“No,” chuckled the old man, “no. Work away, and make him a useful member of society—like his aunt, eh, Mrs Van.”
“Useful!” cried Mrs Van. “Ah.”
Then old Luke chuckled, and drew the fish from the basket.
“Fine one, ain’t it?” he said.
“A beauty,” cried Mrs Van Heldre ecstatically.
“Pshah!” ejaculated Uncle Luke. “Ma’am, you don’t care for it a bit; but there’s more than I want, and it will help keep your servants.”
“It would, Luke,” said Van Heldre, laughing, as the fish was laid in the dish, “but they will not touch it. Well?”
“Eh? What do you mean by well?” snorted the old man with a suspicious look.
“Out with it.”
“Out with what?”