She hurried out of the room before the girl could reply, leaving her
with her little forehead wrinkled by the puzzling, troubled thoughts
which buzzed through her brain.

"Aunt must mean something," she said to herself. "I wonder what she
really does mean. She can't really--oh, nonsense, what a little goose I
am!"

Polly's pretty little face puckered with a smile, and she took up her
work, waiting to be called for breakfast, and sat wondering the while
what Humphrey was doing.

Humphrey was away down by the disputed piece of land, and Trevor soon
forgot all about him; for, crossing a field and leaping a stile, he
stood in one of the winding lanes of the neighbourhood; then crossing
it, and leaping another stile, he began to make his way along the side
of a steep valley, when he stopped short; for, from amongst the trees in
front, rang out, clear and musical--

"There came a lady along the strand,
Her fair hair bound with a golden band,
Sing heigh!"

And a second voice--

"Sing ho!"

Then the two, sweetly blended together, repeated the refrain, "Oh,
Tiny!" cried the voice, "here's one pretty enough to make even Aunt
Matty look pleasant. Oh, my gracious!" she exclaimed, dropping her
little trowel, for Trevor had come into sight.

"Don't be alarmed, pray!" he said, laughing. "But really I did not know
we had such sweet song-birds in the woods."

"It was very rude to listen, Mr Trevor; and it isn't nice to pay
compliments to strangers," said Fin, nodding her saucy head.

"Then," said Trevor, taking the hand slightly withheld, "I shall be rude
again only in one thing--listening; for we must be strangers no more,
seeing that we are such near neighbours. Miss Rea," he said, taking
Tiny's hand in turn, and looking earnestly in her timid eyes, "you were
not hurt yesterday?"

"Oh no, not in the least," was the reply.

"We are indebted to your friends, too, for taking compassion upon us in
our misfortune."

"Don't name that," he said, hastily. "I am glad the carriage came up in
time. By the way, Miss Rea, I am glad we have met, I want to clear up a
little unpleasantly that occurred yesterday."

"Oh, of course," said Fin. "Why, we ought to have cut you this
morning."

"No, no," said Trevor, laughing, "that would be too cruel I am really
very, very sorry about it all; and I have sent a letter over to Sir
Hampton this morning, apologising for my hasty words."

"Oh, have you?" said Fin, clapping