som, and his lips trembled.

Miss Sallianna gazed at him with a curious smile, and after a moment's
silence, said:

"Suppose you sit down for a minute, Mr. Verty, and tell me all about
this--this--highly intrinsic occurrence. You could not repose your
sorrows in a more sympathetic bosom than my own."

And subsiding gracefully upon the sofa, Miss Sallianna made Verty sit
by her, and even gently moved her fan before his face, smiling and
simpering.

Perhaps the reader may feel some surprise at the change in Miss
Sallianna's demeanor toward the young man, the fact of whose existence
she had scarcely noticed on the occasion of their first meeting in the
garden. The explanation will be neither lengthy nor difficult. Miss
Sallianna was one of those ladies who have so profound an admiration
for nature, beauty, love, and everything elevated and ennobling,
that they are fond of discussing these topics with the opposite
sex--exchanging ideas, and comparing opinions, no doubt for the
purpose of arriving at sound conclusions upon these interesting
subjects. If, in the course of these conversations, the general
discussion became particular and personal--if, in a word, the
gentleman was induced to regard the lady as an example of the beauties
they were talking about, in nature, love, etc., Miss Sallianna did not
complain, and even seemed somewhat pleased thereof. Of course there
would have been no profit or entertainment in discussing these
recondite subjects with a savage such as Verty had appeared to be upon
their former interview, when, with his long, tangled hair, hunter's
garb, and old slouched hat, he resembled an inhabitant of the
backwoods--what could such a personage know of divine philosophy,
or what pleasure could a lady take in his society?--no pleasure,
evidently. But now that was all changed. The young gentleman now
presented a civilized appearance; he was plainly becoming more
cultivated, and his education, Miss Sallianna argued, should not be
neglected by his lady acquaintances. Who wonders at such reasoning?
Is this the only instance which has ever been known? Do sentimental
ladies of an uncertain age always refuse to take charge of the growing
hearts of innocent and handsome youths, just becoming initiated in the
mysteries of the tender passion? Or do they not most willingly assume
the onerous duty of directing the _naive_ instincts of such youthful
cavaliers into proper channels and toward worthy objects--even