aid 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 goddess 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 ass as to ask them down?" said Trevor, aloud, as
he stood at the dining-room window directly after lunch.

"And then such an ass as to say so out loud?" said a voice behind him;
Frank Pratt having returned to the room, a