Part 8 (1/2)
”Don't be long, my boy. Tea will be waiting.”
”All right, dad. Lay hold of this oar, Vic, and let's get her moored.”
”Why, you're wet, Mr Leslie,” said the tall gentleman, shaking hands.
”Only sea-water, sir. It's nothing.”
”But,” said the former speaker, looking quickly from one to the other, and his handsome, thoughtful face seemed troubled, ”has there been anything wrong?”
”Harry fell in,” said Louise, speaking rather quickly and excitedly; ”and Mr Leslie--”
”Ah!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the tall gentleman excitedly.
”It was nothing, sir,” said Leslie hastily. ”He swam in among the rocks--into a cave, and he was a long time gone, and I went after him; that's all.”
”But, my dear boy, you must make haste and change your things.”
”I shall not hurt, Mr Vine.”
”And--and--look here. Make haste and come on then to us. There will be a meal ready. It's Harry's last day at home.”
”Oh, thank you, Mr Vine; I don't think I'll come to-night.”
”But you have been one of the party so far, and I should--Louie, my dear--”
”We shall be very glad if you will come, Mr Leslie,” said Louise, in response to her father's hesitating words and look, and there was a calm, ingenuous invitation in her words that made the young man's heart throb.
”I, too, shall be very glad,” he said quietly.
”That's right, that's right,” said Mr Vine, laying one of his long thin white hands on the young man's arm; and then changing its position, so that he could take hold of one of the b.u.t.tons on his breast. Then turning quickly: ”Madelaine's coming, of course.”
”Louie says so,” said the girl quietly.
”To be sure; that's right, my dear; that's right,” said the old man, beaming upon her as he took one of her hands to hold and pat it in his.
”You'll come too, Van?”
”I? No, no. I've some bills of lading to look over.”
”Yah!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Uncle Luke with a snarl.
”Yes; bills of lading, you idle old cynic. I can't spend my time fis.h.i.+ng.”
”Pity you can't,” said Uncle Luke. ”Money, money, always money.”
”Hear him, Mr Leslie?” said Van Heldre smiling. ”Are you disposed to follow his teachings?”
”I'm afraid not,” said Leslie.
”Not he,” snarled Uncle Luke.