"That is my direction," said Trevor, quietly; "and as I am only your neighbour, surely you need not treat me as a stranger." "Tiny, it's all your fault," said Fin, maliciously; "so if Aunt Matty scolds, you may take the blame. I would make him carry the basket, though." "Yes, pray let me," said Trevor, holding out his hand. "Thank you, no," said Tiny, recovering herself, and speaking with a very sweet assumption of maidenly dignity. "If Mr Trevor will excuse us, I think we will return now to breakfast. I feel sure that papa will gladly receive you this afternoon." "And you will be at home?" said Trevor, earnestly. "I cannot say," said Tiny, quietly; "but I hope the little unpleasantly will be removed." "You do hope that?" said downright Trevor. "Yes--of course," said Tiny, ingenuously opening her soft eyes, and meeting his this time without a blush. "It would be so unpleasant--so unneighbourly for there to be dissension between us," and she held out her hand. "Good morning, Mr Trevor." If he might only have kissed it! But it would have been enough to stamp him as a boor, and he contented himself with pressing it tenderly as he bent over it. "Good morning, Mr Trevor," said Fin, holding out her hand in turn, and she gazed at him out of her laughing, mischievous eyes, till a dull red glow spread over his bronzed cheeks, and he squeezed her fingers so that she winced with pain. "Good morning," he said. "Eh--what is it?" "Oh, dear!" cried Fin, shutting her eyes, "here's that horrid, solemn-looking little man coming, just in the way we want to go." "Then, let me introduce you," said Trevor, laughing, as Pratt came sauntering along, whistling and cutting off fern leaves with his stick, till he saw the group in front, when he became preternaturally solemn. "Pratt, let me introduce you to my neighbours. Miss Rea--Miss Finetta Rea--my old friend, Frank Pratt." "Pratt! What a disgusting name!" said Fin to herself, as, with a tender display of respect that his friend did not fail to notice, Trevor performed the little ceremony out there amid the gleaming sunbeams; and then they parted. "Oh, Tiny, isn't he delicious?" cried Fin, as soon as they were out of hearing. "Isn't he grand?" "Hush, Fin! How can you?" said her sister. "How can I? So," said Fin, throwing her arms round her sister, and kissing her. "He's head over heels in love with you. What fun! And I hate him for it like poison, because I want him myself." "Fin, dear, don't, pray. Suppose any one heard you." "Don't care if they did. Ugh! I'm as jealous as an Eastern sultana I shall stab you some night with a bodkin. But, I say, isn't the solemn man fun?" "I don't see it," said Tiny, glad of a diversion. "I think he's a regular little cad." "Slang again, Fin!" "Yes, it's because I'm cross and want my breakfast," and she hurried her sister along. "Ahem!" said Pratt, as soon as they were alone in the lane.