For many days Lord Linton was considered in danger of a brain fever. His mother watched over him with unremitting assiduity and many of the strangers who formed the party at Linton Castle departed, finding it exceedingly dull to spend their time in asking after their host's health. Everard, however, remained. Emily was far too kind-hearted to care for amusement, when others were in pain either of body or mind. Besides which, she had formed a strong friendship for the strange and beautiful Madame de Calzean. To Emily, Pauline was neither cold and abstracted, nor passionless. She entered into all her feelings, smiled with her in her gladness and soothed and sympathized [her] in less happy moments. As long then as her friend remained, Emily was content to stay. And there was not a chance of their departing an hour sooner than they at first intended, as Madame de Calzean resolved to eat the excellent dinners of Linton Castle till another engagement which she had in view, should afford a promise of edible enjoyment elsewhere. It was true that Lord Linton had loved Madame de Calzean. Nay more, that he did love her with an intensity of devotion less common to his age that to his melancholy and romantic disposition. He was but nineteen when he first became acquainted with her. Two years had passed away, and his love remained as fresh in his heart as ever. That Madame de Calzean should refuse the homage of a boy ten years her junior, was perhaps only to be expected, but her refusal proceeded neither from caprice nor coldness. She had loved once, the passionate and devoted love of a pure-minded woman. And many had since sighed for the smiles of the majestic Pauline, but she pursued her own course in calm, undeviating rectitude and frequently declared her disbelief of the possibility of a woman loving truly more than once. How could she form to herself two idols or persuade her heart, after a first disappointment, to turn again to the visionary happiness it once built upon? Such were her feelings and as I never was in love except with my uncle's dairy maid (who jilted me), I leave it to others to decide whether she was right or wrong.