And before Redbud could prevent him, the young man drew off his fur fringed coat and wrapped it round the girl's shoulders, with a tenderness which brought the color to her cheek. Redbud in vain remonstrated--Verty was immovable; and to divert her, called her attention to the goings on of Ralph. This young gentleman had no sooner seen Verty strip off his coat for Redbud, than with devoted gallantry he jerked off his own, and threw it over Miss Fanny; not over her shoulders only, but her head, completely blinding her: the two arms hanging down, indeed, like enormous ears from the young girl's cheeks. Having achieved this feat, Mr. Ralph hurried on--followed Verty and Redbud over the log, treating Miss Fanny much after the fashion of the morning; and so in ten minutes they reached the house at the foot of the hill, and were sheltered. Fanny overflowed with panting laughter as she turned and threw the coat back to Ralph. "There, sir!" she cried, "there is your coat! How very gallant in you! I shall never--no, sir, never forget your devotedness!" And the young girl wrung the water from her curls, and laughed. "Nothing more natural, my dear," said Ralph. "Than what?" "My devotedness." "How?" "Can you ask?" "Yes, sir, I can." "Would you have me a heathen?" "A heathen!" "Yes, Miss Fanny; the least which would be expected of a gentleman would be more than I have done, under the circumstances, and with the peculiar relationship between us. "Oh, yes, cousinship!" "No, madam, intended wedlock." "Sir!" "Come, don't blush so, my heart's delight," said Ralph, "and if the subject is disagreeable, that is, a reference to it in this public manner, I will say no more." "Hum!"-- "There, now--" "I think that your impudence--" "Is very reasonable," said Ralph, filling up the sentence; "but suppose you dry your feet, and yourself generally, as Miss Redbud is doing. That is more profitable than a discussion with me." This advice seemed excellent, and Fanny determined to follow it, though she did not yield in the tongue contest without a number of "hums!" which finally, however, died away like the mutterings of the storm without. The good-humored old woman to whom the humble mansion belonged, had kindled a bundle of twigs in the large fire-place; and before the cheerful blaze the young girls and their cavaliers were soon seated, their wet garments smoking, and the owners of the garments laughing. The good-humored old dame would have furnished them with a change, but this was declared unnecessary, as the storm seemed already exhausted, and they would, ere long, be able to continue their way.