mise."

"Please to indicate it."

"I refer, sir, to your college album."

"Oh, certainly! here it is, my darling--all ready."

And Mr. Ralph Ashley, between whom and Miss Fanny this dialogue had
taken place, seated himself beneath a magnificent tulip-tree; and with
a movement of the head suggested a similar proceeding to the rest.

All being seated, the young man drew from his breast-pocket a small
volume, bound in leather, and with a nod to Fanny, said:

"I have changed my mind--I can't read but two or three."

"Broken your promise, you mean."

"No, my own;--oh, no."

"Ralph, you are really too impudent!"

"How, pray?"

"And presumptuous!"

"Why?"

"Because, sir--"

"I call you 'my own' in advance? Eh?"

"Yes, sir!"

Fanny had uttered the words without reflection--intending them as a
reply to Mr. Ralph's sentence, the words "in advance," being omitted
therefrom. Everybody saw her mistake at once, and a shout of laughter
greeted the reply.

Ralph assumed a close and cautious expression, and said:

"Well--I will be more careful in future. The fact is, that people
who are _to be_ married, should be as chary of their endearments, in
public, as those who _are_ married."

General laughter and assent--except from Fanny, who was blushing.

"Nothing is more disagreeable," continued Ralph, philosophically,
"than these public evidences of affection; it is positively shocking
to see and hear two married people exchanging their 'dears' and
'dearests,' 'loves' and 'darlings'--especially to bachelors; it is
really insulting! Therefore, it is equally in bad taste with those
who _are to be_ married;--logically, consequently, and in the third
place--and lastly--it is not proper, between myself and you, my
Fanny--hum--Miss Fanny!"

This syllogistic discourse was received by Fanny with a mixture of
blushes and satirical curls of the lip. "Hum!" more than once issued
from her lips; and this expression always signified with the young
lady in question--"indeed!"--"really!"--"you think that's mighty
fine!"--or some other phrase indicative of scorn and defiance.

On the present occasion, after uttering a number of these "hums!"
Fanny embodied her feelings in words, and replied:

"I think, Ralph, you are the most impudent gentleman I have ever
known, and you wrong me. I wonder how you got such bad manners; at
Williamsburg, I reckon. Hum! If you wait until _I_ marry you--!"

"I shall never repent the delay?" aske