Part 16 (2/2)
”Yes.”
There was another sigh as if of relief on both sides, and the two girls kissed again and parted.
It was a brisk quarter of an hour's walk to the Van Heldres', which lay at the end of the main street up the valley down which the little river ran; and on entering the door, with a longing upon her to go at once to her room and sit down and cry, Madelaine uttered a sigh full of misery, for she saw that it was impossible.
As she approached the great stone porch leading into the broad hall, which was one of the most attractive-looking places in the house, filled as it was with curiosities and other objects brought by the various captains from the Mediterranean, and embracing cabinets from Constantinople with rugs and pipes, little terra-cotta figures from Sardinia, and pictures and pieces of statuary from Rome, Naples, and Trieste, she was saluted with--
”Ah, my dear, I'm so glad you've come back. Where's papa?”
”I have not seen him, mamma.”
”Busy, I suppose. How he does work!” Then suddenly, ”By the way, that Mr Pradelle. I don't like him, my dear.”
”Neither do I, mamma.”
”That's right, my dear; I'm very glad to hear you say so; but surely Louie Vine is not going to be beguiled by him?”
”Oh no.”
”All, that's all very well; but Luke Vine came in as he went by, to say in his sneering fas.h.i.+on that Louie and Mr Pradelle were down on the sh.o.r.e, and that you were walking some distance behind with Harry.”
”Mr Luke Vine seems to have plenty of time for watching his neighbours,” said Madelaine contemptuously.
”Yes; he is always noticing things; but don't blame him, dear. I'm sure he means well, and I can forgive him anything for that. Here's your father.”
”Ah! my dears,” said Van Heldre cheerily. ”Tired out.”
”You must be,” said Mrs Van Heldre, bustling about him to take his hat and gloves.
”Here, do come and sit down.”
The merchant went into the drawing-room very readily, and submitted to several little pleasant attentions from wife and daughter.
Evening came on with Van Heldre seated in his easy-chair, thoughtfully watching wife and daughter; both of whom had work in their laps; but Mrs Van Heldre's was all a pretence, for, after a few st.i.tches, her head began to nod forward, then back against the cus.h.i.+on, and then, as if by magic, she was fast asleep.
Madelaine's needle, however, flew fast, and she went on working, with her father watching her attentively, till she raised her eyes.
”You want to say something to me, Maddy,” he said in a low voice.
”Yes, papa.”
”About your walk down on the beach?”
Madelaine nodded.
”You know I went.”
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