!--"

"But, Verty--"

"Just a minute, Redbud.")

"Yes, a savage; I hate the sex--I distrust them!" continued Mr. Jinks,
in a gloomy tone; "before seeing you, I had made up my mind to retire
forever from the sight of mankind, and live on roots, or something of
that description. But you have changed me--you have made me human."

And Mr. Jinks, to judge from his tone of voice, was looking dignified.

The fair lady uttered a little laugh.

"There it is!" cried Mr. Jinks, "you are always happy--always smiling
and seducing--you are the paragon of your sex. If it will be any
satisfaction to you, Madam, I will immediately die for you, and give
up the ghost."

Which Mr. Jinks seemed to consider wholly different from the former.

"Heigho!" said the lady, "you are very devoted, sir."

"I should be, Madam."

"I am not worthy of so much praise."

"You are the pearl of your sex, Madam."

"Oh, no! I am only a simple young girl--but twenty-five last
January--and I have no pretensions in comparison with many others.
Immured in this quiet retreat, with a small property, and engaged in
the opprobrious occupation of cultivating the youthful mind--"

"A noble employment, Madam."

"Yes, very pleasing; with this, and with a contemplation of the
beautiful criterions of nature, I am happy."

"Fairest of your sex, is this all that is necessary for happiness?"
observed Mr. Jinks.

"What more!"

"Is solitude the proper sphere of that divine sex which in all ages of
the world--ahem!--has--"

"Oh, sir!"

And the flirting of the fan was heard.

"Should not woman have a companion--a consoler, who--"

The fan was evidently used to hide a number of blushes.

"Should not such a lovely creature as yourself," continued the
enthusiastic Jinks, "choose one to--"

Redbud rose quickly, and said, blushing and laughing:--

"Oh, come, Verty!"

"No, no--listen!" said Verty, "I do believe--"

"No, no, no!" cried Redbud, hurriedly, "it was very wrong--"

"What?--courting."

"Oh, no! It's mean in us to listen!"

And she went out of the arbor, followed by Verty, who said, "I'm glad
courting ain't wrong; I think I should like to court you, Redbud."

Redbud made no reply to this innocent speech of Mr. Verty, but walked
on. The noise which they made in leaving the arbor attracted the
attention of the personages whose conversation we have been compelled
to overhear; and Mr. Jinks and his companion passed through an opening
in the s