"Now, Matty," said Sir Hampton, "have the goodness to proceed; and in
future, when you enter upon such subjects, have the kindness to--
er-rum--remember that I am not deaf."

"I say, Hampton, after the marked way in which that `seafaring person'
has behaved to Valentina, it is most indiscreet to ask him here."

"Oh, Matty," cried Lady Rea, "I'm sure that young man is as nice as can
be."

"If that was what you intended to say, Matilda--er-rum--it would have
been most indecent before those children," said Sir Hampton, pompously.

"In--"

Aunt Matty could not say it, the word was too outrageous.

"I feel bound--er-rum--bound," said Sir Hampton, with emphasis, "to ask
the young man, as a proprietor, even as we might ask a tenant, Fanny."

"Yes, my love."

"Put down that lawyer as well, Mr--er, er--Mr--" he got the name out
with great disgust at last, "Pratt," and carefully wiped his mouth
afterwards.

"You'll be sorry for this, Hampton," said Miss Matilda, shaking with
virtuous indignation, so that some frozen dewdrops in her head-dress
quivered again, and Pepine, who had been surreptitiously nursed under a
canopy of table-cloth, received, in her excitement, such a heavy nip
from his mistress's knees, that he uttered an awful howl.

"Er-rum--sorry?"

"Yes, sorry. That objectionable person is always hanging about the
house like--like--like a vagrant; and those girls never go for a walk
without being accosted by him or his companion. If you have any eyes,
you ought to see."

"Oh, Matty, pray don't," said Lady Rea, appealingly.

"Er-rum! Silence, Fanny," said Sir Hampton. "And as for your remarks,
Matilda, they are uncalled for. My children would not, I am sure,
encourage the--er-rum--advances of that person; and Lady Rea would be
one of the first to crush any--er-rum--thing of the kind."

"Indeed!" said Aunt Matty, spitefully. "That--er-rum--will do," said
Sir Hampton. "Fanny, those will be our guests. See that the dinner is
worthy of our position."

He went out like a stout, elderly emperor of florid habit, and, as soon
after as was possible, Lady Rea beat a retreat, leaving Aunt Matty
taking dog, after her habit, in strokes with one hand, holding a pocket
handkerchief cake in the other; "and looking," Edward the footman, said
in the kitchen, after removing the breakfast things, "like a bilious
image getting ready for a fit."

Sir Hampton's study was horticulture that morning; and, after swallo