Part 16 (1/2)
”Yes, to ask it at such a time when, after being placed in post after post by my father's help, and losing them one by one by your folly, you--”
”Oh, come, that will do,” cried the young man angrily; ”if it's to be like this it's a good job that we came to an explanation at once. So this is gentle, amiable, sweet-tempered Madelaine, eh! Hallo! You!”
He turned sharply. Louise and Pradelle had come over a stretch of sand with their footsteps inaudible.
”It is quite time we returned, Madelaine,” said Louise gravely; and without another word the two girls walked away.
”'Pon my word,” cried Harry with a laugh, ”things are improving. Well, Vic, how did you get on?”
”How did I get on indeed!” cried Pradelle angrily. ”Look here, Harry Vine, are you playing square with me?”
”What do you mean?”
”What I say: are you honest, or have you been setting her against me?”
”Why you--no, I won't quarrel,” cried Harry. ”What did she say to you?”
”Say to me? I was never so snubbed in my life. Her ladys.h.i.+p doesn't know me if she thinks I'm going to give up like that.”
”There, that'll do, Vic. No threats, please.”
”Oh, no; I'm not going to threaten. I can wait.”
”Yes,” said Harry, thoughtfully; ”we chose the wrong time. We mustn't give up, Vic; we shall have to wait.”
And they went back to their old nook beneath the cliff to smoke their pipes, while as the thin blue vapour arose Harry's hot anger grew cool, and he began to think of his aunt's words, of Comte Henri des Vignes, and of the fair daughters of France--a reverie from which he was aroused by his companion, as he said suddenly--
”I say, Harry, lad, I want you to lend me a little coin.”
Volume 1, Chapter VII.
CHEZ VAN HELDRE.
The two friends parted at the gate, Madelaine refusing to go in.
”No,” she said; ”they will be expecting me at home.”
”Maddy dear, ought we not to confide in each other?”
”Ah!” exclaimed Madelaine, with a sigh of relief that the constraint was over. ”Yes, dear. Did Mr Pradelle propose to you?”
”Yes.”
”And you told him it was impossible?”
”Yes. What did my brother want to say?”
”That we ought to be married now, and it would make him a better man.”
”And you told him it was impossible?”