t something inside you, as if it was something separate
from yourself; and calling it all kinds of sentiments and virtues, as
if it was clockwork you couldn't see. I don't see anything like that
in you, Nan--except that you are very kind, you know--but not so
different from other people--as he seems to think.'

'It doesn't much matter what he thinks, does it?' suggested Nan, gently.

'Oh no, of course not,' Madge said, promptly. 'He said I was a very
good skater, considering the horrid condition of the ice. They have a
large lake at Kingscourt.' Then after a pause, 'Nan, where did you
learn all that about the lighthouses and the birds at night?'

'Oh, that? I really don't know. What about it?--it is of no
consequence.'

'But it interests people.'

'It ought not to interest you, or Captain King either. You will have
to think of very different things at Kingscourt.'

'When you and Mr. Jacomb come to Kings----'

'Madge,' said Nan, quickly, 'you must not say anything like that. I do
not mean to marry Mr. Jacomb, if that is what you mean.'

'No? Honour bright?'

'I shall not marry Mr. Jacomb; and I am not likely to marry any one,'
she said, calmly. 'There are other things one can give one's life to,
I suppose. It would be strange if there were not.'

Madge thought for a second or two.

'Oh, Nan,' she said cheerfully, 'it would be so nice to have an
old-maid sister at Kingscourt. She could do such a lot of things, and
be so nice and helpful, without the fuss and pretension of a married
woman. It would be really delightful to have you at Kingscourt!'

'I hope, dear, you will be happy at Kingscourt,' said Nan, in a
somewhat lower voice.

'I shall never be quite happy until you come to stay there,' said
Madge, with decision.

'You will have plenty of occupation,' said Nan, absently. 'I have been
thinking if a war broke out I should like to go as one of the nurses;
and of course that wants training beforehand. There must be an
institution of some kind, I suppose. Now, good-night, dear.'

'Good-night, Mother Nan. But we are not going to let you go away into
wars. You are coming to Kingscourt. I know Frank will insist on it.
And it would just be the very place for you; you see you would be in
nobody's way; and you always were so fond of giving help. Oh, Nan,'
her sister suddenly said, 'what is the matter? You are crying! What
is it, Nan?'

Nan rose quickly.

'Crying? No--no--never mind,