"Especially that silly young man."
"Verty?"
"Yes; he is very presumptuous, too. Just think that he presumed to--to--make love to me this morning;" and Miss Sallianna"s countenance was covered with a maiden blush. "I could scarcely persuade him that his attentions were not agreeable."
And Miss Sallianna looked dignified and ladylike.
"f.a.n.n.y in love with him," said Ralph, reflecting.
"Look through the window," said Miss Sallianna, smiling.
Ralph obeyed, and beheld Verty and f.a.n.n.y sitting on a knoll, in the merriest conversation;--that is to say, f.a.n.n.y was thus talking. Young ladies always begin to converse very loud when visitors arrive--for what reason has not yet been discovered. Verty"s absent look in the direction of f.a.n.n.y"s face might very well have been considered the stare of a lover.
"Do you doubt any longer?"
"Oh, no!"
"Then, Mr. Ashley--"
"Yes, madam."
"In future you will--"
"Care nothing for--"
"The person--"
"Who seems to me the concentration of folly and everything of that description--no, madam! In future I will carefully avoid her!"
And with this ambiguous speech, Mr. Ralph rose, begged Miss Sallianna to excuse him for a short time, and making her a low and devoted bow, took his way into the garden, and toward the spot where f.a.n.n.y and Verty were sitting.
CHAPTER x.x.xVII.
VERTY STATES HIS PRIVATE OPINION OF MISS SALLIANNA.
f.a.n.n.y complimented Mr. Ralph Ashley with a very indifferent bow, and went on talking with, or rather to, her companion Verty.
Ralph tried to laugh at this; but not succeeding very well, came suddenly to the very rational conclusion that something unusual was going on in his breast. He had never before failed to utter the most contagious laughter, when he attempted the performance--what could the rather faint sound which now issued from his lips be occasioned by?
Puzzled, and at his philosophy"s end, Ralph began to grow dignified; when, luckily, Redbud approached.
The young girl greeted him with one of her kind smiles, and there was so much light and joy in her face, that Ralph"s brow cleared up.
They began to converse.
The chapter of accidents, whereof was author that distinguished inventor of fiction, Miss Sallianna, promised to make the present interview exceedingly piquant and fruitful in entertaining misunderstanding; for the reader will observe the situation of the parties. Miss Sallianna had persuaded Verty that Redbud was in love with Ralph; and, in the second place, had a.s.sured Ralph, a few moments before, that f.a.n.n.y was in love with Verty.
Redbud was clinching Verty"s doubts by smiling sweetly on Ralph;--f.a.n.n.y was causing dreadful jealousy and conviction of his misfortune in Ralph, by making herself agreeable to Verty.
The schemes of the great Amazonian General, Sallianna, seemed to be crowned with complete success; and, doubtless, all would have turned out as she desired, but for one of those trivial circ.u.mstances which overturn the most carefully matured conceptions of the greatest intellects.
This was the simplicity of our friend Verty; and he unconsciously commenced the overturning operation by saying:
"Redbud, did you find the flowers you wanted?"
The young girl replied:
"Oh, yes!"
""Beauties of nature," Miss Sallianna would call "em, would"nt she?"
continued Verty, with a smile.
"Now, Verty!" said Redbud, reproachfully.
"I can"t help it," returned Verty; "I don"t like Miss Sallianna."
"Not like that paragon!" cried f.a.n.n.y.
"No."
"Why not, sir?"
"She told me a story."
"A story, sir!"
"Yes."
"You ought to be ashamed of yourself to speak so disrespectfully of such a divine creature--with so much maiden innocence and intrinsic simplicity," observed Miss f.a.n.n.y, inclining her head upon one shoulder, and rolling her eyes toward the sky.
Ralph began to laugh.
"I would"nt say it if it was"nt true," Verty said; "but it is."
"What story did she tell you, sir?" f.a.n.n.y went on.
"She said that Redbud was in love with him--Ralph Ashley."
And Verty smiled.
f.a.n.n.y burst into a roar of laughter; Redbud blushed; Ralph looked with astonishment at the plain-spoken Verty.
"You know that was a story," said he, simply.