CHAPTER XXII.
HOW MISS SALLIANNA FELL IN LOVE WITH VERTY.
Verty stood for a moment gazing at the door through which Redbud had disappeared, unable to speak or move.

Astonishment, compassion, love, distress, by turns filled his mind; and standing there, on a fine October morning, the young man, with the clear sunshine streaming on him joyfully, took his first lesson in human distress--a knowledge which all must acquire at some period of their lives, sooner or later.
His mixture of emotions may be easily explained.

He was astonished at the extraordinary change in Redbud's whole demeanor; he felt deep pity for the sickness which she had pleaded as an excuse for leaving him.
Love and distress clasped hands in his agitated heart, as he threw a backward glance over the short interview which they had just held--and all these feelings mingling together, and struggling each for the mastery, made the young man's bosom heave, his forehead cloud over, and his lips shake with deep, melancholy sighs.
Utterly unable to explain the coldness which Redbud had undoubtedly exhibited, he could only suffer in silence.
Then, after some moments' thought, the idea occurred to him that Miss Fanny--the smiling, obliging, the agreeable Miss Fanny--might clear up the mystery, so he turned round toward her; but as he did so, the young girl passed by him with stately dignity, and requesting, in a cold tone, to be excused, as she was going to attend to her friend, Miss Summers, sailed out of the room and disappeared.
Verty looked after her with deeper astonishment than before.

Then everybody disliked him--everybody avoided him: no doubt he had been guilty of some terrible fault toward Redbud, and her friend knew it, and would not stay in his presence.
What could that fault be?
Not his costume--not the attempt he had made to intrude upon her privacy.

Certainly Redbud never would have punished him so cruelly for such trifling things as these, conceding that they were distasteful to her.
What, then, could be the meaning of all this?
Just as he asked himself the question for the sixth time, there appeared at the door of the apartment no less a personage than Miss Sallianna, who, ambling into the room with that portion of the head which we have more than once mentioned, and the lackadaisical smile which was habitual with her, approached Verty, and graciously extended her yellow hand.
The young man took the extended member, and made a bow.