ade of his
mistress's fan, and Poor Tiny longed for the hour when she could be
alone.

"Lady Rea," said Trevor, at last, "I will not attempt to conceal my
feelings--I think you can guess them, when I tell you that my trouble is
that your daughter passed me in the wood talking to--questioning the
little girl I have mentioned, and I read that in her face which seemed
to say that she despised me."

"Then that's what's made Tiny so low-spirited for the last few days,"
said Lady Rea.

"God bless you for that!" said Trevor, in a low, hoarse voice, "you've
made me very happy. Lady Rea, will you take my part? If I have no
opportunity of explaining, will you do it for me? I am very blunt, I
know--recollect I am a sailor; so forgive me if I tell you that since I
first met Miss Rea, I have scarcely ceased to think about her."

"I'm not cross with you for it," said Lady Rea, "and I will tell Tiny;
but you mustn't ask me to interfere--I couldn't think of doing so.
There," she whispered, "go and talk to her yourself."

And she gave the young fellow so pleasant a look, as their eyes met,
that he knew that if the matter depended upon her, Tiny Rea would be his
wife.

But there was no opportunity as yet, for Tiny had been unwillingly led
to the piano, vacated by Fin, Sir Felix being buttonholed by Sir
Hampton, and Pratt taking his place, and talking to the sharp-tongued
little maid in a way that made her exclaim--

"How solemn you are!"

"Hush!" said Pratt. "Listen! What a sweet voice!"

"Yes, Tiny can sing nicely," replied Fin.

And they listened, as did Trevor, while, in a sweet, low voice, Tiny
sang a pathetic old ballad with such pathos that a strangely sweet sense
of melancholy crept over Trevor, and he stood gazing at her till the
last note had ceased to thrill his nerves, when Vanleigh led her to her
seat, and crossed to pay his court to Aunt Matty, awakened by the song.

"Now," whispered Lady Rea, "go and tell her how it was."

In strict obedience to the indiscreet advice, Trevor crossed to where
Tiny was seated, offered his arm, and together they strolled into the
handsome conservatory.

"Miss Rea," said Trevor, plunging at once in medias res, as Tiny made
one or two constrained replies to his remarks, "I have been explaining
to Lady Rea what trouble I am in."

"Trouble, Mr Trevor?" said Tiny, coldly.

"Yes: how I had ventured to hope that I had won the friendship of two
ladies, and with the vanity, or