The girl runs toward him, laughing gaily--

"Oh, Verty!" she says, "indeed I am very glad to see you. Where have
you been?"

With which, she gives him her hand.

"At home," says Verty, with his bright, but dreamy smile; "I've got
the antlers for the Squire, at last."

And Verty throws the rein on the neck of his little horse, who stands
perfectly still, and leaps lightly to the ground. He stands for a
moment gazing at Redbud with his dreamy and smiling eyes, silent in
the sunshine like a shadow, then he pushes back his tangled chestnut
curls, and laughs.

"I had a long chase," he says.

"For the deer?"

"Yes," says Verty, "and there are his horns. Oh, how bright you look."

Redbud returns his smile.

"I think I didn't live before I knew you; but that was long years
ago," says Verty, "a very long time ago."

And leaning for a moment on his bow, the forest boy gazes with his
singular dreamy look on Redbud, who smiles.