dy
to overflow, like a goblet of Bohemian glass filled with the "foaming
draught of eastern France," if we may be permitted to make so unworthy
a comparison. Her merry black eyes were now dancing, and her ebon
curls rippled from her smooth dark brow like midnight waves.

"Oh! here's your beau, Reddy!" cried Miss Fanny, clapping her hands;
"you pretended not to know him as he came up the hill. Make haste! you
never saw such an elegant cavalier as he has made himself!"

Redbud only smiled sadly, and turned away her head.

Miss Fanny attributed this manoeuvre to a feeling very different from
the real one; and clapping her hands more joyfully than ever, cried:

"There you are! I believe you are going to pretend he ain't your beau!
But you need not, madam. As if I did'nt know all about it--"

"Oh, Fanny!" murmured poor Redbud.

"Come! no secrets from me! That old Miss Lavinia has treated you
badly, I know; I don't know how, but she made you cry, and I will not
have anything to say to her, if she _is_ your cousin. Forget all about
it, Reddy, and make haste down, Verty is waiting for you--and oh! he's
so elegant. I never saw a nicer fellow, and you know I always thought
he was handsome. I would set my cap at him," said Miss Fanny, with a
womanly air, "if it was'nt for you."

Redbud only murmured something.

"Come on!" cried Fanny, trying to raise her friend forcibly, "I tell
you Verty is waiting, and you are only losing so much talk; they never
_will_ let our beaux stay long enough, and as to-day's holiday, you
will have a nice chat. My cousin Ralph, you know, is coming to see me
to-day, and we can have such a nice walk out on the hill--come on,
Reddy! we'll have such a fine time!"

Suddenly Miss Fanny caught sight of the tears in Redbud's eyes, and
stopped.

"What! crying yet at that old Miss Lavinia!" she said; "how can you
mind her so!"

"Oh! I'm very unhappy!" said poor Redbud, bursting into tears; her
self-control had given away at last. "Don't mind me, Fanny, but I
can't help it--please don't talk any more about Verty, or walking out,
or anything."

Fanny looked at her friend for a moment, and the deep sadness on
Redbud's face banished all her laughter.

"Why not talk about him?" she said, sitting down by Redbud.

"Because I can't see him any more."

"Can't see him!"

"No--not to-day."

"Why?"

Redbud wiped her eyes.

"Because--because--oh! I can't tell you, Fanny!--I can't--it's
wrong in cousi