"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. Louy 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 Louy 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." "After all!" ejaculated Mrs Van Heldre, as she followed them into the room, and then stepped back. "Too many of us at once can't be good, so I must stay down," she added with a sigh. Crossing to the table where her bird's cage was standing, she completely removed the cover, now displaying a pink and grey ball of feathers upon the perch, her action having been so gentle that the bird's rest was not disturbed. "Poor little prisoner!" she said gently. "There, you may wake up to-morrow morning and pipe and sing in the bright sunshine, for we can bear it now--thank God! we can bear it now." CHAPTER FIFTY. THE DISCOVERY. Madelaine rose as the brothers entered the room, and before coming to the bed, where Van Heldre lay rapidly mending now, George Vine took the girl's hands, looked down in her pale face, which sorrow seemed to have refined, and bent down and kissed her. "How are you, Maddy?" said Luke Vine, gruffly; and he was going on to the bed, but Madelaine laid her hand upon his shoulder, leant towards him, and kissed him. "Hah! yes, forgot," he said, brushing her forehead roughly with his grey beard; and then, yielding to a sudden impulse, kissing the girl tenderly, "How I do hate girls!" he muttered to himself, as he went straight to the window and stood there for a few moments. "Poor lad!" he said to himself. "Yes, hopeless, or a girl like that would have redeemed him." He turned back from the window. "Room too hot and stuffy," he said. "Well, how are you, John?" "Getting well fast," replied Van Heldre, shaking hands. "Splendid fish that was you sent me to-day; delicious."