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 lad of that 'Pon my word, it's ~very~ hot!

don't you think so?”

~She~ ”Yes! I' But I don't think we should find a cooler place” (~Does not evince any sy~) ~He~ ”Well, p'raps we shouldn't” (~A pause~) ”Do you know that I'lad 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 passed behind Miss Patty thrilled with such a peculiar sensation that his hand slipped down the bough, and the arainst Miss Patty's waist, where it rested The necessity for saying so that was bursting his heart and brain, and the dread of letting it escape his lips - these three varied and led sensations so distracted poor Mr Verdant Green'sutterance to than if he had been talking in a dreaible and delightful reality - playing (sos of her hat, which loosely hung in her hand, while the dappled shadows flickered on the waving, why, so , therefore, to the subject of like and dislike, Mr Verdant Greentone, ”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 rateful; and I hope I shall always be your friend”

~He~ ”Yes, I hope so indeed - always - and so more Do you hope the sao 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'o indoors”

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

And the hand that had been on the bough of the tree, tiently, 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 passed out safely at his boots - for it did him no harm, but, on the contrary,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 circu 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 enthusiasreat stress upon the pronouns

”Now you are talking nonsense, and, if so, I o!” said Miss Patty And she also blushed; perhaps it was from the heat But she removed Mr Verdant Green's hand frohtened to replace it

”Oh! ~do~ stay a little!” gasped the young gentleman, with an aard 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” No very absurd it was in Mr Verdant Green wasting ti 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 washiht, by taking it coolly, have been at his ease in aman!

Nay, he still further lost tiain to Miss Patty - instead of i to her observation - ”'Pon my word, it's uncommonly hot! don't you think so?”

Upon which Miss Patty replied, with sorin, ”And was that your secret?” If she had lived in the Elizabethan era she could have adjured hiht hi in a Victorian age, she could do noto the language of the eyes