Redbud's face and voice had this innocence and joy in it--there was pleasure in the very sound of it; and such a delicate kind of light in the soft eyes, that as they went, the young men felt more pure, and bowed to her, as something better than themselves--of higher nature.
The light of Fanny's eyes was more brilliant; but Redbud's were of such softness that you forgot all else in gazing at them--lost your heart, looking into their lucid depths of liquid light.
One heart was irremediably lost long since, and, gone away into the possession of the young lady.

This was Verty's; and as they went along he gazed so tenderly at the young girl, that more than once she blushed, and suffered the long lashes to fall down upon her rosy cheek.
Fanny was talking with Ralph;--for these young gentlemen had made the simple and admirable arrangement, without in the least consulting the ladies, that Verty should always entertain and be entertained by Redbud, Ralph quarrel with, and be quarreled with, by Fanny.
Each, on the present occasion, was carrying out his portion of the contract; that is to say, Verty and Redbud were quietly smiling at each other; Ralph and Fanny were exchanging repartees.
They came thus to the knoll which they had stopped upon in the forenoon.
The fine kite--tied to a root, as we have said--was hovering far up among the clouds, swaying and fluttering its streamers in the wind: the various colors of the paper, and the flowers almost wholly indiscernible, so high had it ascended.
"Look!" said Fanny, "there it is up among the swallows, which are flying around it as if they never saw a kite before." "Female swallows, doubtless," observed Ralph, carelessly.
"Female?
Pray, why ?" "Because they have so much curiosity; see, you have made me utter what is not common with me." "What, sir ?" "A bad witticism." Fanny laughed, and replied, gazing at the kite: "Your witticisms are, of course, always, fine--no doubt very classic; now I will send up a messenger on the string.

Redbud, have you a piece of paper ?" Redbud drew the paper from her apron pocket, and gave it to Fanny, with a smile.
Fanny tore the yellow scrap into a circle, and in the centre of this circle made a hole as large as her finger.
"Now, Mr.Ralph, please untie the string from the root." "With pleasure," said the young man; "for you, my heart's delight, I would--" "Come, come, sir! you make an oration upon every occasion!" With many remonstrances at being thus unceremoniously suppressed, Mr.
Ralph knelt down, and untied the string.
"Does it pull strongly, Mr.Ralph ?" said Redbud, smiling.
"Oh, yes! you know it was nearly as tall as myself--just try." "The messenger first!" cried Fanny.
And she slipped it over the string.
"Now, Miss Redbud, just try!" said Ralph.
Redbud wrapped the string around her hand, and Ralph let it go.
"How do you like it!" he said.
"Oh!" cried Redbud, "it is so strong!--there must be a great wind in the clouds!--Oh!" added the girl, laughing, "it is cutting my hand in two!" And she caught the string with her left hand to relieve the afflicted member.
"Give it to me!" cried Fanny.
"Yes, give it to her; she has the arm of an Amazon," said Ralph, enthusiastically.
"Humph!" And having entered this, her standing protest, Fanny laughed, and unwound the string from Redbud's hand, on whose white surface two crimson circles were visible.
"I can hold it!" cried the young girl, "easily!" And to display her indifference, Fanny knelt on one knee to pick up her gloves.
The consequence of this movement was, that the heavy kite, struck, doubtless, at the moment by a gust of wind, jerked the lady with the Amazonian arm so violently, that, unable to retain her position, she fell upon her left hand, then upon her face, and was dragged a pace or two by the heavy weight.
"By Jove!" cried Ralph, running to her, "did anybody--" "Oh, take care!" exclaimed Redbud, hastening to her friend's assistance.
"It is nothing!" Fanny said; "I can hold it." And to prove this, she let go the string, which was cutting her hand in two.
The poor kite! loosed from the sustaining hand, from the earth, which, so to speak, held it up--it sees its hopes of elevation in the world all dashed with disappointment and obscured.

It is doomed! But no! A new friend comes to its rescue--deserted by the lords and ladies of creation, the lesser creature takes it under his protection.
Longears is the rescuer.

Longears has watched the messenger we have mentioned with deep interest, as it lays upon the string and flutters; Longears imagines that it is a bee of the species called yellow-jacket challenging him to combat.