After that dreadful dinner she (since the weaknesses of great generals should not be altogether ignored), did pray for flight and total obscurity, but Caroline could not be left in her hysteric state, and now that she really perceived that Evan was progressing and on the point of sealing his chance, the devoted lady resolved to hold her ground.

Besides, there was the pic-nic.

The Countess had one dress she had not yet appeared in, and it was for the picnic she kept it.

That small motives are at the bottom of many illustrious actions is a modern discovery; but I shall not adopt the modern principle of magnifying the small motive till it overshadows my noble heroine.

I remember that the small motive is only to be seen by being borne into the range of my vision by a powerful microscope; and if I do more than see--if I carry on my reflections by the aid of the glass, I arrive at conclusions that must be false.