nnot receive you in that savage dress."

"Not receive me?"

"No, sir."

"What's the matter with my poor dress?"

"It's abominable, sir--oderous; and then your hair--"

"My hair?" said Verty, pulling at a curl.

"Yes, sir--it is preposterous, sir. Did any body ever!"

And Miss Sallianna carried her eyes to heaven.

"I don't know," Verty said; "but it feels better."

"It may, sir; but you must cut it off if you come again."

Verty hesitated.

"I thought--" he began.

"Well, sir?"

"I was thinking," said the young man, feeling a vague idea that he was
going wrong--"I thought that you were not so very particular, as you
are only a school-mistress, and not one of those fine ladies I have
seen riding by in their carriages. They might think some ceremony
needed--"

"Not a--very well, sir--a schoolmistress--only--indeed!" said Miss
Sallianna, with dignity.

Verty was too little acquainted with the expression of concentrated
feeling to understand these words, and smiling,

"Then," he said, "there was another reason--"

"For what, sir?" said Miss Sallianna, with great dignity.

"For my not being very particular."

"Please state it, sir."

"Yes, ma'am."

The lady sniffed with indignation.

"I meant," said Verty, "that as you had very few beaux here--I believe
you call 'em beaux--I could come so. I know that Mr. Jinks comes,
but he is too fierce to be agreeable, and is not very nice, I should
think."

Miss Sallianna darted a glance of scorn at the unlucky Verty, which
would have transfixed that gentleman; but unfortunately he did not see
it.

"Yes," he went on, "there is a great deal of difference, Miss
Sallianna, between coming to see you, who are only a schoolmistress,
and hav'nt much fine company, and the rich ladies;--then you know I
thought that the difference between our ages--you being so much older
than I. am, about thirty or thirty-five, I suppose--"

The cup was full.

"Mr. Verty," gasped Miss Sallianna, "you will please to end our
interview at once, sir!--this language, sir, is intolerated, sir!--if
you wish to insult me, sir, you can remain!--I consider your
insinuations, sir, as unworthy of a gentleman. The viper!" cried Miss
Sallianna, becoming hysterical, and addressing her observations to
the ceiling; "the viper which I warmed in my bosom, and who turns and
rents me."

Which was very ungallant in the viper not to say extraordinary, as it
implied that vipers dwelt in houses "to