“Er-rum!” went Sir Hampton, slowly crossing the hall to his library, followed by Lady Rea; and directly after Miss Matilda hurried away, with her pet in her arms.
“Now, Fin, that was cruel. I saw you tread on Pip’s tail,” said Tiny.
“Doing evil that good might come,” said Fin, defiantly. “Look here, Tiny—pets were anciently offered up to save a row. If I hadn’t made him squeal, there would have been pa storming, Aunt Matty going into hysterics, and ma worried to death; so that it was like the old nursery rhyme—”
“I trod sharp on the little dog’s tail;
The dog began to shriek and wail,
And poor Aunty Matty turned mighty pale:
It stopped papa from blowing a gale;
And that’s the end of my little tale.”
“Er-rum!” was heard from across the hall.
“There’s daddy going to lecture me; and look here, Tiny, Edward will come in directly to clear the cloth. Now, then, here’s a penny; let’s toss. Heads or tails, who wins.”
“Wins what?”
“Mr Richard Trevor, and Penreife. Now then, cry!”
“No,” said Tiny, “I’ll laugh instead.”
And she kissed her sister on the cheek.