"It's abominable, sir—oderous; and then your hair—"

"My hair?" said Verty, pulling at a curl.

"Yes, sir—it is preposterous, sir. Did any body ever!"

And Miss Sallianna carried her eyes to heaven.

"I don't know," Verty said; "but it feels better."

"It may, sir; but you must cut it off if you come again."

Verty hesitated.

"I thought—" he began.

"Well, sir?"

"I was thinking," said the young man, feeling a vague idea that he was going wrong—"I thought that you were not so very particular, as you are only a school-mistress, and not one of those fine ladies I have seen riding by in their carriages. They might think some ceremony needed—"