"You'll find that out by going. Look alive, Pupsey!"
"I'm coming, Stebbings! What on earth can the General want to say to me?"
"Do go and see him, and find out." This was in chorus, from both ladies, as before. Exit Pupsey.
"I wonder what it can be! However, we shall hear directly. Is there any more to read, Uncle Christopher?"
Mr. Pelly read in a slighting, conclusive sort of way:—
"'So now I cannot show you, Illustrissima, as I so gladly should have done, how little change has come in the golden hair of my Maddalena, in all these thirty years! Nor the painting of that one well-remembered lock that fell all in ripples on the sunflower brocade upon her bosom——'"
Madeline got suddenly up and stood again facing the picture.
"Now," she said, "come here and see and be convinced, Mr. Incredulous." And Mr. Pelly came, and stood beside her.
"Well, my dear child," said he. "That certainly does look——"
"Very like indeed! Doesn't it? But you'll see Pupsey will want to have his own way. He always does!"