‘Come, come! you’re forgetting,’ replied her husband. ‘Didn’t I catch you once in our parlour at Tabbakooloo with Charlie Monro’s head in your lap, and you kissing his hair?’ ‘Oh, go along with you, John! You know the poor lad had just lost his mother, and come to tell me so. And that reminds me how often I’ve thought and wished that our Grace and Charlie might come together by-and-by, and make a match of it.’ ‘_That_ will never be,’ said Mr Vansittart. ‘Charlie’s too rough for Grace. You forget what a lady our girl has grown.’ ‘Oh, no, I don’t, John; and sometimes I almost wish we’d kept her alongside of us. But that’s not to the purpose. I don’t want her to choose in a hurry, and I’m afraid she’s getting on a little bit too fast with that Mr Harland.’ ‘Why, what makes you think that?’ ‘I was watching them together on deck this afternoon, and I saw him take her hand. John, did you hear anything more about Mr Harland’s family and antecedents before we left England?’ ‘No, my dear, I hadn’t the opportunity.’ ‘I never _quite_ liked him,’ sighed the mother; ‘he has such sly eyes.’ ‘Oh, come! that’s a very foolish reason. You mustn’t judge of a man by his eyes. His actions is all we need go by.’ ‘Has he ever spoken to you about our Grace, John?’ ‘No, nothing particular. But I can see he admires her. Why should you object to it? He seems a smart fellow, and he’s a thorough gentleman. Of course the rhino’s the trouble, but he’s very frank about that, and we’ve got more than we know what to do with, so it would be hard if our only child shouldn’t suit her own taste with a husband.’ ‘Oh, John, don’t talk as if it was a settled thing. Don’t let it go on. Tell Grace it’s too soon to let Mr Harland get so intimate. I don’t know _why_, but I’ve such a feeling against it--as if it would be the cause of some great trouble. And I _did_ so want her to take a fancy to Charlie Monro.’ ‘Ah! that’s at the bottom of it all, old lady. You’ve taken to match-making in your old age. Now, look here, take my advice, and leave the young people to settle the matter for themselves. You wouldn’t have listened to _your_ mother if she had told you to chuck me overboard and take another man.’ ‘But I had known you, John, for years; and how long is it since you met Mr Harland?’ ‘Not more than six weeks or so. We know nothing about him at all. And we don’t need as yet, wife. There’s plenty of time before us. Grace don’t want to marry him to-morrow, I suppose?’ ‘Heaven forbid!’ ‘Well, I can’t understand your taking such a sudden prejudice against the young fellow. I think you must be jealous of losing your daughter. After all, what has he done? Held her hand! Lord! I’d be sorry to have to marry all the girls whose hands I’ve held!’ ‘It don’t look well though, John.’