"Ah, now you're laughing at me, and thinking me weak; but it's better to have my weakness than hers. Only fancy: ever since she formed that mad, foolish attachment for that French scoundrel, who coaxed the whole of her money away from her and then threw her over, has George Vine taken her to his home and let her tyrannise over him. A silly woman! Your father always said the man was a scamp. And, 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." "Ah, 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. Ah! here's your father." "Ah! my dears," said Van Heldre cheerily. "Tired out." "You must be," said Mrs Van Heldre, bustling about him to take his hat and gloves. "Here do come and sit down." The merchant went into the drawing-room very readily, and submitted to several little pleasant attentions from wife and daughter, as he asked questions about the bullfinch, laughing slily the while at Madelaine. Evening came on with Van Heldre seated in his easy chair, thoughtfully watching wife and daughter, both of whom had work in their laps; but Mrs Van Heldre's was all a pretence, for, after a few stitches, her head began to nod forward, then back against the cushion, and then, as if by magic, she was fast asleep. Madelaine's needle, however, flew fast, and she went on working, with her father watching her attentively, till she raised her eyes, let her hands rest in her lap, and returned his gaze with a frank, calm look of love and trust that made him nod his head in a satisfied way. "You want to say something to me, Maddy," he said in a low voice. "Yes, papa." "About your walk down on the beach?" Madelaine nodded. "You know I went." "Yes; I saw you, and Luke Vine came and told me as well." "It was very kind of him," said Madelaine, with a touch of sarcasm in her voice. "Kind and unkind, my dear. You see he has no business--nothing to do but to think of other people. But he means well, my dear, and he likes you." "I have often thought so." "Yes; and you were right. He warned me that I was not to let your intimacy grow closer with his nephew." "Indeed, papa!" "Yes, my dear. He said that I was a--well, I will not tell you what, for not stopping it directly, for that Harry was rapidly drifting into a bad course--that it was a hopeless case." "That is not the way to redeem him, father." "No, my dear, it is not. But you were going to say something to me?"