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.
The young girl greeted him with one of her kind smiles, and there was so much light and joy in her face, that Ralph's brow cleared up.
They began to converse.
The chapter of accidents, whereof was author that distinguished inventor of fiction, Miss Sallianna, promised to make the present interview exceedingly piquant and fruitful in entertaining misunderstanding; for the reader will observe the situation of the parties.

Miss Sallianna had persuaded Verty that Redbud was in love with Ralph; and, in the second place, had assured Ralph, a few moments before, that Fanny was in love with Verty.
Redbud was clinching Verty's doubts by smiling sweetly on Ralph;--Fanny was causing dreadful jealousy and conviction of his misfortune in Ralph, by making herself agreeable to Verty.
The schemes of the great Amazonian General, Sallianna, seemed to be crowned with complete success; and, doubtless, all would have turned out as she desired, but for one of those trivial circumstances which overturn the most carefully matured conceptions of the greatest intellects.
This was the simplicity of our friend Verty; and he unconsciously commenced the overturning operation by saying: "Redbud, did you find the flowers you wanted ?" The young girl replied: "Oh, yes!" "'Beauties of nature,' Miss Sallianna would call 'em, would'nt she ?" continued Verty, with a smile.
"Now, Verty!" said Redbud, reproachfully.
"I can't help it," returned Verty; "I don't like Miss Sallianna." "Not like that paragon!" cried Fanny.
"No." "Why not, sir ?" "She told me a story." "A story, sir!" "Yes." "You ought to be ashamed of yourself to speak so disrespectfully of such a divine creature--with so much maiden innocence and intrinsic simplicity," observed Miss Fanny, inclining her head upon one shoulder, and rolling her eyes toward the sky.
Ralph began to laugh.
"I would'nt say it if it was'nt true," Verty said; "but it is." "What story did she tell you, sir ?" Fanny went on.
"She said that Redbud was in love with him--Ralph Ashley." And Verty smiled.
Fanny burst into a roar of laughter; Redbud blushed; Ralph looked with astonishment at the plain-spoken Verty.
"You know that was a story," said he, simply.
Everybody remained silent for a moment, and then the silence was broken by Ralph, who cried, laughing: "I'll back you, friend Verty! every word of it!" "You, sir!" cried Fanny.
"Yes! I wonder if your divine creature--Sallianna by name--did not tell me, ten minutes since, that you--yes, you, Miss Fanny!--were desperately enamored of Mr.Verty!" The whole party were so overcome by this ludicrous expose of Miss Sallianna's schemes, that a laugh much louder than the first rang through the garden; and when Miss Sallianna was descried sailing in dignified meditation up and down the portico, her fan gently waving, her head inclined to one side, her eyes fixed upon the sky, Mr.Ralph Ashley entered into a neighboring mass of shrubbery, from which came numerous choking sounds, and explosive evidences of overwhelming laughter.
Thus was it that our honest Verty at once cleared up all misunderstanding--and made the horizon cloudless once again.

If everybody would only speak as plainly, when misconceptions and mistakes arise, the world would have far more of sunshine in it! "Just to think!" cried Fanny, "how that odious old tatterdemalion has been going on! Did anybody ever ?" "Anan ?" said Verty.
"Sir ?" said Fanny.
"What's a tatterdemalion ?" asked the young man, smilingly.
"I don't exactly know, sir," said Fanny; "but I suppose it's a conceited old maid; who talks about the beauties of nature, and tries to make people, who are friends, hate each other." With which definition Miss Fanny clenched her handsome little hand, and made a gesture therewith, in the direction of Miss Sallianna, indicative of hostility, and a desire to engage in instant combat.
Ralph laughed, and said: "You meant to say, my dear child, that the lady in question tried to make a quarrel between people who _loved_ each other--not simply 'were friends'.

For you know she tried to make us dislike one another." Fanny received this insinuating speech with one of heir expressive "hums!" "Don't you ?" said Ralph.
"What; sir ?" "Love me!" "Oh, devotedly!" "Very well; it was not necessary to tell me, and, of course, that pretty curl of the lip is only to keep up appearances.