"You laugh."
"Can't help it. The idea of your thinking Verty your rival in the affections of Miss Sallianna! Jinks, my boy, you are blinded with love—open your eyes, and don't think you can see while they are closed. I tell you, Verty is in love with Redbud—I know it, sir. Or, if he is not with Redbud, it's Fanny. No, I don't think it is Fanny," murmured Ralph, with a thoughtful expression; "I think I'm safe there. A dangerous rival!"
And Ralph smiled at his own thoughts.
"What did you say, sir?" asked Jinks, frowning in the direction of the
Bower of Nature.
"Nothing, my boy; but I say, Jinks, what makes you look so fierce? You resemble an ogre—you're not going to eat Mr. Verty?"
"No, sir; but I'm going to call him to account. If he is not my rival, he has stood in my way."
"How!"
"The perfidious Sallianna has fallen in love with him!"
And Jinks groaned.
Ralph took his arm with a sympathizing expression, and restraining a violent burst of laughter, said: