"Oh!" cried the impulsive Fanny, "there you are, laughing at me, as much as to say that you are not pretty! Affected!" "Oh, no," said Redbud. "Well, I don't say you are." "I don't like affectation." "Nor I," said Fanny; "but really, Reddy, I had no idea that yellow was so becoming to you." "Why?" asked Redbud, smiling. "You are blonde, you know." "Well." "I wonder if blonde don't mean yellow," said the philosophic Fanny. "Does it?" "Yes." "What then?" "Why, of course, I thought yellow primroses would'nt become you;--now they would suit me--I'm so dark." "You do not need them." "Fie--Miss Flatterer." "Oh, no, Fanny, I never flatter." "Well, I'm glad you like me, then!" cried Fanny, "for I declare I'm desperately in love with you, Reddy. Just think, now, how much flattered Miss Sallianna would have been if I had carried these flowers to her--you know she loves the 'beauties of nature.'" And Miss Fanny assumed a languishing air, and inclining her head upon one shoulder, raised her eyes lackadaisically toward the ceiling, in imitation of Miss Sallianna. "No, Fanny!" said Redbud, "that is not right." "What?" "Mimicking Miss Sallianna." "Not right!" "No, indeed." "Well, I suppose it is not, and I have been treating her very badly. Suppose I take your wreath of yellow primroses and carry them to her." "Oh, yes--if you want to," said Redbud, looking regretfully at the wreath, which she had taken from her brow. Fanny laughed. "No, I will not," she said; "I have a good reason." "What?" "The axiom in heraldry." "What axiom?" "Never put color upon color--yellow upon yellow in this instance!" And Miss Fanny burst into laughter, and fairly shook with glee. Redbud gave her a little reproachful glance, which showed Fanny the uncharitable nature of her observation. "Well," said the owner of the soiled ankles, "I ought not to have said that; but really, she is so ridiculous! She thinks she's the handsomest person in the world, and I do believe she wants to rob us of our beaux." Redbud smiled, and lightly colored. "I mean Verty and Ralph," Fanny went on, "and I know something is going on. Miss Sallianna is always in love with somebody; it was Mr. Jinks the other day, and now I think it is one of our two visitors." "Oh, Fanny!" "Yes, I do! you need'nt look so incredulous--I believe she would flirt with either of them, and make love to them; which," added the philosophic Fanny, "is only another phrase for the same thing." Redbud remained for a moment confused, and avoiding Fanny's glance. Then her innocent and simple smile returned, and leaning her arm affectionately upon the young girl's shoulder, she said, seriously: "Fanny, please don't talk in that way. You know Verty is not an ordinary young gentleman--" "Oh, no--!" cried Fanny, laughing. "I mean," Redbud went on, with a slight color in her cheek, "I mean, to amuse himself with compliments and pretty speeches--if Miss Sallianna thinks he is, she is mistaken."