"Don't say that," replied Vanleigh. "But now, Lady Rea, let me try and set myself in a better position with you. Of course you must know that I love Miss Rea?" "Well, yes--I suppose so," said the little lady. "Then let us be friends," said Vanleigh. "I am coming merely as a visitor--a friend of the family; and what I have to ask of you is this, that I may be treated with consideration." "Oh, of course, Captain Vanleigh." "If in the future Miss Rea can bring herself to look upon my pretensions with favour, I shall be the happiest man alive. If she cannot--well, I will be patient, and blame no one." "He was very nice, my dear," said Lady Rea to her daughter. "No one could have been more so; but I told him I didn't think there was any hope." "Of course there isn't, ma, dear," said Fin; "and it's very indecent of him to come as he does, and so soon after Richard's misfortune; but I know how it all was--Aunt Matty did it." "Aunt Matty did it, my dear?" "Yes, ma. Wrote to Captain Vanleigh at his club, and told him all about how pa said poor Richard was not to be mentioned in the house, and how we were all brought up to town for change." "I don't think Aunt Matty would do anything so foolish, my dear," said mamma. "Then how came they to call as soon as we had been up two days?" said Fin. "Aunt Matty would do anything she thought was for our welfare, even if it was to poison us." "Oh, Fin, my dear!" "Well, I can't help it, ma, dear; she is so tiresome. Aunt Matty is so good; I'm glad I'm not, for it does make you so miserable and uncharitable. Oh, ma, darling, what a dreadfully wicked little woman you must be!" "Oh, my dear!" "I'm sure Aunt Matty thinks you are. I often see her looking painfully righteous at you when you are reading the newspaper or a story, while she is studying `Falling Leaves from the Tree of Life,' or `The Daily Dredge.'" "My dear Fin, don't talk so," said Lady Rea. "Aunt Matty means all for the best." "Yes, ma, dear," said Fin, with a sigh, "that's it. If she only meant things for the second best, I wouldn't care, for then one might perhaps be comfortable." "But, my dear, don't talk so," said Lady Rea; "and I think you are misjudging Aunt Matty about her sending to Captain Vanleigh." "Oh no, ma, dear," cried Fin. "It's quite right. That dreadful noodle, Sir Felix, let it all out to me just now in the dining-room, while the Captain was upstairs with you." "Has he been speaking to you, then?" said Lady Rea, eagerly. "Yes, ma," said Fin, coolly; but there was a pretty rosy flush in her little cheek. "What did he say, dear?" "He-haw, he-haw, he-haw-w-w-w!" said Fin, seriously. "Fin!" "Well, it sounded like it, ma," said Fin, "for I never did meet such a donkey." "But, my dear Fin--" "Well, I know, ma," exclaimed Fin, "it's rude of me; but I'm naturally rude. I've got what Aunt Matty would call the mark of the beast on me, and it makes me wicked."