"Gone up to your brother's." "Humph! to gad about and idle with Louie, I suppose. Here, I've brought you some fish. Caught it at daylight this morning. Ring for a dish." "It's very kind and thoughtful of you, Luke Vine," said Mrs Van Heldre, with her pink face dimpling as she rang the bell, and then trotted to the door, which she opened, and cried, "Bring in a large dish, Esther! I always like to save the servants' legs if I can," she continued as she returned to her seat, while Van Heldre stood with his hands in his pockets, waiting. He knew his visitor. Just then a neat-looking maid-servant entered with a large blue dish, and stood holding it by the door, gazing at the quaint-looking old man, sitting with the basket between his legs, and his heavy stick resting across his knees. "Put it down and go." The girl placed the dish on the table hurriedly, and left the room. "See if she has gone." "No fear," said Van Heldre, obeying, to humour his visitor. "I don't think my servants listen at doors." "Don't trust 'em, or anybody else," said Uncle Luke with a grim look, as he opened his basket wide. "Going to trust her?" "Well, I'm sure, Mr Luke Vine!" cried Mrs Van Heldre, "I believe you learn up rude things to say." "He can't help it," said Van Heldre, laughing. "Yes," he continued, with a droll look at his wife, which took her frown away, "I think we'll trust her, Luke, my lad--as far as the fish is concerned." "Eh! What?" said Uncle Luke, snatching his hands from his basket. "What do you mean?" "That the dish is waiting for the bit of conger." "Let it wait," said the old man snappishly. "You're too clever, Van-- too clever. Look here; how are you getting on with that boy?" "Oh, slowly. Rome was not built in a day." "No," chuckled the old man, "no. Work away, and make him a useful member of society--like his aunt, eh, Mrs Van." "Useful!" cried Mrs Van. "Ah." Then old Luke chuckled, and drew the fish from the basket. "Fine one, ain't it?" he said. "A beauty," cried Mrs Van Heldre ecstatically. "Pshah!" ejaculated Uncle Luke. "Ma'am, you don't care for it a bit; but there's more than I want, and it will help keep your servants." "It would, Luke," said Van Heldre, laughing, as the fish was laid in the dish, "but they will not touch it. Well?" "Eh? What do you mean by well?" snorted the old man with a suspicious look. "Out with it." "Out with what?" "What you have brought." The two men gazed in each other's faces, the merchant looking half amused, the visitor annoyed; but his dry countenance softened into a smile, and he turned to Mrs Van Heldre. "Artful!" he said dryly. "Don't you find him too cunning to get on with?" "I should think not indeed," said Mrs Van Heldre indignantly. "Might have known you'd say that," sneered Uncle Luke. "What a weak, foolish woman you are!"