what you do not
understand. Your papa's cup."

"Don't understand, aunty!" said the girl, passing the cup; "why, I know
all about dogs and horses. You give Pip over to me for a week; I'll
soon put the little wretch right."

Lady Rea saw the horror upon her sister-in-law's countenance, and
catching her daughter's eye, shook her head at her, as she went on
dispensing the tea.

"Have some poached eggs, daddy--pa?" said Fin, correcting herself with
much gravity, and revelling in the look of suffering upon her aunt's
face. "No? Tiny, give papa some of the turkey."

Sir Hampton fed himself mechanically, passed some letters to his wife
and eldest daughter, and read his own.

"Is there no letter for me, Hampton?" said Miss Matilda, plaintively.

There was a grunt, indicative of "No," from the knight; and Miss Matilda
sighed, and went on sipping her sugarless tea, and nibbling some very
dry, butterless toast.

"I say, Aunt Matty," said Fin, merrily, "I mean to take you in hand."

"Take me in hand, child?" said the spinster.

"Yes, aunty. Now, look here; if, instead of stopping grumping here at
home, you had had a jolly good run with us--"

Miss Matilda took a sip of her tea, which might have been vinegar from
the aspect of her countenance.

"You could have gathered ferns, sipped the bright morning dew, come back
with a colour, and eaten a breakfast like I do. Tiny, give me some more
of that turkey."

"Your appetite is really ravenous, child," said Miss Matilda, with a
shudder.

"Not it, aunty; I'm growing--ain't I, ma, dear?"

"Well, my love, I think you are filling out--not growing."

"Oh, but, ma," laughed Fin, with her mouth full, "I'm not going to be
round and plump like you are, am I?"

"Fin!" exclaimed her sister, from the other side of the table.

"Oh, ma knows I don't mean any harm; don't you, dear? It's only my fun,
isn't it? I shouldn't mind--I should like to be such a soft, loving old
dear; shouldn't I?"

"Hush, hush, hush!" exclaimed Lady Rea. "I do think, though, aunty, a
walk would do you good before breakfast."

"Perhaps it might do you good, too," said Miss Matilda, with some
asperity.

"Er-rum, er-rum!" ejaculated Sir Hampton, laying down a big blue
official envelope. "Lady Rea--my dears, I have something to
communicate."

He sat back in his chair, and brushed a few crumbs from his buff
waistcoat.

"Well, pa, dear, what is it?" said Lady Rea, out of her tea-cup.

"Er-rum