The Last of the Foresters Part 24

It is rather an anti-climax, after this somewhat practical account of our little heroine, to inform the reader that Redbud was sitting down, crying. Such was, however, the fact; and as conscientious historians we cannot conceal it. Overwhelmed by Miss Lavinia's fatal logic, she had no choice, no course but one to pursue--to avoid Verty, and thus ward off that prospective "suffering;" and so, with a swelling heart and a heated brain, our little heroine could find no better resource than tears, and sobs, and sighs.

CHAPTER XX.

HOW MISS f.a.n.n.y SLAMMED THE DOOR IN VERTY'S FACE.

As Redbud sat thus disconsolate, a footstep in the apartment attracted her attention, and raising her tearful eyes, she saw her friend f.a.n.n.y, who had run in, laughing, as was her wont. f.a.n.n.y was a handsome little brunette, about Redbud's age, and full of merriment and glee--perhaps _sparkle_ would be the better word, inasmuch as this young lady always seemed to be upon the verge of laughter--brim full with it, and ready to overflow, like a goblet of Bohemian gla.s.s filled with the "foaming draught of eastern France," if we may be permitted to make so unworthy a comparison. Her merry black eyes were now dancing, and her ebon curls rippled from her smooth dark brow like midnight waves.

"Oh! here's your beau, Reddy!" cried Miss f.a.n.n.y, clapping her hands; "you pretended not to know him as he came up the hill. Make haste! you never saw such an elegant cavalier as he has made himself!"

Redbud only smiled sadly, and turned away her head.

Miss f.a.n.n.y attributed this manoeuvre to a feeling very different from the real one; and clapping her hands more joyfully than ever, cried:

"There you are! I believe you are going to pretend he ain't your beau!

But you need not, madam. As if I did'nt know all about it--"

"Oh, f.a.n.n.y!" murmured poor Redbud.

"Come! no secrets from me! That old Miss Lavinia has treated you badly, I know; I don't know how, but she made you cry, and I will not have anything to say to her, if she _is_ your cousin. Forget all about it, Reddy, and make haste down, Verty is waiting for you--and oh! he's so elegant. I never saw a nicer fellow, and you know I always thought he was handsome. I would set my cap at him," said Miss f.a.n.n.y, with a womanly air, "if it was'nt for you."

Redbud only murmured something.

"Come on!" cried f.a.n.n.y, trying to raise her friend forcibly, "I tell you Verty is waiting, and you are only losing so much talk; they never _will_ let our beaux stay long enough, and as to-day's holiday, you will have a nice chat. My cousin Ralph, you know, is coming to see me to-day, and we can have such a nice walk out on the hill--come on, Reddy! we'll have such a fine time!"

Suddenly Miss f.a.n.n.y caught sight of the tears in Redbud's eyes, and stopped.

"What! crying yet at that old Miss Lavinia!" she said; "how can you mind her so!"

"Oh! I'm very unhappy!" said poor Redbud, bursting into tears; her self-control had given away at last. "Don't mind me, f.a.n.n.y, but I can't help it--please don't talk any more about Verty, or walking out, or anything."

f.a.n.n.y looked at her friend for a moment, and the deep sadness on Redbud's face banished all her laughter.

"Why not talk about him?" she said, sitting down by Redbud.

"Because I can't see him any more."

"Can't see him!"

"No--not to-day."

"Why?"

Redbud wiped her eyes.

"Because--because--oh! I can't tell you, f.a.n.n.y!--I can't--it's wrong in cousin Lavinia!--I know it is!--I never meant--oh! I am so unhappy!"

And Redbud ended by bursting into a flood of tears, which caused the impulsive and sympathetic f.a.n.n.y, whose lips had for some moments been twitching nervously, to do the same.

"Don't cry, f.a.n.n.y--please don't cry!" said Redbud.

"I'm not crying!" said Miss f.a.n.n.y, shedding floods of tears--"I'm not sorry--I'm mad with Miss Lavinia for making _you_ cry; I hate her!"

"Oh!" sobbed Redbud, "that is very wrong."

"I don't care."

"She's my cousin."

"No matter! She had no business coming here and making you unhappy."

With which Miss f.a.n.n.y sniffed, if that very inelegant word may be applied to any action performed by so elegant a young lady.

"Yes! she had no business--the old cat!" continued the impulsive f.a.n.n.y, "and I feel as if I could scratch her eyes out!--to make you cry!"

"But I won't any more," said Redbud, beginning afresh.

"And I will stop, too," said f.a.n.n.y, becoming hysterical.

After which solemn determination to be calm, and not display any further emotion on any account, the two young ladies, sinking into each other's arms, cried until their white handkerchiefs were completely wetted by their tears.

They had just managed to suppress their emotion somewhat--preparatory to commencing again, doubtless--when the door of the apartment opened, and a servant girl announced to Miss Redbud that a gentleman had come to see her, and was waiting for that purpose at the foot of the stairs.

"Oh! I can't see him," said Redbud, threatening a new shower.

"You shall!" said f.a.n.n.y, laughing through her tears.

"Oh, no! no!" said Redbud.

"What shall I tell 'um, Miss," said the servant?

"Oh, I can't go down--tell Verty that--"

"She'll be down in a minute," finished f.a.n.n.y.

"No, no, I must not!"

"You shall!"

"f.a.n.n.y--!"

"Come, no nonsense, Reddy! there! I hear his voice--oh, me! my goodness gracious!"

These sudden and apparently remarkable exclamations may probably appear mysterious and without reason to the respected readers who do us the honor to peruse our history; but they were in reality not at all extraordinary under the circ.u.mstances, and were, indeed, just what might have been expected, on the generally accepted theories of cause and effect.

In a single word, then, the lively Miss f.a.n.n.y had uttered the emphatic words, "Oh, me!--my goodness gracious!" because she had heard upon the staircase the noise of a masculine footstep, and caught sight of a masculine c.o.c.ked-hat ascending;--which phenomenon, arguing again upon the theories of cause and effect, plainly indicated that a head was under the chapeau--the head of one of the opposite s.e.x.