His undisguised expression of admiration as he partly rose to receive her caused her to colour a little, as she inquired if his hurt was easier now; but, instead of replying, he said, while venturing slightly to touch her hand:
'Tell me, Miss Melfort, how you came by your dear pretty name of Finella? Not from Finella in "Peveril of the Peak"?'
'Ah, I am very unlike her!'
'You are certainly quite as charming!'
'But neither dumb nor pretending to be so,' said the girl, with one of her silvery little laughs.
'Finella!' said Hammersley, as if to himself, in a low and unconsciously loving tone; 'whence the name? Is it a family one?'
'Don't you know?' she asked.
'How could I know? I know only that I will never forget it.'
'Of course you could not know. The origin of my name is one of the oldest legends of the Howe of the Mearns.'
'Howe—that is Scotch for "hollow," I believe.'