Now, you go down, and make a nice
curtsey, may dear, not like Mrs. Finch makes it, you know, but as, Ay
bet, you have larnt it at the dancing school; a scrape behind with one
foot, you know, and hold your frock with two hands, and then say, 'My
uncle hopes you will make yourself quite at home, sir.'"

"Oh, uncle!" said Valmai, in despair, "he's not come out yet from his
bedroom. Won't I wait till he is seated down at his tea, and till Mrs.
Finch has gone?"

"Well, confound the ole 'ooman," said the captain, knocking violently
on the floor, "where is she now? Why don't she come and tell me how
he's getting on? Roast fowl nicely browned, may dear? Egg sauce?"

"Yes, and sausages, uncle. There, he is come out now, and Mrs. Finch
is taking the fowl in; he is saying something to her and laughing. Now
he is quite quiet," said the girl.

"Of course; he's attending to business." And for the next quarter of
an hour, Valmai had the greatest difficulty in restraining her uncle's
impatience.

"Let him have time to finish, uncle!"

"Yes, yes; of course, may dear, we'll give him time."

"I can now hear Mrs. Finch say, Is there anything else, sir? So she is
going. Yes, there, she has shut the front door. Oh, dear, dear! Now
if he rings, I _must_ go in."

"Oh, dear, dear," said the captain, in an irritable voice, "what is
there to oh, dear, dear, about? You go down and do as Ay tell you, and
you can just say, as the ladies do, you know, 'I hope your tea is to
your laiking, sir.' Go now, at once." And as she went, with
hesitating footsteps, he threw an encouraging "Good gel" after her.

CHAPTER X.

THE WEB OF FATE.

Arrived on the door-mat of the little parlour, where Cardo Wynne was
coming to an end of a repast, which showed by its small remnants that
it had been thoroughly appreciated, Valmai fell into a tremor of
uncertainty. Was it Cardo? Yes, she could not be mistaken in the
voice; but how would he take her sudden appearance? Would he be glad?
Would he be sorry? And the result of her mental conflict was a very
meek, almost inaudible knock.

"Come in," shouted Cardo from within. Another pause, during which
Cardo said, "Why the deuce don't you come in?"

The door was slowly opened, and there appeared Valmai, blushing and
trembling as if she had been caught in some delinquency.

For a moment Cardo was speechless with astonishment, but not for long,
for, in answer to Valmai's apologetic, "Oh!