st upon a pretence. I never heard of a gentlemanly villain who went
about without collar and cuffs, and had not been allowed access to his
hair-brush.'

'A striped jacket and shaved head is generally what he goes about in
after he's unmasked. If I had been Madge I would not have let you off.'

'Come, remember how sorry Elizabeth Bennett was when she found she had
given way to prejudice. If I remember right she lay awake many nights.'

'Are you adding insult to injury by insinuating that either of us might
bestow upon you----?'

'Oh! certainly not, I merely wish to suggest that a young lady
possessing lively talents and "remarkably fine eyes" might yet make
great mistakes in her estimate of the masculine character.'

The cripple, who perhaps had never before heard her one beautiful
feature praised by masculine lips, was obliged to harden herself.

'Accomplished wretch!' she cried, in accents worthy of an irate Pamela.

'Do you suppose it was the last time I was serving my term in gaol that
I read our favourite novels?' he asked.

By this time Morin had passed out of the door to put on his snow-shoes,
and Courthope, who had swallowed only as much food as was necessary to
keep him from starvation, turned out to repeat the process of putting on
his, this time more deftly.

Morin had a toboggan upon which were piled such necessaries as Madge had
collected. They began their march three abreast into the storm.

They went a long way without conversation, and yet Courthope found in
this march keen enjoyment. His heart was absurdly light. To have
performed so considerable a service for Madge, now to be walking beside
her on an errand of mercy, was as much joy as the present hour could
hold.

It was difficult for him to keep up with the others, yet in doing so
there was the pleasure of the athlete in having acquired a new mastery
over his muscles; and the fascination of being at home in the snow as a
sea-bird is at home in the surf, which is the chief element of delight
in all winter sports, was his for the first time. With the drunken
wretch who was almost frozen he felt small sympathy, but he had the
sense that all modern men have on such occasions, that he ought to be
concerned, which kept him grave.

The other two were not light-hearted. Morin, dragging the toboggan
behind him and walking with his grey head bent forward to the gale, was
sullen at being driven in the service of thieves; afraid lest some
sinister d