meant
things for the second best, I wouldn't care, for then one might perhaps
be comfortable."

"But, my dear, don't talk so," said Lady Rea; "and I think you are
misjudging Aunt Matty about her sending to Captain Vanleigh."

"Oh no, ma, dear," cried Fin. "It's quite right. That dreadful noodle,
Sir Felix, let it all out to me just now in the dining-room, while the
Captain was upstairs with you."

"Has he been speaking to you, then?" said Lady Rea, eagerly.

"Yes, ma," said Fin, coolly; but there was a pretty rosy flush in her
little cheek.

"What did he say, dear?"

"He-haw, he-haw, he-haw-w-w-w!" said Fin, seriously.

"Fin!"

"Well, it sounded like it, ma," said Fin, "for I never did meet such a
donkey."

"But, my dear Fin--"

"Well, I know, ma," exclaimed Fin, "it's rude of me; but I'm naturally
rude. I've got what Aunt Matty would call the mark of the beast on me,
and it makes me wicked."

"Tut, tut, tut! Fin, my dear," said Lady Rea, drawing her child to her,
till Fin lay with her head resting against her, but with her face
averted. "Now, come, tell me all about it. I don't like you to have
secrets from me."

"Well, ma, he met me, and begged for five minutes' interview."

"Well, my dear?"

"Well, ma, I told him it was of no use, for I knew what he was going to
say."

"Oh, Fin, my dear child, I'm afraid they neglected your etiquette very
much at school."

"No, they didn't, ma," said Fin, with her eyes twinkling--"they were
always sowing me with it; but I was stony ground, as Aunt Matty would
say, and it never took root. Oh, ma, if you had only seen what a donkey
he looked!--and he smelt all over the room, just like one of Rimmel's
young men. Then," continued Fin, speaking fast and excitedly, "he went
on talking stuff--said he'd lay his title and fortune at my feet; that
he'd give the world to win my heart, and I told him I hadn't got one;
said he should wait patiently, and kept on talk, talk, talk--all stuff
that he had evidently been learning up for the occasion; and I'd have
given anything to have been able to pull his ears and rumple his hair,
only he might have thought it rude."

"Oh yes, my dear," said mamma, innocently.

"And at last I said I didn't think I should ever accept any one, for I
hated men; and then he sighed, and looked at me side-wise, and wanted to
take my hand; and I ran out of the room, and that's all."

"But, Fin, my dear--"

"Oh, I know, ma, it was horribl