | [47] |
| 7. | Kester's Hero | [56] |
| 8. | 'I hope Better Things of Audrey' | [67] |
| 9. | Mat | [78] |
| 10. | Priscilla Baxter | [88] |
| 11. | 'A Girl after my own Heart' | [97] |
| 12. | Mollie goes to Deep-Water Chine | [107] |
| 13. | Geraldine gives her Opinion | [117] |
| 14. | 'I am sorry You asked the Question' | [126] |
| 15. | Mrs. Blake has her New Gown | [137] |
| 16. | Mollie lets the Cat out of the Bag | [146] |
| 17. | Among the Brail Lanes | [155] |
| 18. | On a Scotch Moor | [165] |
| 19. | Yellow Stockings on the Tapis | [174] |
| 20. | 'The Little Rift' | [183] |
| 21. | 'He is very Brave' | [192] |
| 22. | 'No, You have not spared Me' | [202] |
| 23. | 'Daddy, I want to speak to You' | [210] |
| 24. | 'I felt such a Culprit, You see' | [222] |
| 25. | Mr. Harcourt speaks his Mind | [232] |
| 26. | How Geraldine took it to Heart | [242] |
| 27. | What Michael thought of it | [252] |
| 28. | Michael turns over a New Leaf | [261] |
| 29. | Two Family Events | [269] |
| 30. | 'I could not stand it any longer, Tom' | [278] |
| 31. | 'Will You call the Guard?' | [286] |
| 32. | 'I did not love Him' | [295] |
| 33. | 'Shall You tell Him to-night?' | [305] |
| 34. | 'I must think of my Child, Mike' | [313] |
| 35. | 'Olive will acknowledge Anything' | [323] |
| 36. | 'How can I bear it?' | [332] |
| 37. | 'I shall never be Free' | [341] |
| 38. | 'Who will comfort Him?' | [351] |
| 39. | 'You will live it down' | [360] |
| 40. | Michael accepts his Charge | [368] |
| 41. | 'There shall be Peace between Us' | [378] |
| 42. | 'Will You shake Hands with your Father?' | [389] |
| 43. | Michael's Letter | [399] |
| 44. | Mollie goes into Exile | [409] |
| 45. | Audrey receives a Telegram | [418] |
| 46. | 'Inasmuch' | [426] |
| 47. | A Strange Expiation | [435] |
| 48. | On Michael's Bench | [445] |
| 49. | 'Let your Heart plead for Me' | [456] |
| 50. | Booty's Master | [464] |
| 51. | 'Love's Aftermath' | [472] |
LOVER OR FRIEND?
CHAPTER I
THE BLAKE FAMILY ARE DISCUSSED
'There is nothing, sir, too little for so little a creature as man. It is by studying little things that we attain the great art of having as little misery and as much happiness as possible.'—Dr. Johnson.
Everyone in Rutherford knew that Mrs. Ross was ruled by her eldest daughter; it was an acknowledged fact, obvious not only to a keen-witted person like Mrs. Charrington, the head-master's wife, but even to the minor intelligence of Johnnie Deans, the youngest boy at Woodcote. It was not that Mrs. Ross was a feeble-minded woman; in her own way she was sensible, clear-sighted, with plenty of common-sense; but she was a little disposed to lean on a stronger nature, and even when Geraldine was in the schoolroom, her energy and youthful vigour began to assert themselves, her opinions insensibly influenced her mother's, until at last they swayed her entirely.
If this were the case when Geraldine was a mere girl, it was certainly not altered when the crowning glories of matronhood were added to her other perfections. Six months ago Geraldine Ross had left her father's house to become the wife of Mr. Harcourt, of Hillside; and in becoming the mistress of one of the coveted Hill houses, Geraldine had not yet consented to lay down the sceptre of her home rule.