"Come, come, speak out. Now, do you come of your own accord for these walks?" "No, sir. I--I--Aunt makes me." "I thought so--I supposed so," said Trevor. "And why do you come?" "Oh, sir, don't ask me, please--don't ask me," sobbed Polly, now crying out-right. "Now, look here, my little girl; if you'll speak plainly perhaps I can help you. Once more, why do you come here? There, there, don't cry." "Oh, please, sir, it's--it's aunt's doing." "Well, well, child, speak," said Trevor, and he took the girl's hand. "It makes me cross when you will keep on crying." "Pray, sir, don't--pray, don't," she sobbed, trying to withdraw her hand. "Oh! what shall I do?" "Speak put," said Trevor. "Aunt--aunt thinks, sir--wants, sir--you to marry me, sir; and oh!" she cried, throwing herself on her knees, and holding up her little hands as in prayer, "I do hate you so--I do, indeed!" "Thank you, little one," exclaimed Trevor, laughing merrily. "There, Polly, get up before you stain that pretty dress with the moss. Wipe your little eyes, and leave off hating me as soon as you can, and you shall marry Humphrey." "Oh, sir!" faltered Polly, rising. "There, little one, go and walk about till your eyes are not red; and if you should see Humphrey down by the long copse, where they are repairing the ditches, tell him I shall want to see him about three--no, stop, say this evening. I am going for a drive." Polly hesitated a moment, and then caught and kissed his hand, shrinking back the next moment, ashamed at her boldness. "There, I thought you would not hate me," said Trevor. "I'll go back at once and see your aunt. You shan't be unhappy any more, little maiden." "Oh, pray, sir!" cried Polly again. "I'm master here, my child; and I won't have anybody about me made unhappy if I can stay it. Now, trot along." The girl gave him one timid glance, and then went on, while he turned in the direction of Penreife. Before he had gone far, though, he turned back, with a smile on his lip. "I'll wager a sovereign," he thought, "that Humphrey was not down at the long copse, but pretty close at hand, watching for the safety of his sweetheart." He walked sharply back to a curve in the woodland path, and found that he was right; for some distance ahead he caught sight of Polly's pretty muslin dress, and across it there was plainly visible a bar of what resembled olive velveteen. "Eight," said Trevor, smiling. "Well, why shouldn't they be happy too? Now, then, to have it out with Mrs Lloyd." Volume 2, Chapter XVIII. A REVELATION. "If you please," said a hard, cold voice. And Richard Trevor started to find himself face to face with the object of his remark, one which he had uttered aloud. Trevor stood for a moment looking round; but they were quite alone, and standing now in the lane where Mr Mervyn captured Fin Rea in the rugged tree far up the rocky bank.