"Our dear little girls are amusing themselves this morning," said Miss Sallianna, inclining her head upon one shoulder, and raising her smiling eyes toward the ceiling; "the youthful mind, my dear madam, requires relaxation, and we do not force it." Miss Lavinia uttered a dignified "hem," and passed her handkerchief solemnly over her lips. "In this abode of the graces and rural sublunaries," continued Miss Sallianna, gently flirting her fan, "our young friends seem to lead a very happy life." "Yes--I suppose so." "Indeed, madam, I may say the time passes for them in a golden cadence of salubrious delights," said Miss Sallianna. Her visitor inclined her head. "If we could only exclude completely all thoughts of the opposite sex--" Miss Lavinia listened with some interest to this peroration. "If we could live far from the vain world of man--" The solemn head indicated a coincidence of opinion. "If we could but dedicate ourselves wholly to the care of our little flock, we should be felicitous," continued Miss Sallianna. "But, alas! they will come to see us, madam, and we cannot exclude the dangerous enemy. I am often obliged to send word that I am not 'at home' to the beaux, and yet that is very cruel. But duty is my guide, and I bow to its bequests." With which words, Miss Sallianna fixed her eyes resignedly upon the ceiling, and was silent. If Miss Lavinia had labored under the impression that Miss Sallianna designed to utter any complaints about Redbud, she did not show that such had been her expectation. She only bowed and said, politely, that if her little cousin Redbud was disengaged, she should like to see her. "Oh yes! she is disengaged," said Miss Sallianna, with a languishing smile; "the dear child has been roaming over the garden and around the ensuing hills since the first appearance of the radiant orb of Sol, madam. I think such perambulations healthy." Miss Lavinia said that she agreed with her. "Reddy, as I call your lovely little niece--your cousin, eh?--is one of my most cherished pupils, madam; and I discover in her so many charming criterions of excellence, that I am sure she will grow up an object of interest to everybody. There she is out on the lawn. I will call her, madam, and if you would dispense with my society for a short time, I will again return, and we will discuss my favorite subject, the beauties of nature." Miss Lavinia having, by a solemn movement of the head, indicated her willingness to languish without her hostess' society for a short period, Miss Sallianna rose, and made her exit from the apartment, with upraised eyes and gently smiling lips. Five minutes afterwards Redbud ran in, laughing and rosy-cheeked. "Oh, cousin Lavinia!" she cried, "I'm so glad to see you!" Miss Lavinia enclosed her young relation in a dignified embrace, and kissed her solemnly.