"No, indeed."

"Well, I suppose it is not, and I have been treating her very badly.

Suppose I take your wreath of yellow primroses and carry them to her."

"Oh, yes--if you want to," said Redbud, looking regretfully at the wreath, which she had taken from her brow.

f.a.n.n.y laughed.

"No, I will not," she said; "I have a good reason."

"What?"

"The axiom in heraldry."

"What axiom?"

"Never put color upon color--yellow upon yellow in this instance!"

And Miss f.a.n.n.y burst into laughter, and fairly shook with glee.

Redbud gave her a little reproachful glance, which showed f.a.n.n.y the uncharitable nature of her observation.

"Well," said the owner of the soiled ankles, "I ought not to have said that; but really, she is so ridiculous! She thinks she's the handsomest person in the world, and I do believe she wants to rob us of our beaux."

Redbud smiled, and lightly colored.

"I mean Verty and Ralph," f.a.n.n.y went on, "and I know something is going on. Miss Sallianna is always in love with somebody; it was Mr.

Jinks the other day, and now I think it is one of our two visitors."

"Oh, f.a.n.n.y!"

"Yes, I do! you need'nt look so incredulous--I believe she would flirt with either of them, and make love to them; which," added the philosophic f.a.n.n.y, "is only another phrase for the same thing."

Redbud remained for a moment confused, and avoiding f.a.n.n.y's glance.

Then her innocent and simple smile returned, and leaning her arm affectionately upon the young girl's shoulder, she said, seriously:

"f.a.n.n.y, please don't talk in that way. You know Verty is not an ordinary young gentleman--"

"Oh, no--!" cried f.a.n.n.y, laughing.

"I mean," Redbud went on, with a slight color in her cheek, "I mean, to amuse himself with compliments and pretty speeches--if Miss Sallianna thinks he is, she is mistaken."

"Odious old thing!--to be flirting with all the young men who come to see _us_!" said f.a.n.n.y.

"No, no," Redbud went on, "I think you are mistaken. But as you have mentioned Verty, please promise me one thing, f.a.n.n.y."

"Promise! certainly, Reddy; just ask me whatever you choose. If it's to cut off my head, or say I think Miss Sallianna pretty, I'll do it--such is my devotion to you!" laughed f.a.n.n.y.

Redbud smiled.

"Only promise me to amuse Verty, when he comes."

"Amuse him!"

"Yes."

"What do you mean."

"I mean," Redbud said, sighing, "that I don't think I shall be able to do so."

"What!"

"f.a.n.n.y, you cannot understand," said the young girl, with a slight blush; "I hope, if you are my real friend, as you say, that you will talk with Verty, when he comes, and make his time pa.s.s agreeably."

Redbud's head sank.

f.a.n.n.y gazed at her for a moment in silence, and with a puzzled expression, said:

"What has happened, Reddy, between you and Verty--anything?"

"Oh, no."

"You are blushing! Something must have happened."

"f.a.n.n.y--" murmured Redbud, and then stopped.

"Have you quarreled? You would'nt explain that scene in the parlor the other day, when I made him tie my shoe. You have quarreled!"

"Oh, no--no!"

"I'm glad to hear it," cried f.a.n.n.y, "though I could easily have made it up. I would have gone to Mr. Verty, and told him that he was a wretch, or something of that sort, and made him come and be friends again."

Redbud smiled, and said:

"We have not quarreled; but I don't think I shall be able to amuse him very much, if he comes this morning, as I think he will. Please promise me--I don't like Verty to be unhappy."

And the ingenuous face of the young girl was covered with blushes.

"I suppose not!--you and Verty are very good friends!" cried f.a.n.n.y, looking out of the window, and not observing Redbud's confusion; "but suppose _my_ cavalier comes--what then, madam?"

"Oh, then I absolve you."

"No, indeed!"

"'No, indeed' what?"

"I won't be absolved."