bundle, which, when you open it, will explode
like a cannon, and carry ruin and destruction to everything around!"

This terrific picture caused Verty to open his eyes, and look with
astonishment at his interlocutor.

"I may have bought them in to spite that young villain at the store. I
heard him," said Mr. Rushton, vindictively--"yes, distinctly heard
him whisper, 'There's old Rushton again, come to growl, and not buy
anything.' The villain! but I disappointed him; and when he said,
"Shall they be sent to your office, sir?" in his odious obsequious
voice, I replied, 'No, sir! I am not a dandy or fine gentleman, nor
a woman;--you, sir, may be accustomed to have your bundles _sent_--I
carry mine myself.' And so, sir, I took the bundle on my shoulder and
brought it away, to the astonishment of that young villain, who, I
predict, will eventually come to the gallows!"

And the lawyer, having grown tired of talking, abruptly went into his
sanctum, and slammed the door.

Verty gazed after him for some moments with a puzzled expression--then
smiled--then shook his head; then glanced at the bundle. It was heavy
enough for two porters, and Verty opened his eyes at the thought of
Mr. Rushton's having appeared in public, in the town of Winchester,
with such a mass upon his back.

"He's very good, though," said Verty; "I don't know why he's so kind
to me. How _ma mere_ will like them--I know they are what she wants."

And Verty betook himself to his work, only stopping to partake of his
dinner of cold venison and biscuits. By the afternoon, he had done a
very good task; and then mounting Cloud, with the bundle before him,
he took his way homeward, _via_ Apple Orchard.

CHAPTER LIX.

THE PORTRAIT SMILES.

Our fine Virginia autumn not only dowers the world with beautiful
forests, and fresh breezes, and a thousand lovely aspects of the
beautiful world--fine golden sunsets, musical dawns, and gorgeous
noontides full of languid glory;--it also has its direct influence on
the mind.

Would you dream? Go to the autumn woods; the life there is one golden
round of fancies, such as come alone beneath waning forests, where
the glories of the flower-crowned summer have yielded to a spell more
powerful, objects more enthralling--because those objects have the
charm of a maiden slowly passing, with a loveliness a thousand times
increased, and sublimated, to the holy skies.

Would you have active life? That is there too--th