The good-natured old gentleman looked at the boy's frank face, and admired its honest, ingenuous expression.
"I don't see why you should'nt, Verty," he replied, "if you don't go too often, and keep my little 'Bud from her lessons."
"Oh! no, sir."
"Go, go by all means—it will be of service to her to see home faces, and you are something like home to her. Short as the distance is, I can't leave my farm, and we can't have 'Bud with us every week, as I should wish."
"I've just come from there," said Verty, "and Redbud is very well, and seems to like the place. There is a man who comes there to see Miss Sallianna, and Redbud most dies laughing at him—I mean, I suppose she does. His name is Mr. Jinks."
"What! the great Jinks? the soldier, the fop, the coxcomb and swaggerer!" laughed the Squire.
Verty nodded.
"That's the very man, sir," he said, "and I saw him to-day. I came back, and found Mr. Rushton wanted to be quiet, and Mr. Roundjacket said I might go and hunt some for ma mere"
"Go, then, Verty; that is, if you won't stop to dinner."
"I don't think I can, sir—I should like to see Miss Lavinia, though, if—"