"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 another, and a gun or two for my friends. I intend to have, too, the west room fitted up for billiards." "For what, Hampton?" said his sister. "Er-rum!--billiards," said Sir Hampton. "It is not often that I venture upon a word, Hampton, respecting your household management; but when I hear of propositions which must interfere with your fixture welfare, I feel bound to speak." "And, pray, what do you mean?" said Sir Hampton, angrily. "I mean that I gave way when you insisted on having cards in the house, because you said your visitors liked whist--" "And you were always rattling the dice box and playing backgammon," retorted Sir Hampton. "That is different," said Miss Matilda; "backgammon is a very old and a very innocent game." "Oh!" said Sir Hampton. "I have known great divines play at backgammon." "And I've known a bishop play a good rubber at whist," said Sir Hampton.