"Franky," cried Trevor, clutching his friend by the arm, "did you ever see a sweeter girl in your life?" "What, than that little Miss who laughed at me?" said Frank. "No, no; the other. I declare she's a perfect angel. I never saw so much sweetness in my life before. I--" "Phew--phew--phew--phew--phew--phew--phew--phew!" whistled Pratt. "Don't be a fool, Franky." "But 'tis my nature to," said Pratt. "Listen, man; I really do believe that there is something true about fellows falling in love at first sight, and that sort of thing; I do indeed." "So do I," said Pratt. "What do you mean?" "Oh, come now, that's rich. To go and get hooked like that, before you've been at home a month! Well, that comes of going to sea, and being out of the way of civilised beings from year's end to year's end. I say, there's a romance beginning here--tyrannical heavy father, and the rest of it." "Nonsense!" cried Trevor. "Come along, old boy; I'm as hungry as a hunter. By Jove, though, I came out on purpose to find Humphrey." "And only met a goddess in the dell," said Pratt. And the two young men returned to breakfast. Volume 2, Chapter V. A CEREMONIOUS CALL. "How could I be such an ass as to ask them down?" said Trevor, aloud, as he stood at the dining-room window directly after lunch. "And then such an ass as to say so out loud?" said a voice behind him; Frank Pratt having returned to the room, and his footsteps being inaudible on the thick Turkey carpet. "Ah, Frank?" said Trevor, turning sharply, "you there!" "Yes, sir," said Pratt, solemnly, "I am here--for the present. Will you have the goodness to order a carriage, or a cart, or something, to convey my portmanteau to Saint Kitt's, and I'll be off by the night train." "Be off--night train--what the deuce do you mean?" "Mean? Why, that you were just accusing yourself of being a fool for firing me down; and--" "Don't, Franky--don't be a donkey I'm worried and bothered, old man. Help me: don't get in my way." "I that moment proposed getting out of it," said Pratt, quietly. "Tut, tut, tut!--you know I didn't mean you. Look here, Frank, I want to go out this afternoon--to make a call." Pratt made a grimace, and an attempt to feel his friend's pulse. "No, no; don't play the fool now," said Trevor. "You know I've only just got those two down, and it would be so rude to leave them." "And you don't want to take them--with you?" "No, certainly not," exclaimed Trevor, hastily. "But they have been introduced," said Pratt. "To whom--where?" said Trevor. "Oh, my dear, transparent, young sea deity," said Pratt, laying his hand on Trevor's shoulder. "It is so easy to see through you. Of course you don't want to go straight off to Sir Hampton Court's this afternoon." "Well, and if I do, what then?" "Nothing, whatever," said Pratt. "She really is nice; I own it."