w, where Verty declared the hares were accustomed to gambol by
moonlight, once more came again toward the locust-grove of "dear old
Apple Orchard,"--(Fanny's phrase,)--and entered in again, and threw
down their treasures of bright flowers and bird's-nests--for they had
taken some old ones from the trees--and laughed, sang, and were happy.

"Why! what a day!" cried Ralph; "if we only had a kite now!"

"A kite!" cried Fanny.

"Yes."

"An elegant college gentleman--"

"Oh--suspend the college gentleman, if I may use the paraphrase," said
Mr. Ralph; "why can't you permit a man to return again, my heart's
delight, to his far youth."

"_Far_ youth."

"Ages ago--but in spite of that, I tell you I want to see a fine kite
sailing up there."

"Make it, then!"

"By Jove! I will, if Miss Redbud will supply--"

"The materials? Certainly, in one moment, Mr. Ralph," said Redbud,
smiling softly; "how nice it will be!"

"Twine, scissors, paper," said Ralph; "we'll have it done
immediately."

Redbud went, and soon returned with the materials; and the whole
laughing party began to work upon the kite.

Such was their dispatch, that, in an hour it was ready, taken to the
meadow, and there, with the united assistance of gentlemen and ladies,
launched into the sky.

CHAPTER XLVI.

THE HAPPY AUTUMN FIELDS.

The rolling ground beyond the meadow, where the oaks rustled, was the
point of departure of the kite--the post from which it sailed forth on
its aerial voyage.

The whole affair was a success, and never did merrier hearts watch a
kite.

It was beautifully made--of beautiful paper, all red, and blue and
yellow--and the young girls had completely surrounded it with figures
of silver paper, and decorated it, from head to foot, with flowers.

Thus, when it ascended slowly into the cerulean heavens, as said the
poetical Ralph, its long, flower-decorated streamers rippling in the
wind, it was greeted with loud cries of joy and admiration--thunders
of applause and enthusiastic encouragement to "go on!" from Ralph, who
had grown very young again--from Fanny, even more exaggerated cries.

That young lady seemed to be on the point of flying after it--the
breeze seemed about to bear her away, and she clapped her hands and
followed the high sailing paper-bird with such delight, that Ralph
suggested she should be sent up as a messenger.

"No," said Fanny, growing a little calmer, but laughing still, "I'm
afraid I sh