Ralph drew up before the house, tied his horse, and entered.

Miss Sallianna rose graciously, smiling.

“Good morning, sir,” said the lady, rolling her eyes toward the ceiling, and leaning her head on her right shoulder, “we have a charming day.”

“Oh, charming! but that is not all, madam,” said Ralph, smiling satirically, as he bent profoundly over the hand given to him.

“Not all, sir?” sighed the lady.

“There is something still more charming.”

“What is that?”

“The dear companion with whom good fortune blesses me.”

This was so very direct, that Miss Sallianna actually blushed.

“Oh, no—­” she murmured.

“Yes, yes!”

“You men—­”

“Are sincere—­”

“Oh, no! such flatterers.”

“Flatterers, madam?” said Ralph, laughing, “that is true of some of us, but not of me; I am so perfectly sincere, and clad in the simplicity of my nature to that degree, that what I say is the pure out-gushing of my heart—­ahem!”

The lady smiled, and motioned toward a settee.

“The beauties of nature—­”

“Yes, my dear madam.”

“Are—­ahem!”

“Yes, yes.”

“So much more beautiful than those of art,” sighed Miss Sallianna, contemplating the ceiling, as though nature had taken up her post there to be gazed at.

“I fully agree with you,” said Ralph, “they are.”

“Oh, yes—­they are—­I knew you would—­you are so—­so remarkable—­”

“No, no, Miss Sallianna!”

“Yes, you are—­for your intrinsic perspicuity, sir—­la!”

And Miss Sallianna ogled her visitor.

“This,” said Ralph, with enthusiasm, “is the proudest moment of my life.  The beautiful Sallianna—­”

“Oh, Mr. Ashley."’

“Yes, madam!” said Ralph, “torture would not make me change the word.”

“La!  Mr. Ashley!”

“The beautiful Miss Sallianna has declared that I am possessed of intrinsic perspicuity!  I need nothing more.  Now let the fates descend!”

With which heroic words Mr. Ralph Ashley wiped his brow with solemn dignity, and chuckled behind his handkerchief.

“I always admired perspicuity,” said Miss Sallianna, with a languid glance.

“And I, beauty, madam.”

“La! sir.”

“Admiration is a weak word, Miss Sallianna.”

“Opprobrium?” suggested the lady.

“Yes, yes! that is the word!  Thank you, Miss Sallianna.  I am not as strong in philology as you are.  I should have said opprobrium—­that is what I have always regarded beauty, such as yours, all my life.”

Miss Sallianna covered her face with her fan.  Here was an opportunity to supply the place of the faithless Verty and the odious Jinks.  As the thought occurred to her, Miss Sallianna assumed an awful expression of favor and innocent fondness.  Ralph shuddered as he caught sight of it.