"I don't think it was that," Verty replied, "but it was something pretty--prettier than what you said just now, when you were courting Miss Sallianna, you know." Mr. Jinks cleared his throat--Miss Sallianna blushed. "Really--" said Mr. Jinks. "What children!" said the lady, with a patronizing air; "Reddy, do you know your lesson?" By which question, Miss Sallianna evidently intended to reduce Miss Redbud to her proper position of child. "Yes, ma'am," said Redbud "and Mrs. Scowley said I might come in here." "With this--young man?" "Yes, ma'am. He is a very old friend of mine." "Indeed!" simpered the lady. "Are you not, Verty?" But Verty was intently watching Longears, who was trying to insert his nose between two bars of the garden gate. "_Anan_?" he said. "La, what does he mean?" said the lady; "see! he's looking at something." Verty was only making friendly signs to Longears to enter the garden. Longears no sooner understood that he was called, than he cleared the fence at one bound, and came up to his master. Mr. Jinks had not heard his own voice for at least half a minute; so he observed, loftily: "A handsome dog! a very handsome dog, sir! What did you say his name was? Longears? Yes? Here, Longears!" And he made friendly signs of invitation to the hound. Longears availed himself of these indications of friendship by rearing up on Mr. Jinks, and leaving a dust-impression of his two paws upon that gentleman's ruffled shirt-bosom. Verty laughed, and dragged him away. "Longears," he said, "I'm surprised at you--and here, too, where you should conduct yourself better than usual!" Miss Sallianna was about to say something, when a bell was heard to ring. "Oh!" said Redbud, "there's school. Playtime's over." "Over?" said Verty, with an exhibition of decided ill-humor. "Yes, sir," said Miss Sallianna, "and my young pupil must now return to her studies. Mr. Jinks--" And the lady threw a languishing glance on her cavalier. "You will come soon again, and continue our discussion--of--of--the beauties of nature? We are very lonely here." "Will I come?" cried the enthusiastic Jinks; and having thus displayed, by the tone in which his words were uttered, the depth of his devotion, the grasshopper gentleman gallantly pressed the hand held out to him, and, with a lofty look, made his exit out of the garden. Verty followed. But first he said to Redbud, smiling: "I'm going to see Miss Lavinia this very day, to ask her to let me come to see you. You know I must come to see you, Redbud. I don't know why, but I must." Redbud blushed, and continued to caress Longears, who submitted to this ceremony with great equanimity. "Come!" said Miss Sallianna, "let us return, Miss Summers." "Yes, ma'am," said Redbud; "good-bye, Verty," she added, looking at the boy with her kind, smiling eyes, and lowering her voice, "remember what you promised me--to read your Bible."