"My brother has said that he preferred the fisherman's boat," said Algernon, coming to Harry's assistance, "and I consider that you have no right to ask further why he declined your offer. Good-day to you, sir; come along, Harry," and Algernon rode on. "Proud young cock, he crows as loudly as his father was wont to do," muttered the miller, casting an angry glance at the young gentlemen; "I shall have my revenge some day." "I do not like the look of that fellow," observed Algernon, when they had got out of earshot of the mill. "I am glad you did not go on board his vessel." "He seems rather free and easy in his manners, and his tone wasn't quite respectful, but I suppose his pride was hurt because I chose another man's boat instead of his," answered Harry. "You did not observe the scowl on his countenance when he spoke," said Algernon. Algernon evidently possessed the valuable gift of discernment of character which some can alone gain by long experience. The family party were separating one morning after breakfast, when, the front door standing open on that warm summer day, Harry, as he passed through the hall, caught sight of Dame Halliburt approaching with her basket of fish, accompanied by the blue-eyed little girl he had seen when landing from the _Nancy_. "Come here, Julia," he exclaimed. "Does not that sturdy fishwife with her little daughter trotting along by her side present a pretty picture? I wish an artist were here to take them as we see them now." "Yes, Gainsborough would do them justice. He delights in rustic figures, though the child should have bare feet, and I see she has shoes and stockings on," answered Julia. "The little girl would, at all events, make a sweet picture in her red cloak and hat," observed Miss Pemberton, who with her sister as they crossed the hall had heard Harry's exclamation, and had come to the door; and she described her to Miss Mary. "I should like to speak to her. I can always best judge of people when I hear their voices," observed Miss Mary. Harry proposed asking Dame Halliburt and the little girl to come up to the porch, but they had by this time passed on towards the back entrance. "The dame is probably in a hurry to sell her fish and to go on her way," observed Miss Pemberton. "We will talk to her another time." "Come, Harry, madame is ready to give you your French lesson," said Julia, and they went into the house. Before luncheon Madame De La Motte proposed taking a walk. "And we will talk French as we proceed. You shall learn as much as you will from your books," she said, inviting Harry to accompany her and her pupil. Harry gallantly expressed his pleasure, and they set out to take a ramble through the fields in the direction of Hurlston. They had got to some distance, and were about to turn back, when they saw in the field beyond them the same little girl in the red cloak who had come with Dame Halliburt to the house.