"Thank you, sir," said Fin, with a mock curtsey.

"Is she always as merry as this?" said Trevor to Tiny, who glanced at him again, to once more lower her eyes in confusion, he looked at her so earnestly.

"Yes; but you must not heed what she says," was the reply.

"I'm very wicked in my remarks, Mr Trevor," said Fin; "and now, sir, if you please, we are going this way to dig up ferns--so good morning."

"That is my direction," said Trevor, quietly; "and as I am only your neighbour, surely you need not treat me as a stranger."

"Tiny, it's all your fault," said Fin, maliciously; "so if Aunt Matty scolds, you may take the blame. I would make him carry the basket, though."

"Yes, pray let me," said Trevor, holding out his hand.

"Thank you, no," said Tiny, recovering herself, and speaking with a very sweet a.s.sumption of maidenly dignity. "If Mr Trevor will excuse us, I think we will return now to breakfast. I feel sure that papa will gladly receive you this afternoon."

"And you will be at home?" said Trevor, earnestly.

"I cannot say," said Tiny, quietly; "but I hope the little unpleasantly will be removed."

"You do hope that?" said downright Trevor.

"Yes--of course," said Tiny, ingenuously opening her soft eyes, and meeting his this time without a blush. "It would be so unpleasant--so unneighbourly for there to be dissension between us," and she held out her hand. "Good morning, Mr Trevor."

If he might only have kissed it! But it would have been enough to stamp him as a boor, and he contented himself with pressing it tenderly as he bent over it.

"Good morning, Mr Trevor," said Fin, holding out her hand in turn, and she gazed at him out of her laughing, mischievous eyes, till a dull red glow spread over his bronzed cheeks, and he squeezed her fingers so that she winced with pain.

"Good morning," he said. "Eh--what is it?"

"Oh, dear!" cried Fin, shutting her eyes, "here's that horrid, solemn-looking little man coming, just in the way we want to go."

"Then, let me introduce you," said Trevor, laughing, as Pratt came sauntering along, whistling and cutting off fern leaves with his stick, till he saw the group in front, when he became preternaturally solemn.

"Pratt, let me introduce you to my neighbours. Miss Rea--Miss Finetta Rea--my old friend, Frank Pratt."

"Pratt! What a disgusting name!" said Fin to herself, as, with a tender display of respect that his friend did not fail to notice, Trevor performed the little ceremony out there amid the gleaming sunbeams; and then they parted.

"Oh, Tiny, isn't he delicious?" cried Fin, as soon as they were out of hearing. "Isn't he grand?"

"Hush, Fin! How can you?" said her sister.

"How can I? So," said Fin, throwing her arms round her sister, and kissing her. "He's head over heels in love with you. What fun! And I hate him for it like poison, because I want him myself."

"Fin, dear, don't, pray. Suppose any one heard you."

"Don't care if they did. Ugh! I'm as jealous as an Eastern sultana I shall stab you some night with a bodkin. But, I say, isn't the solemn man fun?"

"I don't see it," said Tiny, glad of a diversion.

"I think he's a regular little cad."

"Slang again, Fin!"

"Yes, it's because I'm cross and want my breakfast," and she hurried her sister along.

"Ahem!" said Pratt, as soon as they were alone in the lane.

"Franky," cried Trevor, clutching his friend by the arm, "did you ever see a sweeter girl in your life?"

"What, than that little Miss who laughed at me?" said Frank.

"No, no; the other. I declare she's a perfect angel. I never saw so much sweetness in my life before. I--"

"Phew--phew--phew--phew--phew--phew--phew--phew!" whistled Pratt.

"Don't be a fool, Franky."

"But 'tis my nature to," said Pratt.

"Listen, man; I really do believe that there is something true about fellows falling in love at first sight, and that sort of thing; I do indeed."

"So do I," said Pratt.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, come now, that's rich. To go and get hooked like that, before you've been at home a month! Well, that comes of going to sea, and being out of the way of civilised beings from year's end to year's end.

I say, there's a romance beginning here--tyrannical heavy father, and the rest of it."

"Nonsense!" cried Trevor. "Come along, old boy; I'm as hungry as a hunter. By Jove, though, I came out on purpose to find Humphrey."

"And only met a G.o.ddess in the dell," said Pratt.

And the two young men returned to breakfast.

Volume 2, Chapter V.

A CEREMONIOUS CALL.

"How could I be such an a.s.s as to ask them down?" said Trevor, aloud, as he stood at the dining-room window directly after lunch.

"And then such an a.s.s as to say so out loud?" said a voice behind him; Frank Pratt having returned to the room, and his footsteps being inaudible on the thick Turkey carpet.

"Ah, Frank?" said Trevor, turning sharply, "you there!"

"Yes, sir," said Pratt, solemnly, "I am here--for the present. Will you have the goodness to order a carriage, or a cart, or something, to convey my portmanteau to Saint Kitt's, and I'll be off by the night train."

"Be off--night train--what the deuce do you mean?"

"Mean? Why, that you were just accusing yourself of being a fool for firing me down; and--"