“Hullo!” cried the old man, “You’re going too?”
“I? going?”
“Yes, of course! To take care of them. I’m not going to have them set off without some one to act as ballast to those boys.”
Louise mentally cast her arms round the old man’s neck and kissed him.
Harry, in the same manner, kicked his uncle into the sea, and Pradelle’s eyes looked closer together than usual, as he turned them upon the young mine-owner.
“I should only be too happy,” said the latter, “if—”
“Oh, there’s plenty of room, Mr Leslie,” cried the girls in duet. “Pray come.”
The invitation was so genuine that Leslie’s heart seemed to leap.
“Oh, yes, plenty of room,” said Harry, “only if the wind drops, you’ll have to pull an oar.”
“Of course,” said Leslie, stepping in.