't be very
formal with any one who is lugging you through the snow.'

'No, of course not,' said Nan gravely. 'I was not saying there could
be anything wrong in calling him Frank.'

'Well, the pantomime; did I tell you how good it was? Mr. Roberts says
he never saw such beautifully-designed dresses in London; and the music
was lovely--oh! if you had heard Cinderella, how she sang, you would
have fallen in love with her, Nan. We all did. Then we had ices.
There's a song which Cinderella sings Frank promised to get for me; but
I can't sing. All I'm good for is to show off Edith.'

'You ought to practise more, dear.'

'But it's no good once you are married. You always drop it. If I have
any time I'll take to painting. You see you have no idea, in a house
like this, the amount of trouble there is in keeping up a place like
Kingscourt.'

'But you know, Madge, Mrs. Holford King is there.'

'She can't be there always; she's very well up in years,' said the
practical Madge. 'And you know the whole estate is now definitely
settled on Frank--though there are some heavy mortgages. We shan't be
able to entertain much for the first few years, I daresay--but we shall
always be glad to have you, Nan.'

Nan did not say anything; she turned her face away a little bit.

'Nan,' said her sister, presently, 'didn't Mary and Edith have a notion
that Captain King was at one time rather fond of you?'

Nan's face flushed hastily.

'They--they--imagined something of that kind, I believe.'

'But was it true?'

Nan raised herself up, and took her sister's hand in her two hands.

'You see, dear,' she said, gently, and with her eyes cast down, 'young
men--I mean very young men--have often passing fancies that don't mean
very much. Later on they make their serious choice.'

'But,' said Madge, persistently, 'but I suppose he never really asked
you to be his wife?'

'His wife!' said Nan, with well-simulated surprise. 'Recollect, Madge,
I was just over seventeen. You don't promise to be anybody's wife at
an age like that; you are only a child then.'

'I am only eighteen,' said Madge.

'But there is a great difference. And recollect that Captain King is
now older, and knows better what his wishes are, and what way his
happiness lies. You ought to be very proud, Madge; and you should try
to make him proud of you also.'

'Oh, I will, Nan; I will really. I wish you would teach me a lot of
things.'

'What things?'

'