brought me the horns."

And the Squire extended his hand to Verty, who took it with his old
dreamy smile.

"I could have brought a common pair any day," he said, "but I promised
the best, and there they are. Oh, Squire!" said Verty, smiling, "what
a chase I had! and what a fight with him! He nearly had me under him
once, and the antlers you see there came near ploughing up my breast
and letting out my heart's blood! They just grazed--he tried to bite
me--but I had him by the horn with my left hand, and before a swallow
could flap his wings, my knife was in his throat!"

As Verty spoke, his eyes became brighter, his lips more smiling, and
pushing his tangled curls back from his face, he bestowed his amiable
glances even upon Miss Lavinia.

Mr. Rushton scowled.

"What do you mean by saying this barbarous fight was pleasant?" he
asked.

Verty smiled again:--he seemed to know Mr. Rushton well.

"It is my nature to love it," he said, "just as white people love
books and papers."

"What do you mean by white people?" growled Mr. Rushton, "you know
very well that you are white."