each other very well; I thought I'd come." And Verty smiled.

Mrs. Scowley was completely puzzled--she had never before seen a
gentleman of Verty's candor, and could find no words to reply. She
thought of saying to our friend that visiting a young lady at school
was highly criminal and reprehensible, but a glance at the fat turkey
lying on the grass at her feet, caused her to suppress this speech.

As she gazed, her feeling relented more and more--Verty grew still
more amiable in her eyes--the turkey evidently weighed more than
twenty pounds.

"I'm much obliged to you, young man," she said, "and I'll take the
turkey from you as a friend. Come in and have some apples--there's a
bell-mouth tree."

"Oh yes!" said Verty, "I'm very fond of apples--but Redbud may have
some, too?" he added, smiling innocently.

"Hum!" said the ogress.

"Just a few, you know, ma'am," said Verty, with his bright smile. "I
know from the way she looks that she wants some. Don't you, Redbud?"

Poor Redbud's resolutions all melted--Verty's voice did it all--she
blushed and nodded, and said yes, she should like very much to have
some apples.

"Then you may go," said the ogress, somewhat mollified, "but don't
touch the small trees--I'm keeping them."