'It is a curious coincidence,' he thought, 'that she should have been dwelling in a passage, in which her namesake enchantress inflicted punishment on Orlando for having lost his opportunity. Did she associate Morgana with herself and Orlando with me? Did she intend a graceful hint to me not to lose _my_ opportunity? I seemed in a fair way to seize the golden forelock, if we had not been interrupted. Do I regret that I did not? That is just what I cannot determine. Yet it would be more fitting, that whatever I may do should be done calmly, deliberately, philosophically, than suddenly, passionately, impulsively. One thing is clear to me. It is now or never: this or none. The world does not contain a second Morgana, at least not of mortal race. Well: the opportunity will return. So far, I am not in the predicament in which we left Orlando. I may yet ward off the scourge of _La Penitenza?_ But his arrival at home, and the sight of the seven sisters, who had all come to the hall-door to greet him, turned his thoughts for awhile into another channel. He dined at his usual hour, and his two Hebes alternately filled his glass with Madeira. After which the sisters played and sang to him in the drawing-room; and when he had retired to his chamber, had looked on the many portraitures of his Virgin Saint, and had thought by how many charms of life he was surrounded, he composed himself to rest with the reflection: 'I am here like Rasselas in the Happy Valley: and I can now fully appreciate the force of that beautiful chapter: _The wants of him who wants nothing?_' CHAPTER XXI SKATING--PAS DE DEUX ON THE ICE--CONGENIALITY--FLINTS AMONG BONES Ubi lepos, joci, risus, ebrietas decent, Gratias, decor, hilaritas, atque delectatio, Qui quaerit alia his, malum videtur quaerere. --Plautus: In Pseudolo. Where sport, mirth, wine, joy, grace, conspire to please, He seeks but ill who seeks aught else than these. The frost continued. The lake was covered over with solid ice. This became the chief scene of afternoon amusement, and Lord Curryfin carried off the honours of the skating. In the dead of the night there came across his memory a ridiculous stave: There's Mr. Tait, he cuts an eight, He cannot cut a nine: and he determined on trying if he could not out-do Mr. Tait. [Illustration: Trying if he could not out-do Mr. Tait 187-157]