the two children it
contained were fast asleep--one hanging forward, sustained by a strap,
and looking like a fat Punch in a state of congestion; the other leaning
over the side, and having a red place ground in its ear by the
perambulator wheel. Farther on there were more children, playing alone
at throwing dirt, their protectress being engaged in a flirtation with a
butcher in blue with a round, bullet head, whose well-oiled hair shone
in the afternoon sun.

Pratt walked on, getting hopeless as he progressed, for soon he would
come within range of Pepine, and perhaps be discovered when--What was
that?

A sharp, short little cough that could be no other than Fin's; and
there, through the trees, were she and her sister, Tiny resting on Fin's
arm, and walking very slowly.

There was an opening in the shrubs farther on; and hurrying to this,
though it was dangerously near Pepine and Aunt Matty, Pratt waited the
coming of the sisters.

Alas, for human hopes!--they had turned back, and he had to hurry after
them for some distance before he could find an opening sufficiently
clear to display his figure, when he hazarded a cough; and on Fin
looking sharply round, he followed it up with a "How d'ye do, Miss Rea?"

"It's Mr Pratt!" he heard Fin whisper. And then came back a quiet
response.

"Do you always walk like this--within prison bars?" said Pratt, walking
on parallel with them.

"It can't be prison when one holds the keys, Mr Pratt," said Fin,
sharply.

"You'll let me shake hands?" he said, after a pause. "I never see you
now."

"How can you?" said Fin, sharply, "when you never call."

"What was the use of my calling, when your servant could only speak me
one speech?" said Pratt.

"And pray, what was that?" said Fin, with her nose in the air. "Not at
home."

Fin gave her foot a little stamp on the gravel, and whispered to her
sister. By this time they had reached the gate, just as a nursemaid
unlocked it to pass through with her charge.

"Thanks," said Pratt, quietly. And, walking in, he was the next moment
with Fin and her sister; the former looking defiant, and half drawing
back her hand, the latter so pale and ill that, forgetting Fin, Pratt
took both her hands affectionately, as, with a husky voice, he
exclaimed--

"My dear Miss Rea, I didn't know you had been so ill."

Tiny answered with a gentle smile; and Fin, who had been setting up all
the thorns about her, ready to tear and lacerate t