you!" Of course, cousin Lavinia knew all about
it; and it was very dreadful in her to have been treating Verty with
so little ceremony--very, very dreadful. Was she not growing up, and
even did she not wear long dresses? Was such conduct in a lady of
sixteen proper?

So, innocence listened to worldly wisdom, and pride overturned
simplicity; and, in consequence, our friend Verty found himself
opposite a young lady who blushed, and exhibited a most unaccountable
constraint, and only gave him the tips of her fingers, when he was
ready for, and expected, the most enthusiastic greeting.

We must, however, speak of another influence which made Redbud so
cool;--and this will, very probably, have occurred to our lady
readers, if we have any, as the better explanation. Separation! Yes,
the separation which stimulates affection, and bathes the eyes in the
languid dews of memory. Strephon is never so devoted as when Chloe has
been removed from him--when his glances seek for her in vain on the
well-remembered lawn. And Chloe, too, is disconsolate, when she no
longer sees the crook of her shepherd, or hears the madrigals he
sings. Absence smoothes all rough places; and the friend from whom we
are separated, takes the dearest place in the heart of hearts.

Redbud did not discover how much she loved Verty, until she was gone
from him, and the fresh music of his laughter was no longer in her
ears. Then she found that he held a very different place in her heart
from what she had supposed;--or rather, to speak more accurately, she
did not reflect in the least upon the matter, but only felt that he
was not there near her, and that she was not happy.

This will explain the prim little ladylike air of bashfulness and
constraint which Redbud exhibited, when her eyes fell on Verty, and
the coolness with which she gave him her hand. The old things had
passed away--Verty could be the boy-playmate no more, however much it
grieved her. Thus reflected Miss Redbud; and in accordance with this
train of reasoning, did she conduct herself upon the occasion of which
we speak.

So, to Strephon's request to be informed why she came thither, without
telling him, Chloe replied with a blush:

"Oh, I came to school--sir," she was about to add, but did not.

"To school? Is this a school for young ladies?"

Redbud, with a delicate little inclination of the head, said yes.

"Well," Verty went on, "I am glad I found you; for, Redbud, you can't
tell h