Redbud was seated at the window; and the kind eyes and lips brightened, as the form of the young man became visible.
Verty dismounted and entered.
"I am very glad to see you!" said Redbud, smiling, and holding out her small hand; "what a sweet evening for your ride home."
Redbud was clad with her usual grace and simplicity. Her beautiful golden hair was brushed back from the pure, white forehead; her throat was enveloped in a circlet of diaphanous lace, and beneath this, as she breathed, the red beads of the coral necklace were visible, rising and falling with the pulsations of her heart. Redbud could not have very readily explained the reason for her fancy in wearing the necklace constantly. It was one of those caprices which every one experiences at times;—and so, although the girl had quite a magazine of such ornaments, she persisted in wearing the old necklace bought from the pedlar. Perhaps the word Providence may explain the matter.
To the girl's observation, that he had a fine evening for his ride homeward, Verty replied—Yes, that he had; that he could not go by, however, without coming to see her.
And as he uttered these words, the simple and tender glances of the two young persons encountered each other; and they both smiled.
"You know you are not very well," added Verty; "and I could'nt sleep well if I did not know how you were, Redbud."
The girl thanked him with another smile, and said:
"I believe I am nearly well now; the cold I caught the other day has entirely left me. I almost think I might take a stroll, if the sun was not so low."
"It is half an hour high—that is, it will not get cool until then,"
Verty said.