"Jove! No--sister. Sharp and bright as lit' needle." "Just suit you, there, Flick." "Ya-as." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "It came to a climax, then, Dick, eh?" said Pratt. "Franky, old boy, I'm the happiest dog under the sun." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ These fragments of conversation took place at odd times that night; and the next morning, soon after breakfast, Trevor made an excuse to his friends, and started for Tolcarne. "Gone to get his conge, Flick," said Vanleigh. "Poor Trevor! Sorry. Not bad 'fler," said Sir Felix. "Bah! every man for himself. But we shall have to clear out after this. We'll go and stay at Saint Francis, and when the old boy finds we are there, he'll ask us up to Tolcarne." "But seems so shabby to poor Trevor," said Sir Felix. "Pooh, nonsense! Every man has his crosses in this way. Let's get out somewhere, though, so as not to be at hand when the poor beggar comes back; he'll be in a towering fury. I hope he won't make an ass of himself, and force a quarrel on me." Volume 2, Chapter XV. SPEAKING TO PAPA. Meanwhile Trevor was on his way to Tolcarne, where he was shown into the library. He felt flushed and excited, but he had come with the confidence of a conqueror; and, besides, he could feel that he was no ineligible parti for the young lady. "Poor Franky, I know he's bitten by that little fairy," he said, as he waited impatiently--the "directly" of Edward, who had announced that Sir Hampton was in the garden and would come, having extended to ten minutes. "Hang the formality of these things!" said Trevor. "I could talk to that dear little woman, Lady Rea, by the hour without feeling uncomfortable; but as to pater--well, there; it's only once in a man's life. Here he is." The door leading into a farther passage opened this moment, and Trevor rose; but instead of encountering fierce Sir Hampton, in skipped petite Fin, to run up to him flushed and excited, but with her eyes sparkling with pleasure. She placed both her little hands in his, and her words came in hurried jerks, as she exclaimed-- "Tiny told me all about it--last night--Oh, I'm so glad!" "That's right, little fairy," laughed Trevor, smiling down on the pleasant little _face_. "But there's been such a rumpus, and I came to tell you before pa came." "Indeed," said Trevor, retaining the little hands, though there was no effort made to remove them. "Yes, pa's been raging and bullying poor Tiny so. Those friends of yours came and proposed for us, and papa said they might come, and he is horribly cross about it. But you won't give way?" "Do I look as if I would?" said Trevor. "No; and I am glad, because I think you do like Tiny." "Like?" "Well, love her, then. Ma likes you, too." "And little Fin?"