"Say to me? I was never so snubbed in my life. Her ladyship doesn't know me if she thinks I'm going to give up like that." "There, that'll do, Vic. No threats, please." "Oh, no; I'm not going to threaten. I can wait." "Yes," said Harry, thoughtfully; "we chose the wrong time. We mustn't give up, Vic; we shall have to wait." And they went back to their old nook beneath the cliff to smoke their pipes, while as the thin blue vapour arose Harry's hot anger grew cool, and he began to think of his aunt's words, of Comte Henri des Vignes, and of the fair daughters of France--a reverie from which he was aroused by his companion, as he said suddenly-- "I say, Harry, lad, I want you to lend me a little coin." Volume 1, Chapter VII. CHEZ VAN HELDRE. The two friends parted at the gate, Madelaine refusing to go in. "No," she said; "they will be expecting me at home." "Maddy dear, ought we not to confide in each other?" "Ah!" exclaimed Madelaine, with a sigh of relief that the constraint was over. "Yes, dear. Did Mr Pradelle propose to you?" "Yes." "And you told him it was impossible?" "Yes. What did my brother want to say?" "That we ought to be married now, and it would make him a better man." "And you told him it was impossible?" "Yes." There was another sigh as if of relief on both sides, and the two girls kissed again and parted. It was a brisk quarter of an hour's walk to the Van Heldres', which lay at the end of the main street up the valley down which the little river ran; and on entering the door, with a longing upon her to go at once to her room and sit down and cry, Madelaine uttered a sigh full of misery, for she saw that it was impossible. As she approached the great stone porch leading into the broad hall, which was one of the most attractive-looking places in the house, filled as it was with curiosities and other objects brought by the various captains from the Mediterranean, and embracing cabinets from Constantinople with rugs and pipes, little terra-cotta figures from Sardinia, and pictures and pieces of statuary from Rome, Naples, and Trieste, she was saluted with-- "Ah, my dear, I'm so glad you've come back. Where's papa?" "I have not seen him, mamma." "Busy, I suppose. How he does work!" Then suddenly, "By the way, that Mr Pradelle. I don't like him, my dear." "Neither do I, mamma." "That's right, my dear; I'm very glad to hear you say so; but surely Louie Vine is not going to be beguiled by him?" "Oh no." "All, that's all very well; but Luke Vine came in as he went by, to say in his sneering fashion that Louie and Mr Pradelle were down on the shore, and that you were walking some distance behind with Harry." "Mr Luke Vine seems to have plenty of time for watching his neighbours," said Madelaine contemptuously. "Yes; he is always noticing things; but don't blame him, dear. I'm sure he means well, and I can forgive him anything for that. Here's your father."