Verty's absent look in the
direction of Fanny's face might very well have been considered the
stare of a lover.
"Do you doubt any longer?"
"Oh, no!"
"Then, Mr. Ashley--"
"Yes, madam."
"In future you will--"
"Care nothing for--"
"The person--"
"Who seems to me the concentration of folly and everything of that
description--no, madam! In future I will carefully avoid her!"
And with this ambiguous speech, Mr. Ralph rose, begged Miss Sallianna
to excuse him for a short time, and making her a low and devoted bow,
took his way into the garden, and toward the spot where Fanny and
Verty were sitting.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
VERTY STATES HIS PRIVATE OPINION OF MISS SALLIANNA.
Fanny complimented Mr. Ralph Ashley with a very indifferent bow, and
went on talking with, or rather to, her companion Verty.
Ralph tried to laugh at this; but not succeeding very well, came
suddenly to the very rational conclusion that something unusual was
going on in his breast. He had never before failed to utter the most
contagious laughter, when he attempted the performance--what could the
rather faint sound which now issued from his lips be occasioned by?
Puzzled, and at his philosophy's end, Ralph began to grow dignified;
when, luckily, Redbud approached.
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