HOW MISS SALLIANNA FELL IN LOVE WITH VERTY.
Verty stood for a moment gazing at the door through which Redbud had
disappeared, unable to speak or move. Astonishment, compassion, love,
distress, by turns filled his mind; and standing there, on a fine
October morning, the young man, with the clear sunshine streaming on
him joyfully, took his first lesson in human distress--a knowledge
which all must acquire at some period of their lives, sooner or later.
His mixture of emotions may be easily explained. He was astonished at
the extraordinary change in Redbud's whole demeanor; he felt deep pity
for the sickness which she had pleaded as an excuse for leaving him.
Love and distress clasped hands in his agitated heart, as he threw a
backward glance over the short interview which they had just held--and
all these feelings mingling together, and struggling each for the
mastery, made the young man's bosom heave, his forehead cloud over,
and his lips shake with deep, melancholy sighs.
Utterly unable to explain the coldness which Redbud had undoubtedly
exhibited, he could only suffer in silence.
Then, after some moments' thought, the idea occurred to him that Miss
Fanny--the smiling, obliging, the agreeable Miss Fanny--might clear
up the mystery, so he turned round toward her; but as he did so, the
young girl passed by him with stately dignity, and requesting, in a
cold tone, to be excused, as she was going to attend to her friend,
Miss Summers, sailed out of the room and disappeared.
Verty looked after her with deeper astonishment than before. Then
everybody disliked him--everybody avoided him: no doubt he had been
guilty of some terrible fault toward Redbud, and her friend knew it,
and would not stay in his presence.
What could that fault be? Not his costume--not the attempt he had
made to intrude upon her privacy. Certainly Redbud never would have
punished him so cruelly for such trifling things as these, conceding
that they were distasteful to her.
What, then, could be the meaning of all this?
Just as he asked himself the question for the sixth time, there
appeared at the door of the apartment no less a personage than Miss
Sallianna, who, ambling into the room with that portion of the head
which we have more than once mentioned, and the lackadaisical smile
which was habitual with her, approached Verty, and graciously extended
her yellow hand.
The young man took the extended member, and made a bow. Miss Sallianna
received it with a still more gracious smile, and asked Mr. Verty to
be seated.
He shook his head.
"I must go away, ma'am," he said, sadly; "Redbud has quarrelled with
me, and I cannot stay. Oh! what have I done to cause this!"
And Verty's head sank upon his bosom, and his lips trembled.
Miss Sallianna gazed at him with a curious smile, and after a moment's
silence, said:
"Suppose you sit down for a minute, Mr. Verty, and tell me all about
this--this--highly intrinsic occurrence. You could not repose your
sorrows in a more sympathetic bosom than my own."
And subsiding gracefully upon the sofa, Miss Sallianna made Verty sit
by her, and even gently moved her fan before his face, smiling and
simpering.
Perhaps the reader may feel some surprise at the change in Miss
Sallianna's demeanor toward the young man, the fact of whose existence
she had scarcely noticed on the occasion of their first meeting in the
garden. The explanation will be neither lengthy nor difficult. Miss
Sallianna was one of those ladies who have so profound an admiration
for nature, beauty, love, and everything elevated and ennobling,
that they are fond of discussing these topics with the opposite
sex--exchanging ideas, and comparing opinions, no doubt for the
purpose of arriving at sound conclusions upon these interesting
subjects. If, in the course of these conversations, the general
discussion became particular and personal--if, in a word, the
gentleman was induced to regard the lady as an example of the beauties
they were talking about, in nature, love, etc., Miss Sallianna did not
complain, and even seemed somewhat pleased thereof. Of course there
would have been no profit or entertainment in discussing these
recondite subjects with a savage such as Verty had appeared to be upon
their former interview, when, with his long, tangled hair, hunter's
garb, and old slouched hat, he resembled an inhabitant of the
backwoods--what could such a personage know of divine philosophy,
or what pleasure could a lady take in his society?--no pleasure,
evidently. But now that was all changed. The young gentleman now
presented a civilized appearance; he was plainly becoming more
cultivated, and his education, Miss Sallianna argued, should not be
neglected by his lady acquaintances. Who wonders at such reasoning?
Is this the only instance which has ever been known? Do sentimental
ladies of an uncertain age always refuse to take charge of the growing
hearts of innocent and handsome youths, just becoming initiated in the
mysteries of the tender passion? Or do they not most willingly assume
the onerous duty of directing the _naive_ instincts of such youthful
cavaliers into proper channels and toward worthy objects--even
occasionally, from their elevated regard, present themselves as the
said "worthy objects" for the youthful affection? Queenly and most
lovely dames of uncertain age, and tender instincts, it is not
the present chronicler who will so far forget his reputation for
gallantry, as to assert that "I should like to marry" is your favorite
madrigal.
Therefore let it be distinctly understood and remembered, as a
thing necessary and indispensable to the true comprehension of this
veracious history, that the beautiful Miss Sallianna was not attracted
by Verty's handsome dress, his fashionable coat, rosetted shoes, well
powdered hair, or embroidered waistcoat gently rubbing against the
spotless frill--that these things did not enter into her mind when she
resolved to attach the young man to her suit, and turn his affection
and "esteem" toward herself. By no means;--she saw in him only a
handsome young fellow, whose education could not prosper under the
supervision of such a mere child as Redbud; and thus she found herself
called upon to superintend it in her proper person, and for that
purpose now designed to commence initiating the youthful cavalier into
the science of the heart without delay.
These few words may probably serve to explain the unusual favor with
which Miss Sallianna seemed to regard Verty--the _empressement_ with
which she gently fanned his agitated brow--the fascinating smile which
she threw upon him, a smile which seemed to say, "Come! confide your
sorrows to a sympathizing heart."
Verty, preoccupied with his sad reflections, for some moments remained
silent. Miss Sallianna broke the pause by saying--
"You seem to be annoyed by something, Mr. Verty. Need I repeat that
in me you will find a friend of philosophic partiality and undue
influence to repose your confidential secrets in?"
Verty sighed.
"Oh! that is a bad sign," said the lady, simpering.
"What, ma'am?" asked Verty, raising his head.
"That sigh."
"I don't feel very well."
"In the body or the mind?"
"I suppose it's the mind, ma'am."
"Don't call me ma'am--I am not so much your senior. True, the various
experiences I have extracted from the circumambient universe render
me somewhat more thoughtful, but my heart is very young," said Miss
Sallianna, simpering, and slaying Verty with her eyes.
"Yes, ma'am--I mean Miss Sallianna," he said.
"Ah! that is better. Now let us converse about nature, my friend--"
"If you could tell me why Redbud has--"
Verty stopped. He had an undeveloped idea that the subject of nature
and Redbud might not appear to have any connection with each other in
the mind of Miss Sallianna.
But that lady smiled.
"About Redbud?" she asked, with a languishing glance.
"Yes--Miss."
"What of the dear child?--have you fallen out? You men must not mind
the follies of such children--and Reddy is a mere child. I should not
think she could appreciate you."
Verty was silent; he did not know exactly what _appreciate_ meant,
which may serve as a further proof of what we have said above, in
relation to the necessity which Miss Sallianna felt she labored under,
as a tender-hearted woman, to educate Verty.
The lady seemed to understand from her companion's countenance, that
he did not exactly comprehend the signification of her words; but as
this had occurred on other occasions, and with other persons, she felt
no surprise at the circumstance, attributing it, as was natural,
to her own extreme cultivation and philological proficiency. She
therefore smiled, and still gently agitating the fan before Verty,
repeated:
"Have you and Redbud fallen out?"
"Yes," said the young man.
"Concerning what?"
"I don't know--I mean Redbud has quarreled with me."
"Indeed!"
Verty replied with a sigh.
"Come!" said Miss Sallianna, "make a confidant of me, and confide your
feelings to a heart which beats responsive to your own."
With which words the lady ogled Verty.