that Trevor--poor old Trevor--resigned his pretensions
in the most gentlemanly way."

"Yes, he did," said Lady Rea; "and it was very foolish of him, too."

"Doubtless," said Vanleigh, with a smile; "but still, under the
circumstances, how could he have done otherwise? Ah, Lady Rea, it was a
very sad blow to his friends."

"It's very kind of you to say so, Captain Vanleigh," said Lady Rea.

"Don't say that," replied Vanleigh. "But now, Lady Rea, let me try and
set myself in a better position with you. Of course you must know that
I love Miss Rea?"

"Well, yes--I suppose so," said the little lady.

"Then let us be friends," said Vanleigh. "I am coming merely as a
visitor--a friend of the family; and what I have to ask of you is this,
that I may be treated with consideration."

"Oh, of course, Captain Vanleigh."

"If in the future Miss Rea can bring herself to look upon my pretensions
with favour, I shall be the happiest man alive. If she cannot--well, I
will be patient, and blame no one."

"He was very nice, my dear," said Lady Rea to her daughter. "No one
could have been more so; but I told him I didn't think there was any
hope."

"Of course there isn't, ma, dear," said Fin; "and it's very indecent of
him to come as he does, and so soon after Richard's misfortune; but I
know how it all was--Aunt Matty did it."

"Aunt Matty did it, my dear?"

"Yes, ma. Wrote to Captain Vanleigh at his club, and told him all about
how pa said poor Richard was not to be mentioned in the house, and how
we were all brought up to town for change."

"I don't think Aunt Matty would do anything so foolish, my dear," said
mamma.

"Then how came they to call as soon as we had been up two days?" said
Fin. "Aunt Matty would do anything she thought was for our welfare,
even if it was to poison us."

"Oh, Fin, my dear!"

"Well, I can't help it, ma, dear; she is so tiresome. Aunt Matty is so
good; I'm glad I'm not, for it does make you so miserable and
uncharitable. Oh, ma, darling, what a dreadfully wicked little woman
you must be!"

"Oh, my dear!"

"I'm sure Aunt Matty thinks you are. I often see her looking painfully
righteous at you when you are reading the newspaper or a story, while
she is studying `Falling Leaves from the Tree of Life,' or `The Daily
Dredge.'"

"My dear Fin, don't talk so," said Lady Rea. "Aunt Matty means all for
the best."

"Yes, ma, dear," said Fin, with a sigh, "that's it. If she only