Oh, you know. All the sort of stuff that you know. Tidal waves and
things.'

'But Captain King won't have anything more to do with tidal waves.'

'Then we'll go round the shops to-morrow, Nan; and you'll tell me about
Chippendale furniture and blue china.'

'Don't you think there will be enough of that at Kingscourt; and just
such things as you couldn't get to buy in any shops?'

'Then what am I to do, Nan?'

'You can try to be a good wife, dear; and that's better than anything.'

Madge rose.

'I'll let you off, Nan. But I do feel terribly selfish. I haven't
said a single word about you----'

'Oh, but I don't want anything said about me,' said Nan, almost in
alarm.

'Well, you know, Nan, everybody says this: that a clergyman's wife has
more opportunities of doing good than any other woman; for, you see,
they are in the middle of it all, and they can interfere as no one else
can, and it is expected of them, and the poor people don't object to
them as they might to others.'

'Oh, I think that is quite true,' said Nan, thoughtfully--perhaps with
a slight sigh. 'Yes, I have often thought of that.'

'And you know, dear, that was what Providence meant you to be,' said
Madge, with a friendly smile. 'That is just what you were made for--to
be kind to other people. Good-night, old Mother Nan!'

'Good-night, dear.'

They kissed each other; and Madge turned off the gas and left.
Presently, however, Madge returned, opened the door, and came in on
tiptoe.

'Nan, you are not asleep yet?'

'Of course not.'

'I wanted to ask you, Nan; do you think he would like me to work a pair
of slippers for him?'

'No doubt he would,' was the quiet answer.

'For I was thinking it would be so nice if you would come with me
to-morrow and help me to choose the materials; and then, you see, Nan,
you might sketch me some design, out of your own head, for you are so
clever at those things, and that would be better than a shop pattern.
And then,' added Madge, 'I should tell him it was your design.'

Nan paused for a second.

'I will do whatever you want, Madge--but you must not say that I made
the design for you. It won't be worth much at the best. I would
rather have nothing said about it, dear.'

'Very well, Nan; that's just like you.'

CHAPTER XVIII.

A WHITE WORLD.

Next morning it still snowed and blew hard; no one could go out; it was
clearly a day to be devoted to indoor amusements. And then Frank Ki