No, I suppose I dare not hope it!--I believe I should expire with
joy!--but he _never_ will! But if he _did_ propose, how do you suppose
he'd do it, Bertha?"

"Heaven knows--quote Browning, I suppose," said Bertha, "I don't often
meet that type. I can only guess. Do you care so much, Madeline?"

"_Do_ I care!"

"And you believe it's the real thing?"

"I know it is--on my side; it's incurable."

"Everyone says Rupert's a good fellow, but he seems to me a little--what
shall I say?--too elaborate. Too urbane; too ornate. He expresses
himself so dreadfully well! I don't believe he ever uses a shorter word
than _individuality_!"

"Oh, I don't care what he is, I want him--I want him!" cried Madeline.

"Well! I suppose you know what you want. It isn't as though you were
always in love with somebody or other; as a rule, a girl of your age, if
she can't have the person she wants, can be very quickly consoled if you
give her someone else instead. Now, you've never had even a fancy
before. _I_ may not (I don't) see the charm of Rupert, but it must be
there; probably there's something in his temperament that's needed by
yours--something that he can supply to you that no one else can. If you
really want him, you must have him, darling," said Bertha, with
resolution. "You shall!"

"How can you say that; how can you make him care for me if he doesn't?"

"I don't know, but I shall. It's certain; don't worry; and do what I
tell you. Mind, I think that there are many other people far more
amusing, besides being better matches from the worldly point of
view--like Charlie Hillier, for instance--but the great thing is that
you care for your Rupert; and I don't believe you'll change."

They were never demonstrative to each other, and Madeline only looked at
her with trusting, beaming gratitude. Bertha was indeed convinced that
this mania for Rupert was the real thing; it would never fade from
fulfilment, nor even die if discouraged; it would always burn
unalterably bright.

"Yes; yes, it shall be all right," repeated Bertha.

She spoke in a curious, reassuring tone that Madeline knew, and that
always impressed her.

"Really? Yet you say they are so difficult nowadays!"

"Well, the majority of the men in our set certainly don't seem to be
exactly pining for hearth and home. Still, in some moods a man will
marry anyone who happens to be there."

"Then must I happen to be there? How can I?"

Bertha laughed. There was a confi