"Fairest of your sex!" said the enthusiastic Mr. Jinks, "how can I
express the delight which your presence inspires me with--ahem!"

The sound of a fan coming in contact with a masculine hand was heard,
and a mincing voice replied:--

"Oh, you are a great flatterer, Mr. Jinks. You are really too bad. Let
us view the beauties of nature."

"They are not so lovely as those beauties which I have been viewing
since I saw you, my dearest Miss Sallianna."

("That's old Scowley's sister, he said so," whispered Verty.)

"Really, you make me blush," replied the mincing and languishing
voice--"you men are dreadful creatures!"

"Dreadful!"

"You take advantage of our simplicity and confidence to make us
believe you think very highly of us."

"Highly! divinest Miss Sallianna! _highly_ is not the word;
extravagantly is better! In the presence of your lovely sex we feel
our hearts expand; our bosoms--hem!--are enlarged, and we are all your
slaves."

("Just listen, Redbud!" whispered Verty, laughing.)