u are mistaken!" said Fanny, coloring; "I did like him once, but he
has come back from college at Williamsburg a perfect coxcomb, the most
conceited fop I ever saw."

"Oh, Fanny!"

"Yes, indeed he has!"

And Miss Fanny blushed.

"I hate him!" she added, with a pout; then bursting into a fit of
laughter, this young lady added:

"Oh! he promised to bring his album to-day, and show me all the 'good
wishes' his friends wrote in it for him. Won't that be funny! Just
think of finding out how those odious young college geese talk and
feel toward each other."

Redbud smiled at Miss Fanny's consistency, and was about to reply,
when the bell for prayers rang.

The two young girls rose, and smoothing their hair slowly, descended,
arm in arm, and still conversing, to the dining-room, where old
Scowley, as Verty called her, and Miss Sallianna, awaited them, in
state, with their scholars.

Prayer was succeeded by breakfast; and then--the young damsels having
eaten with the most unromantic heartiness--the whole school scattered:
some to walk toward "town;" others to stroll by the brook, at the foot
of the hill; others again to write letters home.

As Miss Sallianna had informed Verty, that day was a holiday,
and young ladies going to school have, in all ages of the world,
appreciated the beauties and attractions of this word, and what it
represents--recreation, that is to say.

Redbud and Fanny strolled out in the garden with their arms locked as
before, and the merry autumn sunshine streaming on them.

They had a thousand things to talk about, and we may be sure that they
did not neglect the opportunity. What do _not_ young ladies at school
discuss? Scarcely anything escapes, and these criticisms are often
very trenchant and severe.

How they criticise the matrimonial alliance between aged Dives with
his crutch and money-bags, and the fascinating and artless Miss Sans
Avoir, who dedicates her life to making happy the old gentleman!

How gaily do they pull in pieces the beautiful natural curls of Mr.
Adonis, who purchased them at the perruquier's; and how they scalp
Miss Summer Morning, with her smiles and bright-eyed kindness, in the
presence of gentlemen--while behind the scenes she is a mixture of the
tigress and the asp! All these social anomalies do young ladies at
school talk about--as do those who have left school also.

But Redbud and Fanny did not--they were far too good-natured to take
pleasure in such com