on, my dear. What's the next question? Come to the
point."

She was far too genuine a woman to do anything of the sort. She
skirted round the point and calculated her distance to the nicety of a
hair-breadth.

"We were all very much surprised yesterday--were we not, papa? Frank is
wonderfully lucky, isn't he?"

"He's the luckiest dog I ever came across," said Mr. Vanstone "But what
has that got to do with this business of yours? I dare say you see your
way, Magdalen. Hang me if I can see mine!"

She skirted a little nearer.

"I suppose he will make his fortune in China?" she said. "It's a long
way off, isn't it? Did you observe, papa, that Frank looked sadly out of
spirits yesterday?"

"I was so surprised by the news," said Mr. Vanstone, "and so staggered
by the sight of old Clare's sharp nose in my house, that I didn't much
notice. Now you remind me of it--yes. I don't think Frank took kindly to
his own good luck; not kindly at all."

"Do you wonder at that, papa?"

"Yes, my dear; I do, rather."

"Don't you think it's hard to be sent away for five years, to make your
fortune among hateful savages, and lose sight of your friends at home
for all that long time? Don't you think Frank will miss _us_ sadly?
Don't you, papa?--don't you?"

"Gently, Magdalen! I'm a little too old for those long arms of yours
to throttle me in fun.--You're right, my love. Nothing in this world
without a drawback. Frank _will_ miss his friends in England: there's no
denying that."

"You always liked Frank. And Frank always liked you."

"Yes, yes--a good fellow; a quiet, good fellow. Frank and I have always
got on smoothly together."

"You have got on like father and son, haven't you?"

"Certainly, my dear."

"Perhaps you will think it harder on him when he has gone than you think
it now?"

"Likely enough, Magdalen; I don't say no."

"Perhaps you will wish he had stopped in England? Why shouldn't he stop
in England, and do as well as if he went to China?"

"My dear! he has no prospects in England. I wish he had, for his own
sake. I wish the lad well, with all my heart."

"May I wish him well too, papa--with all _my_ heart?"

"Certainly, my love--your old playfellow--why not? What's the matter?
God bless my soul, what is the girl crying about? One would think Frank
was transported for life. You goose! You know, as well as I do, he is
going to China to make his fortune."

"He doesn't want to make his fortune--he might d