And then, as the door opened, "Who
is it?"

"Hebe!" said Pratt, softly.

"Eh?" said Trevor.

"If you please, sir, Mrs Lloyd said I was to bring this in," said a
pleasant little voice; and Trevor swung himself round in his chair, to
gaze upon a pretty little very round-faced girl of about seventeen or
eighteen, with smooth brown hair, clear white complexion, rather large
eyes, ruddy lips, and a face like fire with confusion. There were the
faint traces, too, of tears lately wiped from her eyes, and her pleasant
little voice had a plaintive ring in it as, in answer to Trevor's "Eh?"
and wondering stare, she repeated her words--

"If you please, sir, Mrs Lloyd said I was to bring this in."

"And pray what is this?" said Trevor, glancing at the salver the girl
carried, bearing a good-sized silver flagon, with chased lid, and a
snowy napkin placed through the handle.

"If you please, sir, it's a pint of new milk beat up with three eggs,
three glasses of sherry, and some lump sugar," said the girl.

"And who's it for?" said Trevor.

"For you and the gentleman, sir; Mrs Lloyd said the sea air must have
made you faint."

"Well," said Trevor, "hand it to Mr Pratt, there."

The girl bore the flagon to Pratt, who took it, but emitted such a
volume of strong tobacco smoke that the girl sneezed, and choked, and
then looked more scarlet and confused than ever.

"I beg your pardon," said Pratt; and then he raised the flagon to his
lips, and took a long draught, wiping the brim afterwards with the
napkin. "Splendid, old fellow!" he said. "Take it to--your master."

"And pray who may you be, my dear?" said Trevor, looking critically at
the girl, but relieving her from his gaze the next moment, in compassion
for her confusion.

"If you please, sir, I'm Aunt Lloyd's niece," said the girl.

"And are you anything here--housemaid, or--?"

"Oh no, sir, if you please. I am here on a long visit to my aunt; and
she said I was to help her."

"Well," said Trevor, setting down the flagon, "tell her the milk was
excellent; but she is not to send anything in again without I ring for
it. Well, what's the matter?"

The girl was looking in a pitiful way at him, and she remained silent
for a few moments, when he spoke again.

"Is anything the matter?"

"Must--must I tell her that, sir?"

"Yes. Why not?" said Trevor.

"Because--because, if you please, sir, I..."

The girl did not finish, but uttered a sob, and ran out of