tand. You needn't tell me."

"But there's a good deal to tell that you can't have found out, quick
as you are."

And she related the circumstances. Madeline listened with her eyes on
the ceiling.

"We shall be married very soon," Barbara added; "as soon as a house can
be chosen. Of course it must be in London, or very near. We shall go
somewhere or other, and then, very likely, pay a formal visit to the
'place in Lincolnshire.' Think of that! Sir Roland seems a good sort of
man; he will welcome us. Think of visiting at the 'place in
Lincolnshire'! Isn't it all like a dream?"

"What will mamma do without you?"

"Oh, Zillah is to come home. We'll see about that."

"I suppose he forgot to bring me some flowers today?"

"No But I declare I forgot to bring them up. I'll fetch them at once."

She did so, running downstairs and up again like a child, with a jump
at the landings. The flowers were put in the usual place. Madeline
looked at them, and listened to her sister's chatter for five minutes.
Then she said absently:

"Go away now, please. I've heard enough for the present."

"You shall have all sorts of comforts, Maddy."

"Go away, Barbara."

The sister obeyed, looking back with compassion from the door. She
closed it softly, and in the room there was the old perfect stillness.
Madeline had let her eyelids fall, and the white face against the white
pillows was like that of one dead. But upon the eyelashes there
presently shone a tear; it swelled, broke away, and left a track of
moisture. Poor white face, with the dark hair softly shadowing its
temples! Poor troubled brain, wearying itself in idle questioning of
powers that heeded not!

CHAPTER V

MULTUM IN PARVO

Elgar's marriage had been a great success. For a year and a half, for
even more than that, he had lived the fullest and most consistent life
of which he was capable; what proportion of the sons of men can look
back on an equal span of time in their own existence and say the same
of it?

Life with Cecily gave predominance to all the noblest energies in his
nature. He loved with absolute sincerity; his ideal of womanhood was
for the time realized and possessed; the vagrant habit of his senses
seemed permanently subdued; his mind was occupied with high admirations
and creative fancies; in thought and speech he was ardent, generous,
constant, hopeful. A happy marriage can do no more for man than make
unshadowed revelation of such aspirin