The Last of the Foresters Part 47

"No," a.s.sented Redbud.

"_I_ don't dance the minuet--so I did'nt want high-healed shoes--"

f.a.n.n.y began to laugh again.

"Nor a c.o.c.ked hat; the fact is, I do not know how to bow."

"See! Come, Mr. Fisher-for-Compliments!" cried f.a.n.n.y.

"Oh, I never do!"

"Well, I believe you don't."

"Does anybody?"

"Yes; that odious cousin of mine--that's who does--the conceited c.o.xcomb!"

"Your cousin!"

"Yes, sir."

"Who is it?"

"Ralph Ashley."

"Oh--and he comes to see you--and--Miss Sallianna; she said--"

Verty's head drooped, and a shadow pa.s.sed over his ingenuous face.

"There, you're thinking of Miss Sallianna again!"

"No--no," murmured Verty, gazing at Redbud with a melancholy tenderness, and trying to understand whether there could possibly be any foundation for Miss Sallianna's charge, that that young lady was in love with Mr. Ralph Ashley.

"Could it be? Oh, no, no!"

"Could what be?" asked f.a.n.n.y.

For once Verty was reserved.

"Nothing," he said.

But still he continued to gaze at Redbud with such sad tenderness, that a deep color came into her cheek, and her eyes were cast down.

She turned away; and then Miss Lavinia's advice came to her mind, and with a sorrowful cloud upon her face, she reproached herself for the kindness of her manner to Verty, in their present interview.

"I think I'll go and gather some flowers, yonder," she said, smiling faintly, and with a sad, kind look to Verty, in spite of all. "f.a.n.n.y and yourself can talk until I return, you know--"

"Let me go with you," said Verty, moving to her side.

Redbud hesitated.

"Come, Redbud!" said Verty, persuasively smiling.

"Oh, no! I think I would like to get the one's I prefer."

And she moved away.

Verty gazed after her with melancholy tenderness--his face lit up with the old dreamy Indian smile. We need not say that the notable scheme suggested by Miss Sallianna--namely, his making love to some one else to try Redbud--had never crossed the ingenuous mind of the young man.

From that pure mirror the obscuring breath soon disappeared. He did not wish to try Redbud--he loved her too much; and now he remained silent gazing after her, and wholly unconscious of the existence of Miss f.a.n.n.y.

That young lady pouted, and uttered an expressive "hum!"

Verty turned his eyes absently toward her.

"You can go, sir, if you don't like my society--I am not anxious to detain you!" said Miss f.a.n.n.y, with refreshing candor.

"Go where?" said Verty.

"After Redbud."

"She don't want me to."

"Hum!"

And this little exclamation indicated the light in which f.a.n.n.y regarded the excuse.

Verty continued to gaze toward Redbud, who was gathering flowers.

"How kind and good she is!" he murmured.

And these words were accompanied by a smile of so much tender sincerity, that f.a.n.n.y relented.

"Yes, she is!" said that young lady; "I'm glad to see that some of your s.e.x, sir, have a little taste. It is not their failing."

"Anan!" said Verty, smiling.

f.a.n.n.y laughed; and her good humor began to return completely.

"I know some who are utterly deficient," she said.

"In what?"

"Taste."

"Yes."

And Verty gazed after Redbud.

f.a.n.n.y burst out laughing; but then remembering her promise to Redbud, to treat Verty well, and amuse him, checked this exhibition of satirical feeling, and said: