“Eh? What? Not like her? Bless her! You’ve almost cause to be jealous, only you need not be, for I’ve room in my heart for both of you. I love her too well to let her be made uncomfortable by our family scapegrace. Dear me! I’m sure that it has.”
“Have you lost anything, dear?”
“Yes, a glass stopper. Perhaps I left it in my room. Mustn’t lose it; stoppers cost money.”
“And here’s some money of yours, father.”
“Eh? Oh, that change.”
“Twenty-five shillings.”
“Put it on the chimney-piece, my clear; I’ll take it presently. We will not be hard on Harry. Let him have his companion. We shall get him round by degrees. Ah, here comes some one to tempt you away.”
In effect Madelaine was passing the window on her way to the front entrance; but Vine forgot all about his glass stopper for the moment, and threw open the glass door.
“Come in here, my clear,” he said. “We were just talking about you.”
“About me, Mr Vine? Whatever were you saying?”