"Why?"

"Because I don't know but I prefer Mr. Verty to that conceited cousin of mine."

"What cousin--not Ralph?"

"Yes; I don't fancy him much."

"I thought you were great favorites of each other."

"You are mistaken!" said f.a.n.n.y, coloring; "I did like him once, but he has come back from college at Williamsburg a perfect c.o.xcomb, the most conceited fop I ever saw."

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

"Yes, indeed he has!"

And Miss f.a.n.n.y blushed.

"I hate him!" she added, with a pout; then bursting into a fit of laughter, this young lady added:

"Oh! he promised to bring his alb.u.m to-day, and show me all the 'good wishes' his friends wrote in it for him. Won't that be funny! Just think of finding out how those odious young college geese talk and feel toward each other."

Redbud smiled at Miss f.a.n.n.y's consistency, and was about to reply, when the bell for prayers rang.

The two young girls rose, and smoothing their hair slowly, descended, arm in arm, and still conversing, to the dining-room, where old Scowley, as Verty called her, and Miss Sallianna, awaited them, in state, with their scholars.

Prayer was succeeded by breakfast; and then--the young damsels having eaten with the most unromantic heartiness--the whole school scattered: some to walk toward "town;" others to stroll by the brook, at the foot of the hill; others again to write letters home.

As Miss Sallianna had informed Verty, that day was a holiday, and young ladies going to school have, in all ages of the world, appreciated the beauties and attractions of this word, and what it represents--recreation, that is to say.

Redbud and f.a.n.n.y strolled out in the garden with their arms locked as before, and the merry autumn sunshine streaming on them.

They had a thousand things to talk about, and we may be sure that they did not neglect the opportunity. What do _not_ young ladies at school discuss? Scarcely anything escapes, and these criticisms are often very trenchant and severe.

How they criticise the matrimonial alliance between aged Dives with his crutch and money-bags, and the fascinating and artless Miss Sans Avoir, who dedicates her life to making happy the old gentleman!

How gaily do they pull in pieces the beautiful natural curls of Mr.

Adonis, who purchased them at the perruquier's; and how they scalp Miss Summer Morning, with her smiles and bright-eyed kindness, in the presence of gentlemen--while behind the scenes she is a mixture of the tigress and the asp! All these social anomalies do young ladies at school talk about--as do those who have left school also.

But Redbud and f.a.n.n.y did not--they were far too good-natured to take pleasure in such comments, and instead, spent the hours in laughing, playing and reading in the pleasant arbor. Thus the morning drew on, and the lovely autumn day sailed past with all its life and splendor toward the west. f.a.n.n.y was gazing toward the house, as they thus sat in the arbor, and Redbud was smiling, when a gentleman, clothed in a forest costume, and carrying a rifle, made his appearance at the door of the Bower of Nature.

"Oh, Reddy!" cried f.a.n.n.y, "there's your friend, Verty; and look what a fright he is!"

CHAPTER x.x.xIV.

HOW MISS SALLIANNA ALLUDED TO VIPERS, AND FELL INTO HYSTERICS.

Verty paused upon the threshold of the mansion to push back his long, curling hair; and with a glance behind him, toward Cloud, meant as a caution to that intelligent animal and to Longears, deposited his rifle against the door.

The young man, as we have said, had once more donned his rude forest costume; and even at the risk of appearing to undervalue the graces and attractions of civilization with the costume, which is a necessary part thereof, we must say that the change was an improvement.

Verty's figure, in the dress which he generally wore, was full of picturesqueness and wild interest. He looked like a youthful Leather-stocking; and seemed to be a part of the forest in which he lived, and from which he came.

He had been cramped in the rich clothes; and the consciousness of this feeling, so to speak, had made his manner stiff and unnatural; now, however, he was forest Verty again. His long hair had already become tangled, thanks to the autumn winds, and the gallop to which he had pushed Cloud;--his person a.s.sumed its habitual att.i.tude of wild grace; his eye no longer restless and troubled, had recovered its expression of dreamy mobility, and his lips were wreathed with the odd Indian smile, which just allowed the ends of the white teeth to thread them;--Verty was himself again.

He raised his head, and would have caught sight of the young girls in the garden, but for a circ.u.mstance which occurred just at that moment.

This circ.u.mstance was the appearance of Miss Sallianna--Miss Sallianna arrayed in all her beauties and attractions, including a huge breastpin, a dress of enormous pattern, and a scarf around her delicate waist, azure-hued and diaphanous like the sky, veiled with an imperceptible cloud.

The lady was smiling more than ever; her air was more languishing; her head inclined farther to one side. Such was her ecstacy of "inward contemplation," to use her favorite phrase, that the weight of thought bent down her yellow eye-lashes and clouded her languishing eyes.

She raised them, however, and glancing at Verty, started.

"Good-morning, ma'am," said Verty--"Miss, I mean. I got your letter."

"Good-morning, sir," said Miss Sallianna, with some stiffness; "where are your clothes?"

Verty stared at Miss Sallianna with great astonishment, and said:

"My clothes?"

"Yes, sir."

"These are my clothes."

And Verty touched his breast.

"No, sir!" said Miss Sallianna.

"Not mine?"

"They may be yours, sir; but I do not call them clothes--they are mere covering."

"_Anan_?" said Verty.

"They are barbarous."

"How, ma'am?"

Miss Sallianna tossed her head.

"It is not proper!" she said.

"What, ma'am?"

"Coming to see a lady in that plight."