"It was funny to hear them; she tried to drive him up to the point, and he wouldn't be driven; he said one clever thing after another, but always managed to give her no answer; till at last she pinned him with a point-blank question."
"What did he do then?"
"Said what you said; that he had seen women who would be called handsomer."
The conversation dropped here, for Lois made no reply, and Madge recollected she had talked enough.
CHAPTER XL.
ATTENTIONS.
It was days before Lois went down-stairs. She seemed indeed to be in no hurry. Her room was luxuriously comfortable; Madge tended her there, and Mrs. Wishart visited her; and Lois sat in her great easy-chair, and rested, and devoured the delicate meals that were brought her; and the colour began gently to come back to her face, in the imperceptible fashion in which a white Van Thol tulip takes on its hues of crimson. She began to read a little; but she did not care to go down-stairs. Madge told her everything that went on; who came, and what was said by one and another. Mr. Dillwyn's name was of very frequent occurrence.
"He's a real nice man!" said Madge enthusiastically.
"Madge, Madge, Madge!—you mustn't speak so," said Lois. "You must not say 'real nice.'"
"I don't, down-stairs," said Madge, laughing. "It was only to you. It is more expressive, Lois, sometimes, to speak wrong than to speak right."