"Happy? Of course you are; that seems to be your nature. I never saw a girl so sweet, and happy, and contented." "Indeed!" said Grey, blushing. "How can I help being happy when everyone is so kind?" "Kind? Why, of course. Why, let me see," said the Resident, "how time goes; what a number of years it seems since I took you to England and played papa to you?" "Yes, it does seem a long time ago," said Grey, musingly. "I never thought that the little girl I petted would ever grow into such a beautiful young lady. Perhaps that is why papa Stuart did not ask me to bring you back." "Mr Harley!" exclaimed Grey, and a look of pain crossed her face. "Why, what have I done?" he said. "Hurt me," she said, simply. "I like so to talk to you that it troubles me when you adopt that complimentary style." "Then I won't do it again," he said, earnestly. "We won't spoil our old friendship with folly." "How well you remember, Mr Harley," said the girl, smiling again. "Remember? Of course I do, my dear. Don't you recollect what jolly feeds of preserved ginger and mango you and I used to have? Ah, it was too bad of you to grow up into a little woman!" "I don't think we are any the less good friends, Mr Harley," said the girl, looking trustingly up in his face. "Not a bit," he said. "Do you know, my dear, I think more and more every day that I am going to grow into a staid old bachelor; and if I do I shall have to adopt you as daughter or niece." "Indeed, Mr Harley." "Yes, indeed, my dear. Nineteen, eh? and I am forty-four. Heigho! how time goes!" "I had begun to think, Mr Harley--" said Grey, softly. "May I go on?" "Go on? Of course, my dear. What had you begun to think?" "That you would marry Helen." "Ye-es, several people thought so on shipboard," he said, dreamily. "Nineteen--twenty-one--forty-four. I'm getting quite an old man now, my dear. Hah!" he said, starting, "I daresay Mademoiselle Helen will have plenty of offers." "Yes," said Grey; "but she should meet with someone firm and strong as well as kind." "Like your humble servant?" he said, smiling. "Yes," said Grey, looking ingenuously in his face. "Helen is very sweet and affectionate at heart, only she is so fond of being admired." "A weakness she will outgrow," said the Resident, calmly. "I like to hear you talk like that, Grey. You are not jealous, then, of the court that is paid to her?" "I, jealous?" said Grey, smiling. "Do I look so?" "Not at all," said the Resident; "not at all. Beauty and fortune, they are great attractions for men, my dear, and Helen has both. But, my clever little woman, you ought to teach papa to make a fortune." Grey shook her head. "That's the thing to do nowadays, like our host has done. Perowne is very rich, and if papa Stuart had done as well, we should be having plenty of offers for that busy little hand. Yes, a score at your feet." "Where they would not be wanted," said the girl, quietly.