Uncle Luke Grows Harder.
“I would not stop over these, my dears,” said Vine, as they sat at breakfast, which was hardly tasted, “but if I neglect them they will die.”
He had a glass globe on the table, and from time to time he went on feeding with scraps of mussel the beautiful specimens of actiniae attached to a fragment of rock.
“We’ll all go directly and see if we can be of any use. I’m glad Knatchbull called as he went by.”
“But what news!” said Louise sadly. “It seems so terrible. Only yesterday evening so well, and now—”
She finished her remark with a sob.
“It is very terrible,” said her father; “but I hope we shall soon hear that the villains are caught.”
Harry sat holding the handle of his teacup firmly, and gazing straight before him.
“You’ll go up to the office, of course, my boy?” said Vine.
“Eh? Go up to the office?” cried Harry, starting.