"I had him," said Verty.
"At home?"
"Yes."
"Curing him?"
Verty nodded.
"You know that was what I wanted. I cured him, and then let him go, and followed him, and found you."
Verty, in an absent way, took Miss Redbud's hand, and was guilty of the bad taste of squeezing it.
The reply and the action seemed to recall Redbud to herself; and she suddenly drew back with a blush.
Verty looked astounded. In the midst of his confusion a martial "hem!" was heard, and Mr. Jinks, who had been carefully adjusting his toilette, drew near the lovers.
"Hem!" said Mr. Jinks, "a very fine day, Miss Redbud. Loveliest of your sex and delight of the world, have I the pleasure of seeing you in that high state of happiness and health which of right should belong to you?"