"No, Jinks!" he cried, "there must be no fighting."
"No fighting!" cried Mr. Jinks, whose ferocity, as soon as he found himself held back, became tremendous,--"no fighting!"
"No," said Ralph.
"Release me, sir!"
"Never!" cried Ralph, pinning his arms.
"Hold me, sir! or I will at once inflict condign punishment upon this individual!"
"Certainly," said Ralph, beginning to laugh. "I will hold you; I thought you said release you!"
"I did, sir!" cried Mr. Jinks, making a very faint effort to get at Verty.
"Which shall I do?"
"I will murder him!" cried Mr. Jinks, struggling with more energy, from the fact that Ralph had grasped him more tightly.
"Jinks! Jinks! you a murderer!"
"I have been wronged!" said the champion, brandishing his sword.
"Oh, no."
"The respectable Mrs. Scowley has been insulted!"
"You are mistaken!"
"The divine Sallianna has been charged with falsehood!"
"A mere jest."
"Let me run the villain through!"
And Mr. Jinks made a terrific lunge with his sword at Verty, and requested Mr. Ashley to hold him tight, unless he wished to see the Bower of Nature swimming in "gory blood!"
The colloquy we have faithfully reported, took place in far less time than we have taken to narrate it.
Redbud had hastened forward with terror in her face, f.a.n.n.y with bewilderment--lastly, Miss Sallianna had rushed up to the spot with a scream; the various personages came together just when Mr. Jinks uttered his awful threat in relation to "gory blood."
"Oh, Verty!" said Redbud.
Verty smiled.
"Alphonso!" cried Miss Sallianna, with distraction.
Alphonso Jinks made overwhelming efforts to get at his enemy.
"Please don"t fight--for my sake, Verty!" murmured Redbud, with pale lips.
"Spare him, Alphonso!" cried Miss Sallianna, with a shake of agony in her voice; "spare his youth, and do not take opprobrious revenge!"
"He has wronged me!" cried Mr. Jinks.
"Pardon him, Alphonso!"
"He has insulted you!"
"I forgive him!" cried Miss Sallianna.
"I will have revenge!"
And Mr. Jinks brandished his sword, and kept at a distance from Verty, making a feint of struggling.
"Jinks," said Ralph, "you are tiring me out. I shall let you go in another second, if you don"t put up that sword, and stop wrestling with me!"
This threat seemed to moderate Mr. Jinks" rage, and he replied:
"This momentary anger is over, sir--I forgive, that young man--Sallianna! beautiful Sallianna! for thy sake!"
But overcome with nerves, and the revulsion produced by this change in affairs, the beautiful Sallianna"s head drooped upon one shoulder, her eyes were closed, and her arms were extended towards Mr. Jinks.
Before that gentleman was aware of the fact, Miss Sallianna had been overcome by nerves, and reclined in a faint state upon his bosom.
We need not detail the remaining particulars of the scene whose outline we have traced.
Verty, who had received all Mr. Jinks" threats and gesticulations with great unconcern, applied himself to conversation with Redbud again: and no doubt would have conversed all the evening, but for Ralph.
Ralph drew him away, pointing to the damp clothes; and with many smiles, they took their leave.
The last thing the young men observed, was Mr. Jinks supporting Miss Sallianna, who had fainted a second time, and raising his despairing eyes to heaven.
They burst out laughing, and continued their way.
CHAPTER XLIII.
VERTY"S HEART GOES AWAY IN A CHARIOT.
Verty remained hard at work all the next day; and such was the natural quickness of the young man"s mind, that he seemed to learn something every hour, in spite of the preoccupation which, as the reader may imagine, his affection for our little heroine occasioned.
Roundjacket openly expressed his satisfaction at the result of the day"s labor, and hazarded a sly observation that Verty would not, on the next day, remain so long at his desk, or accomplish so much. They could not complain, however, Mr. Roundjacket said; Verty was a scion of the woods, a tamed Indian, and nothing was more natural than his propensity to follow the bent of his mind, when fancy seized him. They must make allowances--he had no doubt, in time, everything would turn out well--yes, Verty would be an honorable member of society, and see the graces and attraction of the n.o.ble profession which he had elected for his support.
Verty received these friendly words--which were uttered between many chuckles of a private and dignified character--with dreamy silence; then bowing to Mr. Roundjacket, mounted Cloud, called Longears, and rode home.