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.