Part 35 (1/2)

~She.~ ”Of you? Oh, no! Why should it? We are only severe on those we dislike.”

~He.~ ”Then you don't dislike me?”

~She.~ ”No! - why should we?”

~He.~ ”Well - I don't know - but I thought you might. Well, I'm glad of that - I'm ~very~ glad of that. 'Pon my word, it's ~very~ hot!

don't you think so?”

~She.~ ”Yes! I'm burning. But I don't think we should find a cooler place.” (~Does not evince any symptoms of moving.~) ~He.~ ”Well, p'raps we shouldn't.” (~A pause.~) ”Do you know that I'm very glad you don't dislike me; because, it wouldn't have been pleasant to be disliked by you, would it?”

~She.~ ”Well - of course, I can't tell. It depends upon one's own feelings.”

~He.~ ”Then you don't dislike me?”

~She.~ ”Oh dear, no! why should I?”

~He.~ ”And if you don't dislike me, you must like me?”

~She.~ ”Yes - at least - yes, I suppose so.”

At this stage of the proceedings, the arm that Mr. Verdant Green had pa.s.sed behind Miss Patty thrilled with such a peculiar sensation that his hand slipped down the bough, and the arm consequently came against Miss Patty's waist, where it rested. The necessity for saying something, the wish to make that something the something that was bursting his heart and brain, and the dread of letting it escape his lips - these three varied and mingled sensations so distracted poor Mr. Verdant Green's mind, that he was no more conscious of what he was giving utterance to than if he had been talking in a dream.

But there was Miss Patty by his side - a very tangible and delightful reality - playing (somewhat nervously) with those rebellious strings of her hat, which loosely hung in her hand, while the dappled shadows flickered on the waving ma.s.ses of her rich brown hair, - so something must be said; and, if it should lead to ~the~ something, why, so much the better.

Returning, therefore, to the subject of like and dislike, Mr. Verdant Green managed to say, in a choking, faltering tone, ”I wonder how much you like me - very much?”

~She.~ ”Oh, I couldn't tell - how should I? What strange questions you ask! You saved my life; so, of course, I am very, very grateful; and I hope I shall always be your friend.”

~He.~ ”Yes, I hope so indeed - always - and something more. Do you hope the same?”

~She.~ ”What ~do~ you mean? Hadn't we better go back to the house?”

~He.~ ”Not just yet - it's so cool here - at least, not cool exactly, but hot - pleasanter, that is - much pleasanter here.

[248 ADVENTURES OF MR. VERDANT GREEN]

~You~ said so, you know, a little while since. Don't mind me; I always feel hot when - when I'm out of doors.”

~She.~ ”Then we'd better go indoors.”

~He.~ ”Pray don't - not yet - do stop a little longer.”

And the hand that had been on the bough of the tree, timidly seized Miss Patty's arm, and then naturally, but very gently, fell upon her waist. A thrill shot through Mr. Verdant Green, like an electric flash, and, after traversing from his head to his heels, probably pa.s.sed out safely at his boots - for it did him no harm, but, on the contrary, made him feel all the better.

”But,” said the young lady, as she felt the hand upon her waist - not that she was really displeased at the proceeding, but perhaps she thought it best, under the circ.u.mstances, to say something that should have the resemblance of a veto - ”but it is not necessary to hold me a prisoner.”

”It's ~you~ that hold ~me~ a prisoner!” said Mr. Verdant Green, with a sudden burst of enthusiasm and blushes, and a great stress upon the p.r.o.nouns.

”Now you are talking nonsense, and, if so, I must go!” said Miss Patty. And she also blushed; perhaps it was from the heat. But she removed Mr. Verdant Green's hand from her waist, and he was much too frightened to replace it.

”Oh! ~do~ stay a little!” gasped the young gentleman, with an awkward sensation of want of employment for his hands. ”You said that secrets were told here. I don't want to talk nonsense; I don't indeed; but the truth. ~I've~ a secret to tell you. Should you like to hear it?”

”Oh yes!” laughed Miss Patty. ”I like to hear secrets.” Now, how very absurd it was in Mr. Verdant Green wasting time in beating about the bush in this ridiculously timid way! Why could he not at once boldly secure his bird by a straightforward shot? She did not fly out of his range - did she? And yet, here he was making himself unnecessarily hot and uncomfortable, when he might, by taking it coolly, have been at his ease in a moment. What a foolish young man!

Nay, he still further lost time and evaded his purpose, by saying once again to Miss Patty - instead of immediately replying to her observation - ”'Pon my word, it's uncommonly hot! don't you think so?”

Upon which Miss Patty replied, with some little chagrin, ”And was that your secret?” If she had lived in the Elizabethan era she could have adjured him with a ”Marry, come up!” which would have brought him to the point without any further trouble; but living in a Victorian age, she could do no more than say what she did, and leave the rest of her meaning to the language of the eyes.