Redbud bowed, with an amused look in her little blushing face; and
just as she had got through with this ceremony, another personage was
added to the company.

This was an elderly lady of severe aspect, who, clad in black, and
with an awfully high cap, which cast a shadow as it came, appeared at
the door of the house, and descended like a hawk upon the group.

"Well, Miss Summers!" she said, in a crooked and shrill voice,
"talking to gentlemen, I see! Mr. Jinks, against rules, sir--come,
Miss, you know my wishes on this subject."

As she spoke, her eyes fell upon the turkey hanging from Cloud's
saddle-bow.

"Young man," she said to Verty, "what's the price of that turkey?"

Verty was looking at Redbud, and only knew that the awful Mrs. Scowley
had addressed him, from Redbud's whispering to him.

"_Anan_?" he said.

"I say, what's the price of that turkey?" continued the old lady; "if
you are moderate, I'll buy it. Don't think, though, that I am going
to give you a high price. You mountain people," she added, looking at
Verty's wild costume, "can get along with very little money. Come, how
much?"

Verty on that occasion did the only artful thing which he ever