Part 2 (1/2)
”Thankye. Think I couldn't see?” said the old man, striking and missing his fish. ”Very kind of you to come and see how I was getting on.”
”But I didn't,” said the new-comer, smiling. ”I knew you didn't want me.”
”Here, Louie, make a note of that,” said Uncle Luke, sharply. ”The Scotch are not so dense as they pretend they are.”
”Uncle!”
”Oh, pray don't interpose, Miss Vine. Your uncle and I often have a pa.s.sage of arms together.”
”Well, say what you've got to say, and then go back to your men. Has the vein failed?”
”No, sir; it grows richer every day.”
”Sorry for it. I suppose you'll be burrowing under my cottage and burying me one of these days before my time?”
”Don't be alarmed, sir.”
”I'm not,” growled Uncle Luke.
”Uncle is cross, because he is catching more fish than he wants this morning,” said Louise quietly.
”Hear that, Maddy, my dear?” said the old man, sharply. ”Here's a problem for you:--If my niece's tongue is as keen-edged as that before she is twenty, what will it be at forty?”
The girl addressed laughed and shook her head.
”Any one would think it would be a warning to any sensible man to keep his distance.”
”Uncle! Pray!” whispered the niece, looking troubled; but the old man only chuckled and hooked another fish.
”Going to make a fortune out of the old mine, Leslie!” he said.
”Fortune? No, sir. A fair income, I hope.”
”Which with prudence and economy--Scottish prudence and economy”--he added, meaningly, ”would keep you when you got to be an old man like me.
Bah!”
He s.n.a.t.c.hed out his line and gave an impatient stamp with his foot.
”What is the matter, uncle?”
”What's the matter? It was bad enough before. Look there!”
Volume 1, Chapter II.
ELEMENTS OF A WHOLE.
Madelaine Van Heldre had seen the object of Uncle Luke's vexation before he called attention to it; and at the first glance her eyes had lit up with pleasure, but only to give place to an anxious, troubled look, and faint lines came across her brow.
”Why, it is only Harry with his friend,” said Louise quietly.