"Oh!" sighed the little woman with a look of perplexity in her puckered-up forehead, "I told you that I was a very stupid woman. I wanted to make you more cheerful and contented, and see what I have done!" "How can I be cheerful and contented, my good little woman?" said Vine sadly. "There, there! I shall be glad when a couple of years have gone." "Why?" said Mrs Van Heldre sharply. "Because I shall either be better able to bear my burden or be quite at rest." "George Vine!" exclaimed Mrs Van Heldre reproachfully. "Is that you speaking? Louise--remember Louise." "Ah, yes," he said sadly, but sat gazing dreamily before him. "Louise. If it had not been for her--" He did not finish his sentence. "Come, my dear. John will be expecting you for a long chat. Try and be more hopeful, and don't go up to him looking like that. Doctor Knatchbull said we were to make him as cheerful as we could, and to keep him from thinking about the past. He did say, too, that we were not to let you see him much. There--" Poor little Mrs Van Heldre looked more perplexed than ever, and now burst into tears. "He said that? The doctor said that?" "Yes; but did you ever hear such a silly woman in your life? To go and blurt out such a thing as that to you!" "He was quite right--quite right," said Vine hastily; "and I'll be very careful not to say or do anything to depress him. Poor John! Do you think he is awake now?" "No," said Mrs Van Heldre, wiping her eyes. "Maddy is with him, and she will come down directly he wakes." At that moment there was a ring, and on the door being opened the servant announced Luke Vine. "Hallo!" he said, coming in after his usual unceremonious fashion. "How is he?" "Very, very much better, Luke Vine," said Mrs Van Heldre. "George is going up to see him as soon as he wakes." "George? My brother George! Oh, you're there, are you? How are you, George? How's the girl?" "Sit down, Luke Vine." "No, thank you, ma'am. Sit too much as it is. Don't get enough exercise." "You shall go up and see John, as soon as he wakes." "No, thankye. What's the use? I couldn't do him any good. One's getting old now. No time to spare. Pity to waste what's left." "Well, I'm sure," said Mrs Van Heldre, bridling. "Of all men to talk like that, you ought to be the last. I'll go up and see whether he is awake." "Poor little woman," said Uncle Luke, as she left the room. "Always puts me in mind, George, of a pink and white bantam hen." "As good a little woman as ever breathed, Luke." "Yes, of course; but it's comic to see her ruffle up her feathers and go off in a huff. How's Lou?" "Not very well, Luke. Poor girl, she frets. I shall have to take her away." "Rubbish! She'll be all right directly. Women have no brains." George Vine looked up at him with an air of mild reproof. "All tears and doldrums one day; high jinks and coquetry the next. Marry, and forget all about you in a week."