HOW VERTY AND MISS LAVINIA RAN A-TILT AT EACH OTHER, AND WHO WAS OVERTHROWN.
The young man turned round: the gruff voice belonged to Judge Rushton.
That gentleman had left his horse at the outer gate, and approached the house on foot. Absorbed by his own thoughts, Verty had not seen him—as indeed neither had Redbud—and the gruff voice gave the young man the first intimation of his presence.
"Well," repeated the lawyer, leaning on his knotty stick, and scowling at the two young people from beneath his shaggy eyebrows, "what are you standing there staring at me for? Am I a wild beast, a rhinoceros, or a monster of any description, that you can't speak? I asked you why you were not in town at your work?"
Verty pointed to the horizon.
"The day has only begun," he said.
"Well, sir—"
"And I stopped for only one minute, Mr. Rushton," added Verty."
"One minute! Do you know, sir, that life is made up of minutes?"
"Yes, sir," said Verty.