en to this. _What a
curiously interesting nature you have! Am I not right when I say that I
fancy in time, as you develop and grow older, you may look at life eye
to eye with me?_"

"Madeline dear, _please_ don't mistake that for a proposal. I assure you
that it isn't one."

Madeline looked up sharply. "Who said it was? But, anyhow, it shows
interest. He must be rather keen--I mean interested--in me. It's all
very well to say it means nothing, but for a man nowadays to sit down
and write a long letter all about nothing at all, it must have some
significance. Look how easily he might have rung up! I know you're
afraid of encouraging me too much, and it's very kind of you--but I must
confess I _do_ think that letters mean a great deal. Think of the
trouble he's taken. And there's a great deal about himself in it, too."

"Of course, Madeline, I don't deny that it does show interest, and he
probably must be a little in love with someone--perhaps with himself--to
write a letter about nothing. As you say, it's unusual nowadays. But you
mustn't forget that, though Rupert's young, he belongs to the '95
period. Things were very different then. People thought nothing of
writing a long letter; and a telegram about nothing was considered quite
advanced and American."

"Oh, bother!" said Madeline, "I hate being told about the period he
belongs to. It makes it seem like ancient history. Listen to what he
says about you--such lovely things! '_Mrs. Kellynch is a delightful
contrast to you, and is all that is charming and brilliant, in a
different way. Is she not one of those (alas, too few) who are always
followed by the flutes of the pagan world?_'"

"That's really very sweet of him. I say, I wonder what it means
exactly?"

"I have no idea. But it just shows, doesn't it?"

With a satisfied smile, Madeline put the letter away. Bertha did not
press to see it, but remarked: "I see he didn't sign himself very
affectionately. Evidently there's nothing compromising in the letter."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because you put it away. Otherwise you would have shown it to me.
Nobody cares to show an uncompromising love-letter--with a lukewarm
signature."

"At any rate," said Madeline, gliding over the point and leaving the
letter in its cover, "your taking us out last night was a very great
help. I feel I've made progress; he thinks more of me."

"Yes, I thought it would be a good thing to do. Now you'd better not
answer the lette