“I would catch you if you fell from the skies,” I replied, warmly, involuntarily feeling my arm, as if it belonged to Hercules, and looking at her just in time to catch a glance of significance passing between herself and DeVare. Feeling that perhaps I was just a little ridiculous, I endeavored to leave the subject gradually by asking if she was fond of riding horseback, and begging the honor of an engagement for the next evening. She thanked me, and said that as she had introduced the subject I might have construed it into a hint, and she must therefore decline the offer. As I seemed so cut down, however, she agreed to make an indefinite engagement, the time to be fixed any time after that evening.
She then drew me out about our halls and libraries, till I had told of every alcove, and how well they were arranged for courting, and that all the students carried their sweethearts there, and ended by asking her to go with me there some evening after lecture. Another lazy smile, and she softly reminded me that she had introduced that topic also, and must therefore decline again, “at least,” she said, looking at me sideways under her long lashes, “till you claim me as your sweetheart, as you state that it is the resort of lovers only.”
I flushed and hushed for a moment, when DeVare rose from his seat with Miss Minnie, and said it was time for us to go.
Miss Carrover gave me her hand at parting, and insisted on my calling again with so much sweet earnestness that I made myself ridiculous again in my promise to do so.
We had scarcely passed outside the gate when I commenced:
“DeVare, is she not perfectly splendid! I’ll vow I’m crazy about her.”
“That was shameful conduct in those scoundrels to-night,” DeVare said, without noticing my remark, “and had it not been for Miss Minnie and Lillian I would have punished them on the spot.”
“Do you call her Lillian, Ramie?” I asked with surprise.
“If any of them want satisfaction for anything I said to-night,” he continued, without heeding me, “I will have to request you, Jack, to act as my friend.”
“You may depend on me, Ramie; but if there is to be any difficulty, I must be the principal, as it was all begun on my account.”