"Luke, my dear brother, you do not mean this." "Don't soap, George. I hate to be called my dear brother. Now, do I look like a dear brother?" "I shall never forget your goodness to us over our terrible trouble." "Will you be quiet? Hang it all, George! don't be such an idiot. Let the past be. The poor foolish boy is dead; let him rest. Don't be for ever digging up the old sorrow, to brood over it and try to hatch fresh. The eggs may not be addled, and you might be successful. Plenty of trouble without making more." "I do not wish to make more, Luke; but you hurt me when you speak so lightly of Louise." "A jade! I hate her." "No, you do not." "Yes, I do. Here's Duncan Leslie, as good a fellow as ever stepped, who has stuck to her through thick and thin, in spite of my lady's powder, and fan, and her insults." "Marguerite has been very sharp and spiteful to Mr Leslie," said George Vine sadly. "She's mad. Well, he wants to marry the girl, and she has pitched him over." "Has Louise refused him?" "He doesn't say so; but I saw him, and that's enough. Of course I know that at present--et cetera, et cetera: but the girl wants a husband: all girls do. There was one for her, and she is playing _stand off_ with him. Just like woman. He! he! he! he!" He uttered a sneering laugh. "Going to marry Madge's French count, I suppose--Monsieur le Comte de Mythville. There, I can't help it, George, old lad; it makes me wild. Shake hands, old chap. Didn't mean to hurt your feelings; but between ourselves, though I've never shown it to a soul, I was rather hit upon the idea of Leslie marrying Louise." "I had thought it possible," said George Vine, with a sigh. "Her fault. Hang it all, George, be a man, and bestir yourself." "I am trying, brother Luke." "That's right, lad; and for goodness' sake put down your foot and keep Margaret in her place. Louie is soft now with trouble, and that wicked old woman will try to work her and mould her into what shape she pleases. You've had enough of Margaret." "I have tried to do my duty by our sister." "You've done more, my lad. Now take care that she leaves Louie alone. You don't want another old maid of her pattern in the family." "John is awake now, George Vine," said Mrs Van Heldre, re-entering the room. "Will you go up?" "Yes, I'll go up," said George Vine quietly. "Well, aren't I to be asked to see him?" grumbled Uncle Luke. "Oh, what a strange man you are!" said Mrs Van Heldre; "you know I wanted you to go up." "No, I don't; I know you asked me to go up. Different thing altogether." "I did want you to go. I felt that it would cheer up poor John." "Well, don't be cross about it, woman. Ask me again." Mrs Van Heldre turned with a smile to George Vine, as much as to say, "Did you ever hear such an unreasonable being?" "Rum one, aren't I, John's wife, eh?" said Uncle Luke grimly. "Good little woman, after all."