"Because, as you have so often taught me, we cannot live for ourselves alone. Because he is the son of your very old friend." "Yes," said Van Heldre softly. "Because it might save him from a downward course now that there is, I believe, a crisis in his life." "And because you love him, Maddy?" She answered with a look. "And if I were so insane, so quixotic, as to do all this, what guarantee have I that he would not gradually lead you to think differently--to consent to be his wife before he had redeemed his character?" "The trust you have in me that I should not do anything you did not consider right." "Hah!" ejaculated Van Heldre again. And there was another long silence. "I feel that I must plead for him, father. It would be the turning-point of his life. You could influence him so much." "I'm afraid not, my child. If he has not the manliness to do what is right for your sake, I'm afraid that anything I could do or say would not be of much avail." "You underrate your power, father," said Madelaine, with a look full of pride in him. "And if I did this I might have absolute confidence that matters should go no farther until he had completely changed?" "You know you might." "Hah!" sighed Van Heldre. "You will think this over, father?" "There is no need, my dear." "No need?" "No, my child. I have for some days past been thinking over this very thing, just in the light in which you placed it." "You have, father?" "Yes, and I had a long talk with George Vine this afternoon respecting his son." "Oh, father!" "I told him I could see that the trouble was growing bigger and telling upon him, and proposed that I should take Harry here." Madelaine had started to her feet. "Presuming that he does not refuse after his father has made my proposals known, Harry Vine comes here daily to work under Crampton's guidance." Madelaine's arms were round her father's neck. "You have made me feel very happy and satisfied, my dear," said Van Heldre, pressing her to his breast; "and may heaven speed what is going to be a very arduous task. He will commence in the office next week." Just then Mrs Van Heldre raised her head and looked round. "Bless my heart!" she exclaimed. "I do believe I have nearly been to sleep." CHAPTER EIGHT. UNCLE LUKE SPEAKS HIS MIND. "Hallo, Scotchman!" "Hallo, Eng--I mean, French--What am I to call you Mr Luke Vine?" "Englishman, of course." Uncle Luke was seated, in a very shabby-looking grey aged Norfolk jacket made long, a garment which suited his tastes, from its being an easy comfortable article of attire. He had on an old Panama hat, a good deal stained, and a thick stick armed with a strong iron point useful for walking among the rocks; and upon this staff he rested as he sat outside his cottage door watching the sea and pondering as to the probability of a shoal of fish being off the point.