said, heartily--"out for a walk?"

"Yes, sir," said Polly, all in a flutter. "I've been--"

"I see, picking wild flowers," said Trevor. "Well, come, give me one
for my coat."

The girl hesitated, and then took a cornflower from her little bouquet.

"Thanks," he said, smiling. "But I shan't pay you for it with a kiss.
I ought to, though, oughtn't I?"

"Oh, no--please no!" said the girl, with a frightened look, and she
glanced round.

"What?" said Trevor, "is there some one coming? There, run away; and
tell your aunt to take care of you."

The girl hurried away, and Trevor walked on, to come suddenly upon
Humphrey, leaning upon his thistle staff, at a turn of the road.

"Ah, Humphrey," he said, "going your rounds? I want to have a talk to
you to-morrow."

There was a hard, stern look on the young man's face as he involuntarily
saluted his master; but Trevor did not notice it, and turning down the
lane which led to Tolcarne, he began to tap his teeth with the stick he
carried, and run over in his own mind what he should say, till he
reached the new gates, walked up to the house, and was shown into the
presence of the knight's sister.

Miss Matilda Rea did not like Cornwall, principally for theological
reasons. She preferred her brother's town-house in Russell Square,
because she was within reach of the minister she "sat under"--a
gentleman who, she said, "was the only one in London to awaken her
stagnant belief."

The fact was that Aunt Matty was a lady who required a zest with her
worship--she liked pickles with her prayers, and her friend the minister
furnished them--verbal pickles, of course, and very hot.

But there were other reasons why she did not like Cornwall; there were
no flagstones; the people did not take to her visitations; her prospects
of getting a suitable companion grew less; and lastly, Cornwall did not
agree with her dog.

Aunt Matty was dividing her time between nursing Pepine, who was very
shivery about the hind legs, and reading small pieces out of a "serious"
book--tiny bits which she took like lozenges, and then closed her eyes,
and mentally sucked them, so as to get the goodness by degrees. In
fact, she was so economical with her "goody" books, that one would last
her for years.

"Mr Trevor!" said the servant, loudly, and then--"I'll tell Sir
Hampton, sir, that you are here."

Aunt Matty raised her eyes, and Pepine barked virulently at the
stranger, as her mistress half