o. We had our serenade all the
same--that is to say, any who were awake. You see, they did not intend
to swindle you----'

'Oh, no! oh, no!' said Nan; and then, conscious that Madge was still
regarding her, she added with a desperate effort at composure,--

'We heard some pretty music on the water at Venice. Edith picked up
some of the airs. She will play them to you after dinner.'

That same night, as usual, Madge came into Nan's room, just before
going off.

'Nan,' she said, looking straight at her, 'what was it upset you about
Frank's reminding you of Bellagio?'

'Bellagio?' repeated Nan, with an effort to appear unconscious, but
with her eyes turned away.

'Yes; you know very well.'

'I know that I was thinking of something quite different from anything
that Captain King was saying,' Nan said, at length. 'And--and it is of
no consequence to you, Madge, believe me.'

Madge regarded her suspiciously for a second, and then said, with an
air of triumph,

'At all events, he isn't going to Ireland.'

'Oh, indeed,' Nan answered, gently. 'Well I'm glad; I suppose you
prefer his not going?'

'It nearly came to a quarrel, I know,' said Madge, frankly. 'I thought
it just a bit too cool. At all events, he ought to pretend to care a
little for me.'

'Oh, Madge, how can you say such things? Care for you--and he has
asked you to be his wife? Could he care for you more than that?'

'He has never even thanked me for not going to the Kenyons' ball,' said
Madge, who appeared to imagine that Nan was responsible for everything
Captain King did or did not do.

'Surely he would take it for granted you would not go!' remonstrated
the elder sister.

'But he takes everything for granted. And he scarcely ever thinks it
worth while to speak to me. And I know it will be a regular bore when
we go to Kingscourt, with the old people still there, and me not
mistress at all; and what am I to do?'

She poured out this string of wild complaints rapidly and angrily.

'Good-night, Madge,' said Nan; 'I am rather tired to-night.'

'Good-night. But I can tell you if he hadn't given up Ireland, there
would have been a row.'

It was altogether a strange condition of affairs; and next day it was
apparently made worse. There had been a stiffish gale blowing all
night from the south; and in the morning, though the sky was cloudless,
there was a heavy sea running, so that from the windows they saw white
masses of foam spr