; "and he says that the next time he writes
to his old aunt in Wales, he'll tell her to send some of the beautiful
little rare ferns that grow up on one of the mountains, in a place that
nearly broke my teeth when I tried to say it."

Lady Rea shook her head at her daughter, who rattled on.

"Well, you know about Penreife belonging to Lieutenant Trevor?"

Lady Rea nodded.

"Well, Humphrey's got orders to go to town to meet his master, who has
been on a cruise round the world, and his ship's paid off, and now he's
going to settle at home."

"Who's going to settle at home?" inquired Sir Hampton.

"Lieutenant Trevor."

"Ah! a sailor person, and rough, I suppose--sailors always are," said
Sir Hampton.

"Yes," cried Finetta, "they haul in slack, and cry `Avast!' at you, and
`shiver my timbers!' But, I say--I like sailors; I shall set my cap at
him."

"Finetta!" gasped Miss Matilda.

"Don't talk nonsense, child," said Lady Rea. "Don't you hear what papa
says about sailors being so rough? I daresay he isn't a bit of a
gentleman."

"But he's an officer, ma, dear," said Finetta; "and if Tiny hasn't made
up her mind to have him, I shall. They are doing all sorts of things up
at the house; and it's to be full of company, Mrs Lloyd says; and she
looked as proud as a peacock, as she stood smoothing her white apron.
We're sure to be invited; and won't it be a good job! for this place is
so jolly dull."

"Ah, my child," said Aunt Matilda, "if you would only properly employ
your time, you would not find it dull."

"What! knit mittens, bother the poor people, and read Saint Thomas a
Kempis, aunty?" replied Finetta. "No, thank you. But Mr Trevor's
coming--I say, ought we to call him lieutenant?--it's so absurd--ought
to brighten up the place a bit; and of course, ma, you'll ask him here?"

"Er-rum!" ejaculated Sir Hampton, rousing himself from his day-dreams.
"It is my wish that there should always be shown in my establishment the
hospitality of--er--er--a country gentleman."

"And a knight," said Miss Matilda, softly.

"Thank you, Matilda--and a knight," said Sir Hampton. "But, my dears, I
have great pleasure in announcing to you that I have made up my mind
that we shall now pay a short visit to the great metropolis."

"How jolly!" said Finetta. "But what are we going for, pa, dear?"

"My dear, I have several things to see about," said Sir Hampton. "To
engage a groom for one thing, to buy horses for anoth