trees, laden with fruit or blossoms, afford
such a grateful retreat to the weary or the sorrowful. The breath
of the world comes not into such places--all its jar and tumult and
turmoil, faint, die and disappear upon the flower-enameled threshold;
and the cool breath of the bright heavens fans no longer wrinkled
foreheads and compressed lips. All care passes from us in these
fairy-land retreats; and if we can be happy any where, it is there.

We said that Verty and Redbud entered, hand in hand, and this may
serve to show that the young pupil of Miss Lavinia had not profited
much by the lessons of her mentor.

In truth, Redbud began to return to her childhood, which she had
promised herself to forget; and, as a result of this change of
feeling, she became again the friend and playfellow of her childhood's
friend, and lost sight, completely, of the "young lady" theory. True,
she did not run on, as the phrase is, with Verty, as in the old
days--her manner had far more softness in it--she was more quiet and
reserved; but still, those constrained, restless looks were gone, and
when Verty laughed, the winning smile came to the little face; and the
small hand which he had taken was suffered to rest quietly in his own.

They strolled under the trees, and Verty picked up some of the long
yellow-rinded apples, which, lay upon the ground under the trees, and
offered them to Redbud.

"I didn't want the apples," he said, smiling, "I wanted to see you,
Redbud, for I've not felt right since you went away. Oh, it's been so
long--so long!"

"Only a few days," said Redbud, returning the smile.

"But you know a few days is a very long time, when you want to see
anybody very much."

Redbud returned his frank smile, and said, with a delicious little
prim expression:

"Did you want to see me very much, Verty?"

"Yes, indeed; I didn't know how much I liked you," said the boy, with
his ingenuous laugh; "the woods didn't look right, and I was always
thinking about you."

Redbud colored slightly, but this soon disappeared, and she laughed in
that low, joyous, musical tone, which characterized her.

"There it is!" said Verty, going through the same ceremony; "that's
one thing I missed."

"What?"

"Your laughing!"

"Indeed!" Redbud said.

"Yes, indeed. I declare, on my word, that I would rather hear you
laugh, than listen to the finest mocking-bird in the world."

"You are very gallant!" said Miss Redbud.

"_Anan_?" said Ve