“But you have been one of the party so far, and I should—Louie, my dear—”
“We shall be very glad if you will come, Mr Leslie,” said Louise, in response to her father’s hesitating words and look, and there was a calm, ingenious invitation in her words that made the young man’s heart throb.
“I, too, shall be very glad,” he said quietly.
“That’s right, that’s right,” said Mr Vine, laying one of his long thin white hands on the young man’s arm: and then changing its position, so that he could take hold of one of the buttons on his breast. Then turning quickly: “Madelaine’s coming, of course.”
“Louie says so,” said the girl quietly.
“To be sure; that’s right, my dear; that’s right,” said the old man, beaming upon her as he took one of her hands to hold and pat it in his. “You’ll come too, Van?”
“I? No, no. I’ve some bills of lading to look over.”
“Yah!” ejaculated Uncle Luke with a snarl.
“Yes; bills of lading, you idle old cynic. I can’t spend my time fishing.”
“Pity you can’t,” said Uncle Luke. “Money, money, always money.”