"Odious old thing!--to be flirting with all the young men who come to see _us_!" said Fanny. "No, no," Redbud went on, "I think you are mistaken. But as you have mentioned Verty, please promise me one thing, Fanny." "Promise! certainly, Reddy; just ask me whatever you choose. If it's to cut off my head, or say I think Miss Sallianna pretty, I'll do it--such is my devotion to you!" laughed Fanny. Redbud smiled. "Only promise me to amuse Verty, when he comes." "Amuse him!" "Yes." "What do you mean." "I mean," Redbud said, sighing, "that I don't think I shall be able to do so." "What!" "Fanny, you cannot understand," said the young girl, with a slight blush; "I hope, if you are my real friend, as you say, that you will talk with Verty, when he comes, and make his time pass agreeably." Redbud's head sank. Fanny gazed at her for a moment in silence, and with a puzzled expression, said: "What has happened, Reddy, between you and Verty--anything?" "Oh, no." "You are blushing! Something must have happened." "Fanny--" murmured Redbud, and then stopped. "Have you quarreled? You would'nt explain that scene in the parlor the other day, when I made him tie my shoe. You have quarreled!" "Oh, no--no!" "I'm glad to hear it," cried Fanny, "though I could easily have made it up. I would have gone to Mr. Verty, and told him that he was a wretch, or something of that sort, and made him come and be friends again." Redbud smiled, and said: "We have not quarreled; but I don't think I shall be able to amuse him very much, if he comes this morning, as I think he will. Please promise me--I don't like Verty to be unhappy." And the ingenuous face of the young girl was covered with blushes. "I suppose not!--you and Verty are very good friends!" cried Fanny, looking out of the window, and not observing Redbud's confusion; "but suppose _my_ cavalier comes--what then, madam?" "Oh, then I absolve you." "No, indeed!" "'No, indeed' what?" "I won't be absolved." "Why?" "Because I don't know but I prefer Mr. Verty to that conceited cousin of mine." "What cousin--not Ralph?" "Yes; I don't fancy him much." "I thought you were great favorites of each other." "You are mistaken!" said Fanny, coloring; "I did like him once, but he has come back from college at Williamsburg a perfect coxcomb, the most conceited fop I ever saw." "Oh, Fanny!" "Yes, indeed he has!" And Miss Fanny blushed. "I hate him!" she added, with a pout; then bursting into a fit of laughter, this young lady added: "Oh! he promised to bring his album to-day, and show me all the 'good wishes' his friends wrote in it for him. Won't that be funny! Just think of finding out how those odious young college geese talk and feel toward each other." Redbud smiled at Miss Fanny's consistency, and was about to reply, when the bell for prayers rang.