"I could scarcely persuade him that his attentions were not agreeable." And Miss Sallianna looked dignified and ladylike.
"Fanny in love with him," said Ralph, reflecting.
"Look through the window," said Miss Sallianna, smiling.
Ralph obeyed, and beheld Verty and Fanny sitting on a knoll, in the merriest conversation;--that is to say, Fanny was thus talking.

Young ladies always begin to converse very loud when visitors arrive--for what reason has not yet been discovered.

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..