etly, at the distance of some paces, under
the oaks, looked on, laughing and talking.

"How bright Fanny is," said Redbud, laughing--"Look! I think she is
lovely; and then she is as good as she can be."

"I like her," said Verty, tenderly, "because she likes you, Redbud. I
like Ralph, too--don't you?"

"Oh, yes--I think he is very pleasant and agreeable; he has just come
from college, and Fanny says, has greatly improved--though," whispered
Redbud, bending toward Verty, and smiling, "she says, when he is
present, that he has _not_ improved; just the opposite."

Verty sighed.

The delicate little face of Redbud was turned toward him inquiringly.

"Verty, you sighed," she said.

"Did I?" said Verty.

"Yes."

Verty sighed again.

"Tell me what troubles you," said Redbud, softly.

"Nothing--nothing," replied Verty; "I was only thinking about college,
you know."

"About college?"

"Yes."

And Verty repeated the sigh.

"Tell me your thoughts," said Redbud, earnestly.

"I was only thinking," returned her companion, "that there was no
chance of my ever going to college, and I should like to know how I am
to be a learned man without having an education."

Redbud sighed too.

"But perhaps," she said, "you might make yourself learned without
going to college."

Verty shook his head.

"You are not so ignorant as you think," Redbud said, softly. "I
know many persons as old as you are, who--who--are not half
as--intelligent."

Verty repeated the shake of his head.

"I may know as much as the next one about hunting," he said; "and _ma
mere_ says that none of her tribe had as much knowledge of the habits
of the deer. Yes! yes! that is something--to know all about life in
the autumn woods, the grand life which, some day, will be told about
in great poetry, or ought to be. But what good is there in only
knowing how to follow the deer, or watch for the turkeys, or kill
bears, as I used to before the neighborhood was filled up? I want to
be a learned man. I don't think anybody would, or ought to, marry me,"
added Verty, sighing.

Redbud laughed, and colored.

"Perhaps you can go to college, though," she said.

"I'm afraid not," said Verty; "but I won't complain. Why should I?
Besides, I would have to leave you all here, and I never could make up
my mind to that."

("Let it go, Ralph!" from Fanny.

To which the individual addressed, replies:

"Oh, certainly, by all means, darling of my heart!")

Re