carelessly.

"Luck's with you to-day, admiral," he said; and he was in the act of
shuffling his cards when he caught sight of his companion's daughter and
niece.

In an instant the cards were thrown down, and the cigar jerked out of
the window.

"What's the matter?" said the admiral. "Ah, girls!"

"We're come to ask you to go for a walk with us, papa, but if--"

Myra's eyes rested for a moment on the admiral's companion, and then
dropped to the cards.

"Our game?" said the younger man quickly. "Oh, that's nothing; we can
play any time, Miss Jerrold, and the weather is lovely now. Why not
accompany the ladies, sir?"

"No, thanks; I get more walking than I care for. Don't go far, girls;
the mountains are full of goblins and dragons, which devour pretty
maidens. Be back soon, and I'll go and sit down with you by the lake.
Now, Barron, your deal."

The gentleman addressed looked at the ladies, and shrugged his shoulders
slightly as much as to say. "You see I have no alternative."

"Then you will not come, papa?" said Myra as she rested her hands on his
shoulders.

"No, my dear; too tired. Don't spoil my luck by stopping; run along."

"Uncle talks to us as if we were two little tots of things, Myry," said
Edie as they crossed the hotel garden.

"Well, why should we not always be to him like the girls he loves and
pets?"

James Barron thought the same as Edie as he dealt the cards, and he
added to himself: "She resents it; I could see her brow wrinkle. That
settles it; I'll chance the throw."

"Ha! Now we can be at peace again," cried the admiral as he settled
himself to his hand, which he played out, and ended by winning the game.

James Barron took up the pack again nervously, threw it down, thrust his
hand into his pocket, and then passed a couple of louis across the
table.

"Cut," said the admiral.

His _vis-a-vis_ shook his head, took out a case, and carefully selected
a cigar, which he proceeded to cut and light.

"Oh, nonsense, man! The luck will change; my turn to-day, your's
to-morrow."

"Pooh! It isn't that, Sir Mark," said Barron, throwing himself back in
his chair. "I can afford to lose a few louis. I'm a bit hipped--out of
sorts."

"Hotel living."

"No, sir; brain. There, I'll speak plainly, even at the risk of your
laughing at me, for we have been friends now at several places during
the last three months--since I met you at Saint Malo."

"Pleasant acquaintances, sir,