"Oh, come, that will do," cried the young man angrily; "if it's to be like this it's a good job that we came to an explanation at once. So this is gentle, amiable, sweet-tempered Madelaine, eh! Hallo! You?" He turned sharply, for during the latter part of the conversation they had been standing still, and Louise and Pradelle had come over a stretch of sand with their footsteps inaudible. "It is quite time we returned, Madelaine," said Louise gravely; and without another word the two girls walked away. "'Pon my word," cried Harry with a laugh, "things are improving. Well, Vic, how did you get on?" "How did I get on indeed!" cried Pradelle angrily. "Look here, Harry Vine, are you playing square with me?" "What do you mean?" "What I say; are you honest, or have you been setting her against me?" "Why you--no, I won't quarrel," cried Harry. "What did she say to you?" "Say to me? I was never so snubbed in my life. Any one would think I had been the dirt under her feet; but I've not done yet. 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." CHAPTER SEVEN. 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." They kissed, and then stood holding one another's hands, both wanting to relieve their full hearts, but dreading to begin. Hardly a word had been spoken on their way back, and such words as had been said were upon indifferent subjects. But now the moment for parting had come, and they gazed wistfully in each other's eyes. Louise was the first to break the painful since. "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.