judge that if you continue to look at
me, and don't mind where you are walking, Miss Fanny, your handsome
feet will carry you into that stream!"

There was much good sense in these words; and Fanny immediately took
the advice which had been proffered--that is to say, she turned her
eye away from the bantering lips of her companion, and measured the
stream which they were approaching.

It was one of those little mountain-brooks which roll their limpid
waters over silver sands; hurl by through whispering ledges, the
resort of snipe and woodcock; or, varying this quiet and serene
existence with occasional action, dart between abrupt banks over mossy
rocks, laughing as they fly onward to the open sunlight.

The spot which the party had reached, united these characteristics
mentioned.

A path led to a mossy log, stretched from bank to bank, some feet
above the water--a log which had answered the purpose of a bridge for
a long time, it seemed; for both ends were buried in the sward and the
flowers which decorated it.

Below this, the limpid stream wound over bright sands and pebbles,
which glittered in the ripples like diamonds.

"Now!" cried Ralph, "here is a pretty pass! How are these delightful
young ladies to get over, Verty?"

"I don't know--I suppose they will walk," observed Verty, simply.

"Walk!"

"Yes."

"What! when that very dog there had to balance himself in traversing
the log?"

"Who, Longears?"

"Yes, Longears."

"He's not used to logs," said Verty, smiling, and shaking his head;
"he generally jumps the streams, like Cloud."

"Oh! you need'nt be afraid," here interrupted Redbud, smiling, and
passing before Fanny quickly; "we can get over easily enough."

The explanation of which movement was, that Miss Redbud saw the
lurking mischief in Mr. Ralph's eyes, and wished at least to protect
herself.

"Easy enough!" cried Ralph, moving forward quickly.

"Yes; look!"

And with the assistance of Verty, who held one of her hands, Redbud
essayed to pass the bridge.

The moss rendered it slippery, and near the middle she almost fell
into the stream; with Verty's aid, however, the passage was safely
effected.

"There!" said Redbud, smiling, "you see I was right, Mr. Ashley--was I
not?"

"You always are!"

"And me, sir?" said Fanny, approaching the bridge with perfect
carelessness.

"You are nearly always wrong, my life's darling," observed Mr. Ralph.

"You are too bad, Ralph! I'll get ang