VERTY STATES HIS PRIVATE OPINION OF MISS SALLIANNA.
Fanny 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 assured Ralph, a few moments
before, that Fanny was in love with Verty.
Redbud was clinching Verty's doubts by smiling sweetly on
Ralph;--Fanny 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 circumstances 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 Fanny.
"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 Fanny, 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?" Fanny went on.
"She said that Redbud was in love with him--Ralph Ashley."
And Verty smiled.
Fanny 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.
Everybody remained silent for a moment, and then the silence was
broken by Ralph, who cried, laughing:
"I'll back you, friend Verty! every word of it!"
"You, sir!" cried Fanny.
"Yes! I wonder if your divine creature--Sallianna by name--did not
tell me, ten minutes since, that you--yes, you, Miss Fanny!--were
desperately enamored of Mr. Verty!"
The whole party were so overcome by this ludicrous exposé of Miss
Sallianna's schemes, that a laugh much louder than the first rang
through the garden; and when Miss Sallianna was descried sailing in
dignified meditation up and down the portico, her fan gently waving,
her head inclined to one side, her eyes fixed upon the sky, Mr. Ralph
Ashley entered into a neighboring mass of shrubbery, from which came
numerous choking sounds, and explosive evidences of overwhelming
laughter.
Thus was it that our honest Verty at once cleared up all
misunderstanding--and made the horizon cloudless once again. If
everybody would only speak as plainly, when misconceptions and
mistakes arise, the world would have far more of sunshine in it!
"Just to think!" cried Fanny, "how that odious old tatterdemalion has
been going on! Did anybody ever?"
"Anan?" said Verty.
"Sir?" said Fanny.
"What's a tatterdemalion?" asked the young man, smilingly.
"I don't exactly know, sir," said Fanny; "but I suppose it's a
conceited old maid; who talks about the beauties of nature, and tries
to make people, who are friends, hate each other."
With which definition Miss Fanny clenched her handsome little hand,
and made a gesture therewith, in the direction of Miss Sallianna,
indicative of hostility, and a desire to engage in instant combat.
Ralph laughed, and said:
"You meant to say, my dear child, that the lady in question tried to
make a quarrel between people who _loved_ each other--not simply 'were
friends'. For you know she tried to make us dislike one another."
Fanny received this insinuating speech with one of heir expressive
"hums!"
"Don't you?" said Ralph.
"What; sir?"
"Love me!"
"Oh, devotedly!"
"Very well; it was not necessary to tell me, and, of course, that
pretty curl of the lip is only to keep up appearances. But come
now, darling of my heart, and light of my existence! as we _hav'nt_
quarreled, in spite of Miss Sallianna, and still have for each other
the most enthusiastic affection, be good enough to forget these
things, and turn your attention to material affairs. You promised me a
lunch!"
"Lunch!"
"Yes--and I am getting hungry."
"When did I promise?"
"Yesterday."
"Oh--now--"
"You remember; very well. It was to be eaten, you will recollect, on
the hill, yonder, to the west, to which our steps were to tend."
"Our picnic! Oh, yes! My goodness gracious! how could I forget it!
Come on, Reddie--come and help me to persuade Mrs. Scowley to undo the
preserve-jar."
Redbud laughed.
"May I go!" said Verty.
"Certainly, sir; you are not at liberty to refuse. Who would talk with
Reddie!"
"I don't think--" murmured Redbud, hesitating.
"Now!" cried Fanny, "did anybody ever!"
"Ever what!" said Verty.
"Ever see anybody like this Miss Redbud!"
"I don't think they ever did," replied Verty, smiling.
Which reply caused Miss Fanny and Mr. Ralph to laugh, and Redbud to
color slightly; but this soon passed, and the simple, sincere look
came back to her tender face.
Redbud could not resist the glowing picture which Fanny drew of the
picnic to be; and, with some misgiving, yielded. In a quarter of
an hour the young men and the young girls were on their way to
the beautiful eminence, swinging the baskets which contained the
commissariat stores, and laughing gleefully.