Bird of Paradise

"Do I care!"

"And you believe it's the real thing?"

"I know it is--on my side; it's incurable."

"Everyone says Rupert's a good fellow, but he seems to me a little--what shall I say?--too elaborate. Too urbane; too ornate. He expresses himself so dreadfully well! I don't believe he ever uses a shorter word than individuality!"

"Oh, I don't care what he is, I want him--I want him!" cried Madeline.

"Well! I suppose you know what you want. It isn't as though you were always in love with somebody or other; as a rule, a girl of your age, if she can't have the person she wants, can be very quickly consoled if you give her someone else instead. Now, you've never had even a fancy before. I may not (I don't) see the charm of Rupert, but it must be there; probably there's something in his temperament that's needed by yours--something that he can supply to you that no one else can. If you really want him, you must have him, darling," s