ge only, madam--then to forging, then to
larceny, and finally to burglary and murder. There, madam, that is
what I mean--I defy you to deny the truth of what I say!"

The Squire could endure the pressure upon his larynx no longer, and
exploded like a bomb-shell; or if not in so terrible a manner, at
least nearly as loudly.

No one can tell what the awful sentiments of Mr. Rushton, on the
subject of Roundjacket would have led to, had not the Squire come to
the rescue.

"Well, well," he said, still laughing, "it is plain, my dear Rushton,
that for once in your life you are not well posted up on the 'facts of
your case,' and you are getting worse and worse in your argument, to
say nothing of the prejudice of the jury. Come, let us dismiss the
subject. I don't think Mr. Roundjacket, however, will turn out a
murderer, which would be a horrible blow to me, as I knew his worthy
father well, and often visited him at 'Flowery Lane,' over yonder. But
the discussion is unprofitable--hey! what do you think, Verty, and
you, Miss Redbud?"

Verty raises his head and smiles.

"I am very fond of Mr. Roundjacket," he says.

"Fond of him?"

"Yes, sir: he likes me too, I think," Verty says.

"How does he show it, my boy?"

"He gives me advice, sir."

"What! and you like him for that?"

"Oh, yes, sir."

"Well, perhaps the nature of the advice may modify my surprise at your
gratitude, Verty."

"_Anan_, sir?"

"What advice does he give you?"

Verty laughs.

"Must I tell, sir? I don't know if--"

And Verty blushes slightly, looking at Miss Lavinia and Redbud.

"Come, speak out!" laughs the Squire. "He advises you--"

"Not to get married."

And Verty blushes.

We need not say that the wicked old Squire greets this reply of Verty
with a laugh sufficient to shake the windows.

"Not to get married!" he cries.

"Yes, sir," Verty replies, blushing ingenuously.

"And you like Mr. Roundjacket, you say, because he advises you not to
get--"

"No, oh! no, sir!" interrupts Verty, with sudden energy, "oh! no, sir,
I did not mean that!"

And the young man, embarrassed by his own vehemence, and the eyes
directed toward his face, hangs his head and blushes. Yes, the bold,
simple, honest Verty, blushes, and looks ashamed, and feels as if he
is guilty of some dreadful crime. Do. not the best of us, under the
same circumstances?--that is to say, if we have the good fortune to be
young and innocent.

The Squire looks at Ver