has come from Mudie's."

"Disgraceful--and on one's own land, too," growled Sir Hampton, not
heeding his daughter, but still muttering thunder.

"But you will take us, papa?" said Fin, leaning on his shoulder.

"Such insolence!" muttered Sir Hampton.

"Was he trespassing, Hampton?" said Miss Matilda.

"Yes, and a pack of fellows along with him," cried Sir Hampton, firing
up once more.

"You'll take us out, pa, dear?" said Fin, getting her cheek against his.

"No, no! well, there, yes," said Sir Hampton; and then, looking like a
half-mollified bull, he submitted to having his cheeks patted, and his
stiff cravat untied and retied by the busy fingers of his pet child.

"In half an hour, dad?"

"Yes, yes; only don't bother. Er-rum!" he ejaculated, as Fin flew to
the bell, "tell them to bring round the waggonette."

Sir Hampton rose and left the room, firing a shot as he crossed the
hall. Then the footman came in to receive his orders, and directly
after Lady Rea looked admiringly across at her daughter.

"Ah, Fin, my dear, I wish I could manage your papa as you do."

"Really, Frances," said Miss Matilda, bridling up, "I don't think that
is a proper way for you to speak respecting a parent to a child."

Poor downright Lady Rea looked troubled and distressed.

"Really, Matty," she began.

"Oh, it's all right," said Fin, coming to the rescue. "It's because you
don't understand, Aunt Matty; only married people do. Why don't you
marry Mr Mervyn?"

Miss Matilda rose from her chair, smoothed her skirts, gazed in utter
astonishment at her niece, and marched out of the room.

"Oh, Fin!" exclaimed her sister.

"You shouldn't do it, my dear," said Lady Rea, in whose gentle eyes the
tears were gathering.

"I should!" said Fin, stamping her foot and colouring with passion. "I
won't stand here and hear my dear mother snubbed in that way by any one
but papa; and if Aunt Matty only dares to do such a thing again, I'll--
I'll--I'll say something horrid."

The next moment she had flung her impetuous little self into Lady Rea's
arms, and was sobbing passionately; but only to jerk herself free, and
wipe her eyes directly in a snatchy fashion.

"It's so vexatious, too, for papa to turn like that, when Mr Trevor's
one of the nicest, dearest, handsomest fellows you ever saw. Isn't he,
Tiny?"

"I thought him very pleasing and gentlemanly," said Tiny, flushing
slightly.

"She thought ever so much more of him than