came to be,
For length and breadth, the bigness which you see."'

More than once he saw Madge's quick wit twinkle through her booklore.
When he was looking ruefully at a turkey by no means neatly carved, she
gave the comforting suggestion, '"'Tis impious in a good man to be
sad."'

'I thought it one of the evidences of piety.'

'It is true that he was "Young" who said it, but so are we; let us
believe it fervently.'

When Madge swept across the drawing-room, with her amber skirts
trailing, and Eliz had been wheeled in, they received the after-dinner
visitors. Courthope could almost see the room filled with the quaint
creations to whom they were both bowing and talking incessantly.

'Mr. Courthope--Miss Jane Fairfax--I believe you have met before.'
Madge's voice dropped in a well-feigned absorption in her next guest;
but she soon found time again to whisper to him a long speech which Miss
Bates had made to Eliz. Soon afterwards she came flying to him in the
utmost delight to repeat what she called a "lovely sneap" which Lady
G---- had given to Mrs. Elton; nor did she forget to tell him that Emma
Woodhouse was explaining to the Portuguese nun her reasons for deciding
never to marry. 'Out of sheer astonishment she appears to become quite
tranquillised,' said Madge, as if relating an important fact.

His curiosity concerning this nun grew apace, for she seemed a favourite
with both the girls.

When it was near midnight the imaginary pageant suddenly came to an
end, as in all cases of enchantment. Eliz grew tired; one of the lamps
smoked and had to be extinguished; the fire had burned low. Madge
declared that the company had departed.

She went out of the room to call the servant, but in a few minutes she
came back discomfited, a little pout on her lips. 'Isn't it tiresome!
Mathilde and Jacques Morin have gone to bed.'

'It is just like them,' fretted Eliz.

At the fretful voice Madge's face cleared. 'What does it matter?' she
cried. 'We are perfectly happy.'

She lifted the lamp with which he had first seen her, and commenced an
inspection of doors and shutters. It was a satisfaction to Courthope to
see the house. It was a French building, as were all the older houses in
that part of the country, heavily built, simple in the arrangements of
its rooms. Every door on the lower floor stood open, inviting the heat
of a large central stove. Insisting upon carrying the lamp while Madge
made her survey, he wa