, dolefully, "with you on my mind for one thing,
and the lion's mouth gaping for my unlucky head."

"Lion's mouth?"

"Yes, Dick; I'm going to Tolcarne to pop my head in; and, to make
matters worse, there's a horrible, sphinxy griffin sits and guards the
lion's den."

"You mean that you are going to propose for little Fin?"

"I am, Dick, I am," said Pratt, excitedly. "I wouldn't have said a word
if I had kept poor, but with my rising income--"

"And some one's permission?"

"Bless her, yes; she says she hates me, and always shall, till her
sister's happy, but I may ask papa, so as to get rid of poor Flick and
his persecutions. I believe the poor chap cares for her; but I can't
afford to let him have her, and make her miserable--eh, Dick?"

"Frank, old fellow, I wish you joy, and I'm glad of it, for she's a dear
little girl."

"Oh, that don't express it within a hundred," said Pratt. "Dear little
girl! That's the smallest of small beer, while she's the finest vintage
of champagne. But, I say, Dick, old fellow, you've got to help me over
this."

"I? How?"

"She says she shall hate me till her sister's happy; and, Dick, old
fellow, there's only one way of making Valentina Rea happy, and that you
know. There--there--I've done. Don't look at me like that. Fortune's
wheel keeps turning on: I shall be down in the mud again soon, and you
cock-a-hoop on the top. Do you stick to your purpose of not going on
to-night?"

"Yes, I shall go on in the morning from Plymouth, be present at the
wedding, and then come away."

"But you'll go and see the old people? Dick, recollect Mrs Lloyd did
all out of love and pride in her boy."

"Yes, I have made up my mind to go and see them," said Richard, quietly.
"I'll try and be a dutiful son."

"And if I can manage it, you shall be a dutiful friend and
brother-in-law too, my boy," muttered Pratt, as he sank back in his
seat, relit his pipe, and smoked in peace.

Plymouth platform was in a state of bustle on the arrival of the train.
The friends had alighted from their coupe, inquired about the early
morning train for Penzance, pointed out their light luggage toon
obsequious porter, whose words buzzed with z's, and were about to make
their way to the great hotel, when Pratt's attention was taken by a
little grey, voluble old woman, very neatly and primly dressed in blue
print, with a scarlet shawl, and a wonderful sugar-loaf beaver hat upon
her head. She was in trou