When she was gone, I stepped up to Madame Masque, and that lady's first words of greeting were an earnest hope that I had been edified and improved by what I had overheard." "She saw you, then ?" said Sir Norman.
"See me?
I believe you! She has more eyes than ever Argus had, and each one is as sharp as a cambric needle.

Of course I apologized, and so on, and she forgave me handsomely, and then we fell to discoursing--need I tell you on what subject ?" "Love, of course," said Sir Norman.
"Yes, mingled with entreaties to take off her mask that would have moved a heart of stone.

It moved what was better--the heart of La Masque; and, Kingsley, she has consented to do it; and she says that if, after seeing her face, I still love her, she will be my wife." "Is it possible?
My dear Ormiston, I congratulate you with all my heart!" "Thank you! After that she left me, and I walked away in such a frenzy of delight that I couldn't have told whether I was treading this earth or the shining stars of the seventh heaven, when suddenly there flew past me a figure all in white--the figure of a bride, Kingsley, pursued by an excited mob.

We were both near the river, and the first thing I knew, she was plump into it, with the crowd behind, yelling to stop her, that she was ill of the plague." "Great Heaven! and was she drowned ?" "No, though it was not her fault.

The Earl of Rochester and his page--you remember that page, I fancy--were out in their barge, and the earl picked her up.