"Admiration is a weak word, Miss Sallianna."
"Opprobrium?" suggested the lady.
"Yes, yes! that is the word! Thank you, Miss Sallianna. I am not as strong in philology as you are. I should have said opprobrium--that is what I have always regarded beauty, such as yours, all my life."
Miss Sallianna covered her face with her fan. Here was an opportunity to supply the place of the faithless Verty and the odious Jinks.
As the thought occurred to her, Miss Sallianna a.s.sumed an awful expression of favor and innocent fondness. Ralph shuddered as he caught sight of it.
"Are you fond of ladies, sir?" asked Miss Sallianna, smiling.
"Yes, Miss Sallianna, devotedly," said Ralph, recovering, in some degree.
"I should think so."
"Why, madam?"
"From your visits."
"My visits?"
"Oh, yes--you are very sly!"
"Sly?--I?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Never!"
"I think you have grown fond of--"
"Yourself, madam?"
"La--no. I fear--"
"As I do--"
"That such a thing--"
"Is more than I could presume to do," said Ralph, laughing.
Miss Sallianna bestowed upon the young gentleman a look from her maiden eyes, which seemed to say that he might presume to grow fond of her, if it had really become necessary to his peace of mind.
"But I meant f.a.n.n.y," she said.
"f.a.n.n.y!"
"Yes, your cousin."
"A mere baby!" said Ralph, with nonchalance.
"I agree with you."
"Which I consider a circ.u.mstance of great encouragement, Miss Sallianna. The fact is, f.a.n.n.y is very well in her way, and in course of time will make, no doubt, a very handsome woman. But at present I only call to see her because I have nothing else to do."
"Indeed?"
"I am just from college."
"Yes."
"And consequently very innocent and inexperienced. I am sure you will take charge of my education."
"La! Mr. Ashley."
"I mean, Miss Sallianna, the education, not of my mind--that is finished and perfect: Oh, no! not that! The education of my heart!"
Ralph was getting on at headlong speed.
"Do you consent?" he said.
"La--really--indeed--"
"Why not, oh, beautiful lady--"
"How can I ever--so inexperienced--so innocent a person as myself can scarcely--"
And Miss Sallianna fell into a flutter.
"Then f.a.n.n.y must."
"Oh, no!" observed Miss Sallianna, with vivacity.
"Why not?" said Ralph.
"She could not--"
"Could not!"
"She is too young, and then besides--"
"Besides, Miss Sallianna?"
"She is already taken up with her affair with Mr. Verty."
"What!" cried Ralph, beginning to have the tables turned upon him, and to suffer for his quizzing.
"She is evidently in love with Mr. Verty," said Miss Sallianna, compa.s.sionately; "that is, the child fancies that she feels a rare and inexpressive delight in his presence. Such children!"
"Yes, madam!" said Ralph, frowning.