"Your witticisms are, of course, always, fine—no doubt very classic; now I will send up a messenger on the string. Redbud, have you a piece of paper?"
Redbud drew the paper from her apron pocket, and gave it to Fanny, with a smile.
Fanny tore the yellow scrap into a circle, and in the centre of this circle made a hole as large as her finger.
"Now, Mr. Ralph, please untie the string from the root."
"With pleasure," said the young man; "for you, my heart's delight, I would—"
"Come, come, sir! you make an oration upon every occasion!"
With many remonstrances at being thus unceremoniously suppressed, Mr.
Ralph knelt down, and untied the string.
"Does it pull strongly, Mr. Ralph?" said Redbud, smiling.
"Oh, yes! you know it was nearly as tall as myself—just try."
"The messenger first!" cried Fanny.