"If I were wounded, insulted, and slighted as Claude was, I would take the cruelest revenge that I could."
Madeline took one of the jeweled hands in her own and kissed it.
"I should never be afraid of you," she said; "you can never hurt any one. Your vengeance would end in the bestowal of a favor."
"Do you think so highly of me, Madaline?" asked Philippa, sadly.
"Think highly of you! Why, you would laugh if you knew how I loved you--how I adore you. If all the world were to swear to me that you could do the least thing wrong, I should not believe them."
"Poor child!" said the duchess, sadly.
"Why do you call me 'poor child?'" she asked, laughingly.
"Because you have such implicit faith, and are sure to be so cruelly disappointed."
"I would rather have such implicit faith, and bear the disappointment, than be without both," said Madaline.