"excuse me," sails from the
room.

The Squire bursts into a roar of laughter, and leaving the table,
follows her, and is heard making numerous apologies for his wickedness
in the next room. He returns with the mischievious smile, and says:

"There, Verty! you are a splendid fellow, but you committed a
blunder."

And laughing, the Squire adds:

"Will you come and see the titles, Rushton?"

The lawyer growls, rises, and bidding Verty remain until he comes out,
follows the Squire.

CHAPTER LXIV.

THE ROSE OF GLENGARY.

Redbud rose, smiling, and with the gentle simplicity of one child to
another, said:

"Oh! you ought not to have said that about cousin Lavinia,
Verty--ought you?"

Verty looked guilty.

"I don't think I ought," he said.

"You know she is very sensitive about this."

"Anan?" Verty said, smiling.

Redbud looked gently at the young man, and replied:

"I mean, she does not like any one to speak of it?"

"Why?" said Verty.

"Because--because--engaged people are so funny!"

And Redbud's silver laughter followed the words.

"Are they?" Verty said.

"Yes, indeed."

Verty nodded.

"Next time I will be more thoughtful," he said; "but I think I ought
to have answered honestly."

Redbud shook her curls with a charming little expression of affected
displeasure.

"Oh, no! no!"

"Not answer?"

"Certainly not, sir--fie! in the cause of ladies!"

Verty laughed.

"I understand," he said, "you are thinking of the books about the
knights--the old Froissart, yonder, in four volumes. But you know
there were'nt any courts in those days, and knights were not obliged
to answer."

Redbud, training up a drooping vine, replied, laughing:

"Oh, no--I was only jesting. Don't mind my nonsense. Look at that
pretty morning-glory."

Verty looked at Redbud, as if she were the object in question.

"You will hurt your hand," he said,--"those thorns on the briar are so
sharp; take care!"

And Verty grasped the vine, and, no doubt, accidentally, Redbud's hand
with it.

"Now I have it," he said; and suddenly seeing the double meaning of
his words, the young man added, with a blush and a smile, "it is all I
want in the world."

"What? the--oh!"

And Miss Redbud, suddenly aware of Mr. Verty's meaning, finds her
voice rather unsafe, and her cheeks covered with blushes. But with
the tact of a grown woman, she applies herself to the defeat of her
knight; and, turning away, says, as easily a