Part 3 (2/2)

Harry, in the same manner, kicked his uncle into the sea, and Pradelle's eyes looked closer together than usual, as he turned them upon the young mine-owner.

”I should only be too happy,” said the latter, ”if--”

”Oh, there's plenty of room, Mr Leslie,” cried the girls in duet.

”Pray come.”

The invitation was so genuine that Leslie's heart seemed to leap.

”Oh yes, plenty of room,” said Harry, ”only if the wind drops, you'll have to pull an oar.”

”Of course,” said Leslie, stepping in.

Harry raised the boat-hook, and thrust the little vessel away, and then began to step the mast.

”Lay hold of the rudder, Leslie,” he cried. ”Send us up some fish for tea, uncle.”

”I'll wait and see first whether you come back,” said the old man.

”Good-bye, girls. Don't be uneasy. I'll go and tell the old people if you're drowned.”

”Thank you,” shouted back the young man as he hoisted the little sail, which began to fill at once, and by the time he had it sheeted home, the boat was swiftly running eastward with the water pattering against her bows, and a panorama of surpa.s.sing beauty seeming to glide slowly by them on the left.

”There!” cried Harry to his friend, who had seated himself rather sulkily forward, the order to take the tiller having placed Leslie between Louise and Madelaine. ”Make much of it, Vic: Paddington to-morrow night, hansom cab or the Underground, and next morning the office. Don't you feel happy?”

”Yes, now,” said Pradelle, with a glance at Louise.

”Easy, Leslie, easy,” cried Harry; ”where are you going?”

”I beg pardon,” said the young man hastily, for he had unwittingly changed the course of the boat.

”That's better. Any one would think you wanted to give Uncle Luke the job he talked about.”

Madelaine looked up hastily.

”No: we will not do that, Miss Van Heldre,” said Leslie smiling. ”Shall I hold the sheet, Vine?”

”No need,” said the young man, making the rope fast. ”But--”

”Oh, all right. I know what you're going to say--puff of wind might lay us over as we pa.s.s one of the combes. Wasn't born here for nothing.”

Leslie said no more, but deferred to the opinion of the captain of the boat.

”Might as well have brought a line to trail. You'd have liked to fish, wouldn't you, Vic?”

”Only when we are alone,” said Pradelle. ”Can you tell me the name of that point, Miss Vine?”

”Brea,” said Louise quietly.

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