Francesca is fluent at all times, but once seated on the foot of my bed she becomes eloquent! "It all began with his saying--" This is her perennial introduction, and I respond as invariably, "What began ?" "Oh, to-day's argument with Mr.Macdonald.It was a literary quarrel this afternoon." "'Fools rush in--'" I quoted.
"There is a good deal of nonsense in that old saw," she interrupted; "at all events, the most foolish fools I have ever known stayed still and didn't do anything.

Rushing shows a certain movement of the mind, even if it is in the wrong direction.

However, Mr.Macdonald is both opinionated and dogmatic, but his worst enemy could never call him a fool." "I didn't allude to Mr.Macdonald." "Don't you suppose I know to whom you alluded, dear?
Is not your style so simple, frank, and direct that a wayfaring girl can read it and not err therein?
No, I am not sitting on your feet, and it is not time to go to sleep; I wonder you do not tire of making those futile protests.

As a matter of fact, we began this literary discussion yesterday morning, but were interrupted; and knowing that it was sure to come up again, I prepared for it with Salemina.

She furnished the ammunition, so to speak, and I fired the guns." "You always make so much noise with blank cartridges I wonder you ever bother about real shot," I remarked.
"Penelope, how can you abuse me when I am in trouble?
Well, Mr.
Macdonald was prating, as usual, about the antiquity of Scotland and its aeons of stirring history.