llery, for she could not bear asking him to call until everything was
settled up, the bewildered girl rushed off to see Bertha.

* * * * *

Bertha took in the situation at once. Madeline had only accepted Charlie
in despair, thinking and believing that Rupert cared for another girl.
It was madness, equally unfair to herself and to Charlie, to go on with
the marriage now. Bertha quite agreed, though she grieved for the boy,
and regretted how things had turned. ... But, after all, Madeline cared
for Rupert and she could not be expected to throw away her happiness now
it was offered to her.

Bertha advised complete frankness all round. The only thing at which she
hesitated a little was Madeline's intention of telling of her engagement
to Rupert. She feared a little the effect on the complicated subtlety of
that conscientious young man. ... However, it was to be.

Fortunately no one as yet knew of the engagement except the very nearest
relatives. Madeline's mother would only regret bitterly that Madeline
could not accept them both, it being very rare nowadays for two
agreeable and eligible young men to propose to one girl in two days.

Nigel was furious and had no patience with these choppings and
changings, as he called them.

Charlie took it bravely and wrote Madeline a very generous and noble
letter, which touched her, but it did not alter her intention. She had
just received it when she went to meet Rupert.

* * * * *

The day which had dragged on with extraordinary excitement and with what
seemed curious length had just declined in that hour between six and
seven when the vitality seems to become somewhat lowered; when it is
neither day nor evening, the stimulation of tea is over and one has not
begun to dress for dinner.

At this strange moment Madeline burst in again on Bertha and said:

"Bertha, isn't it terrible! I've told him everything and he refuses me.
He's sent me back. He says if I'm engaged to Charlie it's my duty to
marry him. He's fearfully hurt with me and shocked at my conduct to
Charlie. Oh, it's too dreadful; I'm heartbroken!"

"Oh, what an irritating creature!" cried Bertha. "It's just the sort of
thing he would do. I'd better see him at once, Madeline."

"You can't; he's going to Venice to-night," said Madeline, and burst
into tears.

CHAPTER XVII

MORE ABOUT RUPERT

Rupert had gone through a great many changes du