"I will, my heart's dear," said Ralph, snatching Miss Fanny up in his arms, and rapidly passing across with his burden; "nothing easier! By Jove, there goes your slipper!"
In fact, just at the middle of the log, the ribbon, binding the slipper to Miss Fanny's ankle, had broken—probably on account of her struggles—and the luckless slipper had fallen into the stream. It was now scudding along like a Lilliputian boat, the huge rosettes of crimson ribbon standing out like sails.
Ralph burst into a roar of laughter, from which he was instantly diverted by a rousing slap upon the cheek, administered by the hand of Fanny, who cried out at his audacity.
"Cousins, you know!—we are cousins, darling; but what a tremendous strength of arm you have!"
"Try it again, sir!" said Miss Fanny, pouting, and pulling down her sleeve, which had mounted to her shoulder in the passage.
"Never!" cried Ralph; "I am fully conscious of my improper conduct. I blush to think of it—that is to say, my left cheek does!"
"Served you right!" said Fanny.
"Uncharitable!"
"Impudent!"
"Unfortunate!"