Miss Fanny, who sat with a prim
and demure affectation of stateliness, on the opposite side of the
room. There was no explanation here either.

While Verty was thus gazing silently, and with growing embarrassment,
at the two young girls, Redbud, with a beating heart, and trembling
lips, played with the tassel of the sofa-cushion, and studied the
figure of the carpet.

Fanny came to the rescue of the expiring conversation, and seizing
forcibly upon the topic of the weather, inserted that useful wedge
into the rapidly closing crack, and waited for Verty to strike the
first blow.

Unfortunately, Verty did not hear her; he was gazing at Redbud.

Fanny pouted, and tossed her head. So she was not good enough for the
elegant Mr. Verty!--she was not even worth a reply! He might talk
himself, then!

Verty did not embrace this tacit permission--he remained silent; and
gazing on Redbud, whose color began slowly to rise, as with heaving
bosom and down-cast eyes she felt the young man's look--he experienced
more and more embarrassment--a sentiment which began to give way to
distress.

At last he rose, and going to her side, took her hand.

Redbud slowly drew it away, still without meeting his gaze.

He asked, in a low voice, if she was angry with him.

No--she was not very well to-day; that was all.

And then the long lashes drooped still more with the heavy drops which
weighed them down; the cheeks were covered with a deeper crimson;
the slender frame became still more agitated. Oh! nothing but those
words--"if you would prevent him from suffering"--could bear her
through this trying interview: they were enough, however--she would be
strong.

And as she came to this determination, Redbud nearly sobbed--the full
cup very nearly ran over with its freight of tears. With a beseeching,
pleading glance, she appealed to Fanny to come to her assistance.

Such an appeal is never in vain; the free-masonry of the sex has no
unworthy members. Fanny forgot in a moment her "miff" with Verty, when
she saw that for some reason Redbud was very nearly ready to burst
into tears, and wished to have the young man's attention called away
from her; she no longer remembered the slight to herself, which had
made her toss her head, and vow that she would not open her lips
again; she came to the rescue, as women always do, and with the most
winning smile, demanded of Mr. Verty whether he would be so kind as to
do her a slight favor?

The yo