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diff --git a/15774.txt b/15774.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8c53042 --- /dev/null +++ b/15774.txt @@ -0,0 +1,27414 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Ishmael, by Mrs. E. D. E. N. Southworth + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Ishmael + In the Depths + + +Author: Mrs. E. D. E. N. Southworth + +Release Date: May 6, 2005 [eBook #15774] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ISHMAEL*** + + +E-text prepared by Suzanne Shell, Project Gutenberg Beginners Projects, +Norma Elloitt, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading +Team + + + +ISHMAEL + +Or, In the Depths + +by + +Mrs. E. D. E. N. Southworth + +Author of +_Self-Raised_, _The Hidden Hand_, _Capitola's Peril_, +_The Bride's Fate_, _The Changed Brides_, etc. + +A.L. Burt Company, Publishers +New York + + + + + + + + "Light was his footstep in the dance + And firm his stirrup in the lists, + And O! he had that merry glance + That seldom lady's heart resists." + + + + + * * * * * * + + + +POPULAR BOOKS +By MRS. E. D. E. N. SOUTHWORTH + +In Handsome Cloth Binding +Price per volume 60 Cents + + +Beautiful Fiend, A + +Brandon Coyle's Wife + Sequel to A Skeleton in the Closet + +Bride's Fate, The + Sequel to The Changed Brides + +Bride's Ordeal, The + +Capitola's Peril + Sequel to the Hidden Hand + +Changed Brides, The + +Cruel as the Grave + +David Lindsay + Sequel to Gloria + +Deed Without a Name, A + +Dorothy Harcourt's Secret + Sequel to A Deed Without a Name + +"Em" + +Em's Husband + Sequel to "Em" + +Fair Play + +For Whose Sake + Sequel to Why Did He Wed Her? + +For Woman's Love + +Fulfilling Her Destiny + Sequel to When Love Commands + +Gloria + +Her Love or Her life + Sequel to The Bride's Ordeal + +Her Mother's Secret + +Hidden Hand, The + +How He Won Her + Sequel to Fair Play + +Ishmael + +Leap in the Dark, A + +Lilith + Sequel to the Unloved Wife + +Little Nea's Engagement + Sequel to Nearest and Dearest + +Lost Heir, The + +Lost Lady of Lone, The + +Love's Bitterest Cup + Sequel to Her Mother's Secret + +Mysterious Marriage, The + Sequel to A Leap in the Dark + +Nearest and Dearest + +Noble Lord, A + Sequel to The Lost Heir + +Self-Raised + Sequel to Ishmael + +Skeleton in the Closet, A + +Struggle of a Soul, The + Sequel to The Lost Lady of Lone + +Sweet Love's Atonement + +Test of Love, The + Sequel to A Tortured Heart + +To His Fate + Sequel to Dorothy Harcourt's Secret + +Tortured Heart, A + Sequel to The Trail of the Serpent + +Trail of the Serpent, The + +Tried for Her Life + Sequel to Cruel as the Grave + +Unloved Wife, The + +Unrequited Love, An + Sequel to For Woman's Love + +Victor's Triumph + Sequel to A Beautiful Fiend + +When Love Commands + +When Shadows Die + Sequel to Love's Bitterest Cup + +Why Did He Wed Her? + +Zenobia's Suitors + Sequel to Sweet Love's Atonement + + +For Sale by all Booksellers or will be sent postpaid on receipt of price, + + A.L. BURT COMPANY, PUBLISHERS + 52 Duane Street New York + + + + * * * * * * + + + + +PREFACE. + + +This story, in book form, has been called for during several years past, +but the author has reserved it until now; not only because she considers +it to be her very best work, but because it is peculiarly a national +novel, being founded on the life and career of one of the noblest of our +countrymen, who really lived, suffered, toiled, and triumphed in this +land; one whose inspirations of wisdom and goodness were drawn from the +examples of the heroic warriors and statesmen of the Revolution, and who +having by his own energy risen from the deepest obscurity to the highest +fame, became in himself an illustration of the elevating influence of +our republican institutions. + +"In the Depths" he was born indeed--in the very depths of poverty, +misery, and humiliation. But through Heaven's blessing on his +aspirations and endeavors, he raised himself to the summit of fame. + +He was good as well as great. His goodness won the love of all who knew +him intimately. His greatness gained the homage of the world. He became, +in a word, one of the brightest stars in Columbia's diadem of light. + +His identity will be recognized by those who were familiar with his +early personal history; but for obvious reasons his real name must be +veiled under a fictitious one here. + +His life is a guiding-star to the youth of every land, to show them that +there is no depth of human misery from which they may not, by virtue, +energy and perseverance, rise to earthly honors as well as to eternal +glory. + +Emma D. E. N. Southworth. +Prospect Cottage, +Georgetown, D.C. + + + + +CONTENTS. + +I. THE SISTERS +II. LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT +III. PASSION +IV. THE FATAL DEED +V. LOVE AND FATE +VI. A SECRET REVEALED +VII. MOTHER- AND DAUGHTER-IN-LAW +VIII. END OF THE SECRET MARRIAGE +IX. THE VICTIM +X. THE RIVALS +XI. THE MARTYRS OF LOVE +XII. HERMAN'S STORY +XIII. THE FLIGHT OF HERMAN +XIV. OVER NORA'S GRAVE +XV. NORA'S SON +XVI. THE FORSAKEN WIFE +XVII. THE COUNTESS AND THE CHILD +XVIII. BERENICE +XIX. NOBODY'S SON +XX. NEWS FROM HERMAN +XXI. ISHMAEL'S ADVENTURE +XXII. ISHMAEL GAINS HIS FIRST VERDICT +XXIII. ISHMAEL'S PROGRESS +XXIV. CLAUDIA TO THE RESCUE +XXV. A TURNING POINT IN ISHMAEL'S LIFE +XXVI. THE FIRE AT BRUDENELL HALL +XXVII. ISHMAEL'S FIRST STEP ON THE LADDER +XXVIII. ISHMAEL AND CLAUDIA +XXIX. YOUNG LOVE +XXX. ISHMAEL AND CLAUDIA +XXXI. ISHMAEL HEARS A SECRET FROM AN ENEMY +XXXII. AT HIS MOTHER'S GRAVE +XXXIII. LOVE AND GENIUS +XXXIV. UNDER THE OLD ELM TREE +XXXV. THE DREAM AND THE AWAKENING +XXXVI. DARKNESS +XXXVII. THE NEW HOME +XXXVIII. ISHMAEL'S STRUGGLES +XXXIX. ISHMAEL IN TANGLEWOOD +XL. THE LIBRARY +XLI. CLAUDIA +XLII. ISHMAEL AT TANGLEWOOD +XLIII. THE HEIRESS +XLIV. CLAUDIA'S PERPLEXITIES +XLV. THE INTERVIEW +XLVI. NEW LIFE +XLVII. RUSHY SHORE +XLVIII. ONWARD +XLIX. STILL ONWARD +L. CLAUDIA'S CITY HOME +LI. HEIRESS AND BEAUTY +LII. AN EVENING AT THE PRESIDENT'S +LIII. THE VISCOUNT VINCENT +LIV. ISHMAEL AT THE BALL +LV. A STEP HIGHER +LVI. TRIAL AND TRIUMPH +LVII. THE YOUNG CHAMPION +LVIII. HERMAN BRUDENELL +LIX. FIRST MEETING OF FATHER AND SON +LX. HERMAN AND HANNAH +LXI. ENVY +LXII. FOILED MALICE +LXIII. THE BRIDE ELECT +LXIV. CLAUDIA'S WOE +LXV. ISHMAEL'S WOE +LXVI. THE MARRIAGE MORNING +LXVII. BEE'S HANDKERCHIEF + + + + +ISHMAEL + +OR, + +"IN THE DEPTHS." + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE SISTERS. + + But if thou wilt be constant then, + And faithful of thy word, + I'll make thee glorious by my pen + And famous by my sword. + I'll serve thee in such noble ways + Was never heard before; + I'll crown and deck thee all with bays, + And love thee evermore. + + --_James Graham_. + +"Well, if there be any truth in the old adage, young Herman Brudenell +will have a prosperous life; for really this is a lovely day for the +middle of April--the sky is just as sunny and the air as warm as if it +were June," said Hannah Worth, looking out from the door of her hut upon +a scene as beautiful as ever shone beneath the splendid radiance of an +early spring morning. + +"And what is that old adage you talk of, Hannah?" inquired her younger +sister, who stood braiding the locks of her long black hair before the +cracked looking-glass that hung above the rickety chest of drawers. + +"Why, la, Nora, don't you know? The adage is as old as the hills and as +true as the heavens, and it is this, that a man's twenty-first birthday +is an index to his after life:--if it be clear, he will be fortunate; if +cloudy, unfortunate." + +"Then I should say that young Mr. Brudenell's fortune will be a splendid +one; for the sun is dazzling!" said Nora, as she wound the long sable +plait of hair around her head in the form of a natural coronet, and +secured the end behind with--a thorn! "And, now, how do I look? Aint you +proud of me?" she archly inquired, turning with "a smile of conscious +beauty born" to the inspection of her elder sister. + +That sister might well have answered in the affirmative had she +considered personal beauty a merit of high order; for few palaces in +this world could boast a princess so superbly beautiful as this peasant +girl that this poor hut contained. Beneath those rich sable tresses was +a high broad forehead as white as snow; slender black eyebrows so well +defined and so perfectly arched that they gave a singularly open and +elevated character to the whole countenance; large dark gray eyes, full +of light, softened by long, sweeping black lashes; a small, straight +nose; oval, blooming cheeks; plump, ruddy lips that, slightly parted, +revealed glimpses of the little pearly teeth within; a well-turned chin; +a face with this peculiarity, that when she was pleased it was her eyes +that smiled and not her lips; a face, in short, full of intelligence and +feeling that might become thought and passion. Her form was noble--being +tall, finely proportioned, and richly developed. + +Her beauty owed nothing to her toilet--her only decoration was the +coronet of her own rich black hair; her only hair pin was a thorn; her +dress indeed was a masterpiece of domestic manufacture,--the cotton from +which it was made having been carded, spun, woven, and dyed by Miss +Hannah's own busy hands; but as it was only a coarse blue fabric, after +all, it would not be considered highly ornamental; it was new and clean, +however, and Nora was well pleased with it, as with playful impatience +she repeated her question: + +"Say! aint you proud of me now?" + +"No," replied the elder sister, with assumed gravity; "I am proud of +your dress because it is my own handiwork, and it does me credit; but as +for you--" + +"I am Nature's handiwork, and I do her credit!" interrupted Nora, with +gay self-assertion. + +"I am quite ashamed of you, you are so vain!" continued Hannah, +completing her sentence. + +"Oh, vain, am I? Very well, then, another time I will keep my vanity to +myself. It is quite as easy to conceal as to confess, you know; though +it may not be quite as good for the soul," exclaimed Nora, with merry +perversity, as she danced off in search of her bonnet. + +She had not far to look; for the one poor room contained all of the +sisters' earthly goods. And they were easily summed up--a bed in one +corner, a loom in another, a spinning-wheel in the third, and a +corner-cupboard in the fourth; a chest of drawers sat against the wall +between the bed and the loom, and a pine table against the opposite wall +between the spinning-wheel and the cupboard; four wooden chairs sat just +wherever they could be crowded. There was no carpet on the floor, no +paper on the walls. There was but one door and one window to the hut, +and they were in front. Opposite them at the back of the room was a wide +fire-place, with a rude mantle shelf above it, adorned with old brass +candlesticks as bright as gold. Poor as this hut was, the most +fastidious fine lady need not have feared to sit down within it, it was +so purely clean. + +The sisters were soon ready, and after closing up their wee hut as +cautiously as if it contained the wealth of India, they set forth, in +their blue cotton gowns and white cotton bonnets, to attend the grand +birthday festival of the young heir of Brudenell Hall. + +Around them spread out a fine, rolling, well-wooded country; behind them +stood their own little hut upon the top of its bare hill; below them lay +a deep, thickly-wooded valley, beyond which rose another hill, crowned +with an elegant mansion of white free-stone. That was Brudenell Hall. + +Thus the hut and the hall perched upon opposite hills, looked each other +in the face across the wooded valley. And both belonged to the same vast +plantation--the largest in the county. The morning was indeed delicious, +the earth everywhere springing with young grass and early flowers; the +forest budding with tender leaves; the freed brooks singing as they ran; +the birds darting about here and there seeking materials to build their +nests; the heavens benignly smiling over all; the sun glorious; the air +intoxicating; mere breath joy; mere life rapture! All nature singing a +Gloria in Excelsis! And now while the sisters saunter leisurely on, +pausing now and then to admire some exquisite bit of scenery, or to +watch some bird, or to look at some flower, taking their own time for +passing through the valley that lay between the hut and the hall, I must +tell you who and what they were. + +Hannah and Leonora Worth were orphans, living alone together in the hut +on the hill and supporting themselves by spinning and weaving. + +Hannah, the eldest, was but twenty-eight years old, yet looked forty; +for, having been the eldest sister, the mother-sister, of a large +family of orphan children, all of whom had died except the youngest, +Leonora,--her face wore that anxious, haggard, care-worn and prematurely +aged look peculiar to women who have the burdens of life too soon and +too heavily laid upon them. Her black hair was even streaked here and +there with gray. But with all this there was not the least trace of +impatience or despondency in that all-enduring face. When grave, its +expression was that of resignation; when gay--and even she could be gay +at times--its smile was as sunny as Leonora's own. Hannah had a lover as +patient as Job, or as herself, a poor fellow who had been constant to +her for twelve years, and whose fate resembled her own; for he was the +father of all his orphan brothers and sisters as she had been the mother +of hers. Of course, these poor lovers could not dream of marriage; but +they loved each other all the better upon that very account, perhaps. + +Lenora was ten years younger than her sister, eighteen, well grown, well +developed, blooming, beautiful, gay and happy as we have described her. +She had not a care, or regret, or sorrow in the world. She was a bird, +the hut was her nest and Hannah her mother, whose wings covered her. +These sisters were very poor; not, however, as the phrase is understood +in the large cities, where, notwithstanding the many charitable +institutions for the mitigation of poverty, scores of people perish +annually from cold and hunger; but as it is understood in the rich lower +counties of Maryland, where forests filled with game and rivers swarming +with fish afford abundance of food and fuel to even the poorest hutters, +however destitute they might be of proper shelter, clothing, or +education. + +And though these orphan sisters could not hunt or fish, they could buy +cheaply a plenty of game from the negroes who did. And besides this, +they had a pig, a cow, and a couple of sheep that grazed freely in the +neighboring fields, for no one thought of turning out an animal that +belonged to these poor girls. In addition, they kept a few fowls and +cultivated a small vegetable garden in the rear of their hut. And to +keep the chickens out of the garden was one of the principal occupations +of Nora. Their spinning-wheel and loom supplied them with the few +articles of clothing they required, and with a little money for the +purchase of tea, sugar, and salt. Thus you see their living was good, +though their dress, their house, and their schooling were so very bad. +They were totally ignorant of the world beyond their own neighborhood; +they could read and write, but very imperfectly; and their only book was +the old family Bible, that might always be seen proudly displayed upon +the rickety chest of drawers. + +Notwithstanding their lowly condition, the sisters were much esteemed +for their integrity of character by their richer neighbors, who would +have gladly made them more comfortable had not the proud spirit of +Hannah shrunk from dependence. + +They had been invited to the festival to be held at Brudenell Hall in +honor of the young heir's coming of age and entering upon his estates. + +This gentlemen, Herman Brudenell, was their landlord; and it was as his +tenants, and not by any means as his equals, that they had been bidden +to the feast. And now we will accompany them to the house of rejoicing. +They were now emerging from the valley and climbing the opposite hill. +Hannah walking steadily on in the calm enjoyment of nature, and Nora +darting about like a young bird and caroling as she went in the +effervescence of her delight. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT. + + Her sweet song died, and a vague unrest + And a nameless longing filled her breast. + + --_Whittier_. + +The sisters had not seen their young landlord since he was a lad of ten +years of age, at which epoch he had been sent to Europe to receive his +education. He had but recently been recalled home by his widowed mother, +for the purpose of entering upon his estate and celebrating his majority +in his patrimonial mansion by giving a dinner and ball in the house to +all his kindred and friends, and a feast and dance in the barn to all +his tenants and laborers. + +It was said that his lady mother and his two young lady sisters, haughty +and repellent women that they were, had objected to entertaining his +dependents, but the young gentleman was resolved that they should enjoy +themselves. And he had his way. + +Nora had no recollection whatever of Herman Brudenell, who had been +taken to Europe while she was still a baby; so now, her curiosity being +stimulated, she plied Hannah with a score of tiresome questions about +him. + +"Is he tall, Hannah, dear? Is he very handsome?" + +"How can I tell? I have not seen him since he was ten years old." + +"But what is his complexion--is he fair or dark? and what is the color +of his hair and eyes? Surely, you can tell that at least." + +"Yes; his complexion, as well as I can recollect it, was freckled, and +his hair sandy, and his eyes green." + +"Oh-h! the horrid fright! a man to scare bad children into good +behavior! But then that was when he was but ten years old; he is +twenty-one to-day; perhaps he is much improved." + +"Nora, our sheep have passed through here, and left some of their wool +on the bushes. Look at that little bird, it has found a flake and is +bearing it off in triumph to line its little nest," said Hannah, to +change the subject. + +"Oh, I don't care about the bird; I wish you to tell me about the young +gentleman!" said Nora petulantly, adding the question: "I wonder who +he'll marry?" + +"Not you, my dear; so you had better not occupy your mind with him," +Hannah replied very gravely. + +Nora laughed outright. "Oh, I'm quite aware of that; and as for me, I +would not marry a prince, if he had red hair and a freckled face; but +still one cannot help thinking of one's landlord, when one is going to +attend the celebration of his birthday." + +They had now reached the top of the hill and come upon a full view of +the house and grounds. + +The house, as I said, was a very elegant edifice of white free-stone; it +was two stories in height, and had airy piazzas running the whole length +of the front, both above and below; a stately portico occupied the +center of the lower piazza, having on each side of it the tall windows +of the drawing-rooms. This portico and all these windows were now wide +open, mutely proclaiming welcome to all comers. The beautifully laid out +grounds were studded here and there with tents pitched under the shade +trees, for the accommodation of the out-door guest, who were now +assembling rapidly. + +But the more honored guests of the house had not yet begun to arrive. + +And none of the family were as yet visible. + +On reaching the premises the sisters were really embarrassed, not +knowing where to go, and finding no one to direct them. + +At length a strange figure appeared upon the scene--a dwarfish mulatto, +with a large head, bushy hair, and having the broad forehead and high +nose of the European, with the thick lips and heavy jaws of the African; +with an ashen gray complexion, and a penetrating, keen and sly +expression of the eyes. With this strange combination of features he had +also the European intellect with the African utterance. He was a very +gifted original, whose singularities of genius and character will reveal +themselves in the course of this history, and he was also one of those +favored old family domestics whose power in the house was second only to +that of the master, and whose will was law to all his fellow servants; +he had just completed his fiftieth year, and his name was Jovial. + +And he now approached the sisters, saying: + +"Mornin', Miss Hannah--mornin', Miss Nora. Come to see de show? De young +heir hab a fool for his master for de fust time to-day." + +"We have come to the birthday celebration; but we do not know where we +ought to go--whether to the house or the tents," said Hannah. + +The man tucked his tongue into his cheek and squinted at the sisters, +muttering to himself: + +"I should like to see de mist'ess' face, ef you two was to present +yourselves at de house!" + +Then, speaking aloud, he said: + +"De house be for de quality, an' de tents for de colored gemmen and +ladies; an' de barn for de laborin' classes ob de whites. Shall I hab de +honor to denounce you to de barn?" + +"I thank you, yes, since it is there we are expected to go," said +Hannah. + +Jovial led the way to an immense barn that had been cleaned out and +decorated for the occasion. The vast room was adorned with festoons of +evergreens and paper flowers. At the upper end was hung the arms of the +Brudenells. Benches were placed along the walls for the accommodation of +those who might wish to sit. The floor was chalked for the dancers. + +"Dere, young women, dere you is," said Jovial loftily, as he introduced +the sisters into this room, and retired. + +There were some thirty-five or forty persons present, including men, +women, and children, but no one that was known to the sisters. They +therefore took seats in a retired corner, from which they watched the +company. + +"How many people there are! Where could they all have come from?" +inquired Nora. + +"I do not know. From a distance, I suppose. People will come a long way +to a feast like this. And you know that not only were the tenants and +laborers invited, but they were asked to bring all their friends and +relations as well!" said Hannah. + +"And they seemed to have improved the opportunity," added Nora. + +"Hush, my dear; I do believe here come Mr. Brudenell and the ladies," +said Hannah. + +And even as she spoke the great doors of the barn were thrown open, and +the young landlord and his family entered. + +First came Mr. Brudenell, a young gentleman of medium height, and +elegantly rather than strongly built; his features were regular and +delicate; his complexion fair and clear; his hair of a pale, soft, +golden tint; and in contrast to all this, his eyes were of a deep, dark, +burning brown, full of fire, passion, and fascination. There was no +doubt about it--he was beautiful! I know that is a strange term to apply +to a man, but it is the only true and comprehensive one to characterize +the personal appearance of Herman Brudenell. He was attired in a neat +black dress suit, without ornaments of any kind; without even a +breastpin or a watch chain. + +Upon his arm leaned his mother, a tall, fair woman with light hair, +light blue eyes, high aquiline features, and a haughty air. She wore a +rich gray moire antique, and a fine lace cap. + +Behind them came the two young lady sisters, so like their mother that +no one could have mistaken them. They wore white muslin dresses, sashes +of blue ribbon, and wreaths of blue harebells. They advanced with smiles +intended to be gracious, but which were only condescending. + +The eyes of all the people in the barn were fixed upon this party, +except those of Nora Worth, which were riveted upon the young heir. + +And this was destiny! + +There was nothing unmaidenly in her regard. She looked upon him as a +peasant girl might look upon a passing prince--as something grand, +glorious, sunlike, and immeasurably above her sphere; but not as a +human being, not as a young man precisely like other young men. + +While thus, with fresh lips glowingly apart, and blushing cheeks, and +eyes full of innocent admiration, she gazed upon him, he suddenly turned +around, and their eyes met full. He smiled sweetly, bowed lowly, and +turned slowly away. And she, with childlike delight, seized her sister's +arm and exclaimed: + +"Oh, Hannah, the young heir bowed to me, he did indeed!" + +"He could do no less, since you looked at him so hard," replied the +sister gravely. + +"But to me, Hannah, to me--just think of it! No one ever bowed to me +before, not even the negroes! and to think of him--Mr. Brudenell--bowing +to me--me!" + +"I tell you he could do no less; he caught you looking at him; to have +continued staring you in the face would have been rude; to have turned +abruptly away would have been equally so; gentlemen are never guilty of +rudeness, and Mr. Brudenell is a gentleman; therefore he bowed to you, +as I believe he would have bowed to a colored girl even." + +"Oh, but he smiled! he smiled so warmly and brightly, just for all the +world like the sun shining out, and as if, as if--" + +"As if what, you little goose?" + +"Well, then, as if he was pleased." + +"It was because he was amused; he was laughing at you, you silly child!" + +"Do you think so?" asked Nora, with a sudden change of tone from gay to +grave. + +"I am quite sure of it, dear," replied the elder sister, speaking her +real opinion. + +"Laughing at me," repeated Nora to herself, and she fell into thought. + +Meanwhile, with a nod to one a smile to another and a word to a third, +the young heir and his party passed down the whole length of the room, +and retired through an upper door. As soon as they were gone the negro +fiddlers, six in number, led by Jovial, entered, took their seats, tuned +their instruments, and struck up a lively reel. + +There was an, immediate stir; the rustic beaus sought their belles, and +sets were quickly formed. + +A long, lanky, stooping young man, with a pale, care-worn face and +grayish hair, and dressed in a homespun jacket and trousers, came up to +the sisters. + +"Dance, Hannah?" he inquired. + +"No, thank you, Reuben; take Nora out--she would like to." + +"Dance, Nora?" said Reuben Gray, turning obediently to the younger +sister. + +"Set you up with it, after asking Hannah first, right before my very +eyes. I'm not a-going to take anybody's cast-offs, Mr. Reuben!" + +"I hope you are not angry with, me for that, Nora? It was natural I +should prefer to dance with your sister. I belong to her like, you know. +Don't be mad with me," said Reuben meekly. + +"Nonsense, Rue! you know I was joking. Make Hannah dance; it will do her +good; she mopes too much," laughed Nora. + +"Do, Hannah, do, dear; you know I can't enjoy myself otherways," said +the docile fellow. + +"And it is little enjoyment you have in this world, poor soul!" said +Hannah Worth, as she rose and placed her hand in his. + +"Ah, but I have a great deal, Hannah, dear, when I'm along o' you," he +whispered gallantly, as he led her off to join the dancers. + +And they were soon seen tritting, whirling, heying, and selling with the +best of them--forgetting in the contagious merriment of the music and +motion all their cares. + +Nora was besieged with admirers, who solicited her hand for the dance. +But to one and all she returned a negative. She was tired with her long +walk, and would not dance, at least not this set; she preferred to sit +still and watch the others. So at last she was left to her chosen +occupation. She had sat thus but a few moments, her eyes lovingly +following the flying forms of Reuben and Hannah through the mazes of the +dance, her heart rejoicing in their joy, when a soft voice murmured at +her ear. + +"Sitting quite alone, Nora? How is that? The young men have not lost +their wits, I hope?" + +She started, looked up, and with a vivid blush recognized her young +landlord. He was bending over her with the same sweet ingenuous smile +that had greeted her when their eyes first met that morning. She drooped +the long, dark lashes over her eyes until they swept her carmine cheeks, +but she did not answer. + +"I have just deposited my mother and sisters in their drawing-room, and +I have returned to look at the dancers. May I take this seat left vacant +by your sister?" he asked. + +"Certainly you may, sir," she faltered forth, trembling with, a vague +delight. + +"How much they enjoy themselves--do they not?" he asked, as he took the +seat and looked upon the dancers with a benevolent delight that +irradiated his fair, youthful countenance. + +"Oh, indeed they do, sir," said Nora, unconsciously speaking more from +her own personal experience of present happiness than from her +observation of others. + +I wish I could arrive at my majority every few weeks, or else have some +other good excuse for giving a great feast. I do so love to see people +happy, Nora. It is the greatest pleasure I have in the world." + +"Yet you must have a great many other pleasures, sir; all wealthy people +must," said Nora, gaining courage to converse with one so amiable as she +found her young landlord. + +"Yes, I have many others; but the greatest of all is the happiness of +making others happy. But why are you not among these dancers, Nora?" + +"I was tired with my long walk up and down hill and dale. So I would not +join them this set." + +"Are you engaged for the next?" + +"No, sir." + +"Then be my partner for it, will you?" + +"Oh, sir!" And the girl's truthful face flashed with surprise and +delight. + +"Will you dance with me, then, for the next set?" + +"Yes, sir, please." + +"Thank you, Nora. But now tell me, did you recollect me as well as I +remembered you?" + +"No, sir." + +"But that is strange; for I knew you again the instant I saw you." + +"But, sir, you know I was but a baby when you went away?" + +"That is true." + +"But how, then, did you know me again?" she wonderingly inquired. + +"Easily enough. Though you have grown up into such a fine young woman, +your face has not changed its character, Nora. You have the same broad, +fair forehead and arched brows; the same dark gray eyes and long lashes; +the same delicate nose and budding mouth; and the same peculiar way of +smiling only with your eyes; in a word--but pardon me, Nora, I forgot +myself in speaking to you so plainly. Here is a new set forming already. +Your sister and her partner are going to dance together again; shall we +join them?" he suddenly inquired, upon seeing that his direct praise, in +which he had spoken in ingenuous frankness, had brought the blushes +again to Nora's cheeks. + +She arose and gave him her hand, and he led her forth to the head of the +set that was now forming, where she stood with downcast and blushing +face, admired by all the men, and envied by all the women that were +present. + +This was not the only time he danced with her. He was cordial to all his +guests, but he devoted himself to Nora. This exclusive attention of the +young heir to the poor maiden gave anxiety to her sister and offense to +all the other women. + +"No good will come of it," said one. + +"No good ever does come of a rich young man paying attention to a poor +girl," added another. + +"He is making a perfect fool of himself," said a third indignantly. + +"He is making a perfect fool of her, you had better say," amended a +fourth, more malignant than the rest. + +"Hannah, I don't like it! I'm a sort of elder brother-in-law to her, you +know, and I don't like it. Just see how he looks at her, Hannah! Why, if +I was to melt down my heart and pour it all into my face, I couldn't +look at you that-a-way, Hannah, true as I love you. Why, he's just +eating of her up with his eyes, and as for her, she looks as if it was +pleasant to be swallowed by him!" said honest Reuben Gray, as he watched +the ill-matched young pair as they sat absorbed in each other's society +in a remote corner of the barn. + +"Nor do I like it, Reuben," sighed Hannah. + +"I've a great mind to interfere! I've a right to! I'm her brother-in-law +to be." + +"No, do not, Reuben; it would do more harm than good; it would make her +and everybody else think more seriously of these attentions than they +deserve. It is only for to-night, you know. After this, they will +scarcely ever meet to speak to each other again." + +"As you please, Hannah, you are wiser than I am; but still, dear, I must +say that a great deal of harm may be done in a day. Remember, dear, that +(though I don't call it harm, but the greatest blessing of my life) it +was at a corn-shucking, where we met for the first time, that you and I +fell in love long of each other, and have we ever fell out of it yet? +No, Hannah, nor never will. But as you and I are both poor, and +faithful, and patient, and broken in like to bear things cheerful, no +harm has come of our falling in love at that corn-shucking. But now, +s'pose them there children fall in love long of each other by looking +into each other's pretty eyes--who's to hinder it? And that will be the +end of it? He can't marry her; that's impossible; a man of his rank and +a girl of hers! his mother and sisters would never let him! and if they +would, his own pride wouldn't! And so he'd go away and try to forget +her, and she'd stop home and break her heart. Hannah, love is like a +fire, easy to put out in the beginning, unpossible at the end. You just +better let me go and heave a bucket of water on to that there love while +it is a-kindling and before the blaze breaks out." + +"Go then, good Reuben, and tell Nora that I am going home and wish her +to come to me at once." + +Reuben arose to obey, but was interrupted by the appearance of a negro +footman from the house, who came up to him and said: + +"Mr. Reuben, de mistess say will you say to de young marster how de +gemmen an' ladies is all arrive, an' de dinner will be sarve in ten +minutes, an' how she 'sires his presence at de house immediate." + +"Certainly, John! This is better, Hannah, than my interference would +have been," said Reuben Gray, as he hurried off to execute his mission. + +So completely absorbed in each other's conversation were the young pair +that they did not observe Reuben's approach until he stood before them, +and, touching his forehead, said respectfully: + +"Sir, Madam Brudenell has sent word as the vis'ters be all arrived at +the house, and the dinner will be ready in ten minutes, so she wishes +you, if you please, to come directly." + +"So late!" exclaimed the young man, looking at his watch, and starting +up, "how time flies in some society! Nora, I will conduct you to your +sister, and then go and welcome our guests at the house; although I had +a great deal rather stay where I am," he added, in a whisper. + +"If you please, sir, I can take her to Hannah," suggested Reuben. + +But without paying any attention to this friendly offer, the young man +gave his hand to the maiden and led her down the whole length of the +barn, followed by Reuben, and also by the envious eyes of all the +assembly. + +"Here she is, Hannah. I have brought her back to you quite safe, not +even weary with dancing. I hope I have helped her to enjoy herself," +said the young heir gayly, as he deposited the rustic beauty by the side +of her sister. + +"You are very kind, sir," said Hannah coldly. + +"Ah, you there, Reuben! Be sure you take good care of this little girl, +and see that she has plenty of pleasant partners," said the young +gentleman, on seeing Gray behind. + +"Be sure I shall take care of her, sir, as if she was my sister, as I +hope some day she may be," replied the man. + +"And be careful that she gets a good place at the supper-table--there +will be a rush, you know." + +"I shall see to that, sir." + +"Good evening, Hannah; good evening, Nora," said the young heir, smiling +and bowing as he withdrew from the sisters. + +Nora sighed; it might have been from fatigue. Several country beaus +approached, eagerly contending, now that the coast was clear, for the +honor of the beauty's hand in the dance. But Nora refused one and all. +She should dance no more this evening, she said. Supper came on, and +Reuben, with one sister on each arm, led them out to the great tent +where it was spread. There was a rush. The room was full and the table +was crowded; but Reuben made good places for the sisters, and stood +behind their chairs to wait on them. Hannah, like a happy, working, +practical young woman in good health, who had earned an appetite, did +ample justice to the luxuries placed before them. Nora ate next to +nothing. In vain Hannah and Reuben offered everything to her in turn; +she would take nothing. She was not hungry, she said; she was tired and +wanted to go home. + +"But wouldn't you rather stay and see the fireworks, Nora?" inquired +Reuben Gray, as they arose from the table to give place to someone else. + +"I don't know. Will--will Mr.--I mean Mrs. Brudenell and the young +ladies come out to see them, do you think?" + +"No, certainly, they will not; these delicate creatures would never +stand outside in the night air for that purpose." + +"I--I don't think I care about stopping to see the fireworks, Reuben," +said Nora. + +"But I tell you what, John said how the young heir, the old madam, the +young ladies, and the quality folks was all a-going to see the fireworks +from the upper piazza. They have got all the red-cushioned settees and +arm-chairs put out there for them to sit on." + +"Reuben, I--I think I will stop and see the fireworks; that is, if +Hannah is willing," said Nora musingly. + +And so it was settled. + +The rustics, after having demolished the whole of the plentiful supper, +leaving scarcely a bone or a crust behind them, rushed out in a body, +all the worse for a cask of old rye whisky that had been broached, and +began to search for eligible stands from which to witness the exhibition +of the evening. + +Reuben conducted the sisters to a high knoll at some distance from the +disorderly crowd, but from which they could command a fine view of the +fireworks, which were to be let off in the lawn that lay below their +standpoint and between them and the front of the dwelling-house. Here +they sat as the evening closed in. As soon as it was quite dark the +whole front of the mansion-house suddenly blazed forth in a blinding +illumination. There were stars, wheels, festoons, and leaves, all in +fire. In the center burned a rich transparency, exhibiting the arms of +the Brudenells. + +During this illumination none of the family appeared in front, as their +forms must have obscured a portion of the lights. It lasted some ten or +fifteen minutes, and then suddenly went out, and everything was again +dark as midnight. Suddenly from the center of the lawn streamed up a +rocket, lighting up with a lurid fire all the scene--the mansion-house +with the family and their more honored guests now seated upon the upper +piazza, the crowds of men, women, and children, white, black, and mixed, +that stood with upturned faces in the lawn, the distant knoll on which +were grouped the sisters and their protector, the more distant forests +and the tops of remote hills, which all glowed by night in this red +glare. This seeming conflagration lasted a minute, and then all was +darkness again. This rocket was but the signal for the commencement of +the fireworks on the lawn. Another and another, each more brilliant +than the last, succeeded. There were stars, wheels, serpents, griffins, +dragons, all flashing forth from the darkness in living fire, filling +the rustic spectators with admiration, wonder, and terror, and then as +suddenly disappearing as if swallowed up in the night from which they +had sprung. One instant the whole scene was lighted up as by a general +conflagration, the next it was hidden in darkness deep as midnight. The +sisters, no more than their fellow-rustics, had never witnessed the +marvel of fireworks, so now they gazed from their distant standpoint on +the knoll with interest bordering upon consternation. + +"Don't you think they're dangerous, Reuben?" inquired Hannah. + +"No, dear; else such a larned gentleman as Mr. Brudenell, and such a +prudent lady as the old madam, would never allow them," answered Gray. + +Nora did not speak; she was absorbed not only by the fireworks +themselves, but by the group on the balcony that each illumination +revealed; or, to be exact, by one face in that group--the face of Herman +Brudenell. + +At length the exhibition closed with one grand tableau in many colored +fire, displaying the family group of Brudenell, surmounted by their +crest, arms, and supporters, all encircled by wreaths of flowers. This +splendid transparency illumined the whole scene with dazzling light. It +was welcomed by deafening huzzas from the crowd. When the noise had +somewhat subsided, Reuben Gray, gazing with the sisters from their knoll +upon all this glory, touched Nora upon the shoulder and said: + +"Look!" + +"I am looking," she said. + +"What do you see?" + +"The fireworks, of course." + +"And what beyond them?" + +"The great house--Brudenell Hall." + +"And there?" + +"The party on the upper piazza." + +"With Mr. Brudenell in the midst?" + +"Yes." + +"Now, then, observe! You see him, but it is across the glare of the +fireworks! There is fire between you and him, girl--a gulf of fire! See +that you do not dream either he or you can pass it! For either to do so +would be to sink one, and that is yourself, in burning fire--in +consuming shame! Oh, Nora, beware!" + +He had spoken thus! he, the poor unlettered man who had scarcely ever +opened his mouth before without a grievous assault upon good English! he +had breathed these words of eloquent warning, as if by direct +inspiration, as though his lips, like those of the prophet of old, had +been touched by the living coal from Heaven. His solemn words awed +Hannah, who understood them by sympathy, and frightened Nora, who did +not understand them at all. The last rays of the finale were dying out, +and with their expiring light the party on the upper piazza were seen to +bow to the rustic assembly on the lawn, and then to withdraw into the +house. + +And thus ended the fete day of the young heir of Brudenell Hall. + +The guests began rapidly to disperse. + +Reuben Gray escorted the sisters home, talking with Hannah all the way, +not upon the splendors of the festival--a topic he seemed willing to +have forgotten, but upon crops, stock, wages, and the price of tea and +sugar. This did not prevent Nora from dreaming on the interdicted +subject; on the contrary, it left her all the more opportunity to do so, +until they all three reached the door of the hill hut, where Reuben Gray +bade them good-night. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +PASSION. + + If we are nature's, this is ours--this thorn + Doth to our rose of youth rightly belong; + It is the show and seal of nature's truth + When love's strong passion is impressed in youth. + + --_Shakspere_. + +What a contrast! the interior of that poor hut to all the splendors they +had left! The sisters both were tired, and quickly undressed and went to +bed, but not at once to sleep. + +Hannah had the bad habit of laying awake at night, studying how to make +the two ends of her income and her outlay meet at the close of the year, +just as if loss of rest ever helped on the solution to that problem! + +Nora, for her part, lay awake in a disturbance of her whole nature, +which she could neither understand nor subdue! Nora had never read a +poem, a novel, or a play in her life; she had no knowledge of the world; +and no instructress but her old maiden sister. Therefore Nora knew no +more of love than does the novice who has never left her convent! She +could not comprehend the reason why after meeting with Herman Brudenell +she had taken such a disgust at the rustic beaus who had hitherto +pleased her; nor yet why her whole soul was so very strangely troubled; +why at once she was so happy and so miserable; and, above all, why she +could not speak of these things to her sister Hannah. She tossed about +in feverish excitement. + +"What in the world is the matter with you, Nora? You are as restless as +a kitten; what ails you?" asked Hannah. + +"Nothing," was the answer. + +Now everyone who has looked long upon life knows that of all the +maladies, mental or physical, that afflict human nature, "nothing" is +the most common, the most dangerous, and the most incurable! When you +see a person preoccupied, downcast, despondent, and ask him, "What is +the matter?" and he answers, "Nothing," be sure that it is something +great, unutterable, or fatal! Hannah Worth knew this by instinct, and so +she answered: + +"Nonsense, Nora! I know there is something that keeps you awake; what is +it now?" + +"Really--and indeed it is nothing serious; only I am thinking over what +we have seen to-day!" + +"Oh! but try to go to sleep now, my dear," said Hannah, as if satisfied. + +"I can't; but, Hannah, I say, are you and Reuben Gray engaged?" + +"Yes, dear." + +"How long have you been engaged?" + +"For more than twelve years, dear." + +"My--good--gracious--me--alive! Twelve years! Why on earth don't you get +married, Hannah?" + +"He cannot afford it, dear; it takes everything he can rake and scrape +to keep his mother and his little brothers and sisters, and even with +all that they often want." + +"Well, then, why don't he let you off of your promise?" + +"Nora!--what! why we would no sooner think of breaking with each other +than if we had been married, instead of being engaged all these twelve +years!" + +"Well, then, when do you expect to be married?" + +"I do not know, dear; when his sisters and brothers are all grown up and +off his hands, I suppose." + +"And that won't be for the next ten years--even if then! Hannah, you +will be an elderly woman, and he an old man, before that!" + +"Yes, dear, I know that; but we must be patient; for everyone in this +world has something to bear, and we must accept our share. And even if +it should be in our old age that Reuben and myself come together, what +of that? We shall have all eternity before us to live together; for, +Nora, dear, I look upon myself as his promised wife for time and +eternity. Therefore, you see there is no such thing possible as for me +to break with Reuben. We belong to each other forever, and the Lord +himself knows it. And now, dear, be quiet and try to sleep; for we must +rise early to-morrow to make up by industry for the time lost to-day; +so, once more, good-night, dear." + +Nora responded to this good-night, and turned her head to the wall--not +to sleep, but to muse on those fiery, dark-brown eyes that had looked +such mysterious meanings into hers, and that thrilling deep-toned voice +that had breathed such sweet praise in her ears. And so musing, Nora +fell asleep, and her reverie passed into dreams. + +Early the next morning the sisters were up. The weather had changed with +the usual abruptness of our capricious climate. The day before had been +like June. This day was like January. A dark-gray sky overhead, with +black clouds driven by an easterly wind scudding across it, and +threatening a rain storm. + +The sisters hurried through their morning work, got their frugal +breakfast over, put their room in order, and sat down to their daily +occupation--Hannah before her loom, Nora beside her spinning-wheel. The +clatter of the loom, the whir of the wheel, admitted of no conversation +between the workers; so Hannah worked, as usual, in perfect silence, and +Nora, who ever before sung to the sound of her humming wheel, now mused +instead. The wind rose in occasional gusts, shaking the little hut in +its exposed position on the hill. + +"How different from yesterday," sighed Nora, at length. + +"Yes, dear; but such is life," said Hannah. And there the conversation +ended, and only the clatter of the loom and the whir of the wheel was +heard again, the sisters working on in silence. But hark! Why has the +wheel suddenly stopped and the heart of Nora started to rapid beating? + +A step came crashing through the crisp frost, and a hand was on the +door-latch. + +"It is Mr. Brudenell! What can he want here?" exclaimed Hannah, in a +tone of impatience, as she arose and opened the door. + +The fresh, smiling, genial face of the young man met her there. His +kind, cordial, cheery voice addressed her: "Good morning, Hannah! I have +been down to the bay this morning, you see, bleak as it is, and the fish +bite well! See this fine rock fish! will you accept it from me? And oh, +will you let me come in and thaw out my half-frozen fingers by your +fire? or will you keep me standing out here in the cold?" he added, +smiling. + +"Walk in, sir," said Hannah, inhospitably enough, as she made way for +him to enter. + +He came in, wearing his picturesque fisherman's dress, carrying his +fishing-rod over his right shoulder, and holding in his left hand the +fine rock fish of which he had spoken. His eyes searched for and found +Nora, whose face was covered with the deepest blushes. + +"Good morning, Nora! I hope you enjoyed yourself yesterday. Did they +take care of you after I left?" he inquired, going up to her. + +"Yes, thank you, sir." + +"Mr. Brudenell, will you take this chair?" said Hannah, placing one +directly before the fire, and pointing to it without giving him time to +speak another word to Nora. + +"Thank you, yes, Hannah; and will you relieve me of this fish?" + +"No, thank you, sir; I think you had better take it up to the madam," +said Hannah bluntly. + +"What! carry this all the way from here to Brudenell, after bringing it +from the bay? Whatever are you thinking of, Hannah?" laughed the young +man, as he stepped outside for a moment and hung the fish on a nail in +the wall. "There it is, Hannah," he said, returning and taking his seat +at the fire; "you can use it or throw it away, as you like." + +Hannah made no reply to this; she did not wish to encourage him either +to talk or to prolong his stay. Her very expression of countenance was +cold and repellent almost to rudeness. Nora saw this and sympathized +with him, and blamed her sister. + +"To think," she said to herself, "that he was so good to us when we went +to see him; and Hannah is so rude to him, now he has come to see us! It +is a shame! And see how well he bears it all, too, sitting there warming +his poor white hands." + +In fact, the good humor of the young man was imperturbable. He sat +there, as Nora observed, smiling and spreading his hands out over the +genial blaze and seeking to talk amicably with Hannah, and feeling +compensated for all the rebuffs he received from the elder sister +whenever he encountered a compassionate glance from the younger, +although at the meeting of their eyes her glance was instantly withdrawn +and succeeded by fiery blushes. He stayed as long as he had the least +excuse for doing so, and then arose to take his leave, half smiling at +Hannah's inhospitable surliness and his own perseverance under +difficulties. He went up to Nora to bid her good-by. He took her hand, +and as he gently pressed it he looked into her eyes; but hers fell +beneath his gaze; and with a simple "Good-day, Nora," he turned away. + +Hannah stood holding the cottage door wide open for his exit. + +"Good morning, Hannah," he said smilingly, as he passed out. + +She stepped after him, saying: + +"Mr. Brudenell, sir, I must beg you not to come so far out of your way +again to bring us a fish. We thank you; but we could not accept it. This +also I must request you to take away." And detaching the rock fish from +the nail where it hung, she put it in his hands. + +He laughed good-humoredly as he took it, and without further answer than +a low bow walked swiftly down the hill. + +Hannah re-entered the hut and found herself in the midst of a tempest in +a tea-pot. + +Nora had a fiery temper of her own, and now it blazed out upon her +sister--her beautiful face was stormy with grief and indignation as she +exclaimed: + +"Oh, Hannah! how could you act so shamefully? To think that yesterday +you and I ate and drank and feasted and danced all day at his place, and +received so much kindness and attention from him besides, and to-day you +would scarcely let him sit down and warm his feet in ours! You treated +him worse than a dog, you did, Hannah. And he felt it, too. I saw he +did, though he was too much of a gentleman to show it! And as for me, I +could have died from mortification!" + +"My child," answered Hannah gravely, "however badly you or he might have +felt, believe me, I felt the worse of the three, to be obliged to take +the course I did." + +"He will never come here again, never!" sobbed Nora, scarcely heeding +the reply of her sister. + +"I hope to Heaven he never may!" said Hannah, as she resumed her seat at +her loom and drove the shuttle "fast and furious" from side to side of +her cloth. + +But he did come again. Despite the predictions of Nora and the prayers +of Hannah and the inclemency of the weather. + +The next day was a tempestuous one, with rain, snow, hail, and sleet all +driven before a keen northeast wind, and the sisters, with a great +roaring fire in the fireplace between them, were seated the one at her +loom and the other at her spinning-wheel, when there came a rap at the +door, and before anyone could possibly have had time to go to it, it was +pushed open, and Herman Brudenell, covered with snow and sleet, rushed +quickly in. + +"For Heaven's sake, my dear Hannah, give me shelter from the storm! I +couldn't wait for ceremony, you see! I had to rush right in after +knocking! pardon me! Was ever such a climate as this of ours! What a day +for the seventeenth of April! It ought to be bottled up and sent abroad +as a curiosity!" he exclaimed, all in a breath, as he unceremoniously +took off his cloak and shook it and threw it over a chair. + +"Mr. Brudenell! You here again! What could have brought you out on such +a day?" cried Hannah, starting up from her loom in extreme surprise. + +"The spirit of restlessness, Hannah! It is so dull up there, and +particularly on a dull day! How do you do, Nora? Blooming as a rose, +eh?" he said, suddenly breaking off and going to shake hands with the +blushing girl. + +"Never mind Nora's roses, Mr. Brudenell; attend to me; I ask did you +expect to find it any livelier here in this poor hut than in your own +princely halls?" said Hannah, as she placed a chair before the fire for +his accommodation. + +"A great deal livelier, Hannah," he replied, with boyish frankness, as +he took his seat and spread out his hands before the cheerful blaze. "No +end to the livelier. Why, Hannah, it is always lively where there's +nature, and always dull where there's not! Up yonder now there's too +much art; high art indeed--but still art! From my mother and sisters all +nature seems to have been educated, refined, and polished away. There +we all sat this morning in the parlor, the young ladies punching holes +in pieces of muslin, to sew them up again, and calling the work +embroidery; and there was my mother, actually working a blue lamb on red +grass, and calling her employment worsted work. There was no talk but of +patterns, no fire but what was shut up close in a horrid radiator. +Really, out of doors was more inviting than in. I thought I would just +throw on my cloak and walk over here to see how you were getting along +this cold weather, and what do I find here? A great open blazing +woodfire--warm, fragrant, and cheerful as only such a fire can be! and a +humming wheel and a dancing loom, two cheerful girls looking bright as +two chirping birds in their nest! This _is_ like a nest! and it is worth +the walk to find it. You'll not turn me out for an hour or so, Hannah?" + +There was scarcely any such thing as resisting his gay, frank, boyish +appeal; yet Hannah answered coldly: + +"Certainly not, Mr. Brudenell, though I fancy you might have found more +attractive company elsewhere. There can be little amusement for you in +sitting there and listening to the flying shuttle or the whirling wheel, +for hours together, pleasant as you might have first thought them." + +"Yes, but it will! I shall hear music in the loom and wheel, and see +pictures in the fire," said the young man, settling himself, +comfortable. + +Hannah drove her shuttle back and forth with a vigor that seemed to owe +something to temper. + +Herman heard no music and saw no pictures; his whole nature was absorbed +in the one delightful feeling of being near Nora, only being near her, +that was sufficient for the present to make him happy. To talk to her +was impossible, even if he had greatly desired to do so; for the music +of which he had spoken made too much noise. He stayed as long as he +possibly could, and then reluctantly arose to leave. He shook hands with +Hannah first, reserving the dear delight of pressing Nora's hand for the +last. + +The next day the weather changed again; it was fine; and Herman +Brudenell, as usual, presented himself at the hut; his excuse this time +being that he wished to inquire whether the sisters would not like to +have some repairs put upon the house--a new roof, another door and +window, or even a new room added; if so, his carpenter was even now at +Brudenell Hall, attending to some improvements there, and as soon as he +was done he should be sent to the hut. + +But no; Hannah wanted no repairs whatever. The hut was large enough for +her and her sister, only too small to entertain visitors. So with this +pointed home-thrust from Hannah, and a glance that at once healed the +wound from Nora, he was forced to take his departure. + +The next day he called again; he had, unluckily, left his gloves behind +him during his preceding visit. + +They were very nearly flung at his head by the thoroughly exasperated +Hannah. But again he was made happy by a glance from Nora. + +And, in short, almost every day he found some excuse for coming to the +cottage, overlooking all Hannah's rude rebuffs with the most +imperturbable good humor. At all these visits Hannah was present. She +never left the house for an instant, even when upon one occasion she saw +the cows in her garden, eating up all the young peas and beans. She let +the garden be utterly destroyed rather than leave Nora to hear words of +love that for her could mean nothing but misery. This went on for some +weeks, when Hannah was driven to decisive measures by an unexpected +event. Early one morning Hannah went to a village called "Baymouth," to +procure coffee, tea, and sugar. She went there, did her errand, and +returned to the hut as quickly as she could possibly could. As she +suddenly opened the door she was struck with consternation by seeing the +wheel idle and Nora and Herman seated close together, conversing in a +low, confidential tone. They started up on seeing her, confusion on +their faces. + +Hannah was thoroughly self-possessed. Putting her parcels in Nora's +hands, she said: + +"Empty these in their boxes, dear, while I speak to Mr. Brudenell." Then +turning to the young man, she said: "Sir, your mother, I believe, has +asked to see me about some cloth she wishes to have woven. I am going +over to her now; will you go with me?" + +"Certainly, Hannah," replied Mr. Brudenell, seizing his hat in nervous +trepidation, and forgetting or not venturing to bid good-by to Nora. + +When they had got a little way from the hut, Hannah said: + +"Mr. Brudenell, why do you come to our poor little house so often?" + +The question, though it was expected, was perplexing. + +"Why do I come, Hannah? Why, because I like to." + +"Because you like to! Quite a sufficient reason for a gentleman to +render for his actions, I suppose you think. But, now, another question: +'What are your intentions towards my sister?'" + +"My intentions!" repeated the young man, in a thunderstruck manner. +"What in the world do you mean, Hannah?" + +"I mean to remind you that you have been visiting Nora for the last two +months, and that to-day, when I entered the house, I found you sitting +together as lovers sit; looking at each other as lovers look; and +speaking in the low tones that lovers use; and when I reached you, you +started in confusion--as lovers do when discovered at their love-making. +Now I repeat my question, 'What are your intentions towards Nora +Worth?'" + +Herman Brudenell was blushing now, if he had never blushed before; his +very brow was crimson. Hannah had to reiterate her question before his +hesitating tongue could answer it. + +"My intentions, Hannah? Nothing wrong, I do swear to you! Heaven knows, +I mean no harm." + +"I believe that, Mr. Brudenell! I have always believed it, else be sure +that I should have found means to compel your absence. But though you +might have meant no harm, did you mean any good, Mr. Brudenell?" + +"Hannah, I fear that I meant nothing but to enjoy the great pleasure I +derived from--from--Nora's society, and--" + +"Stop there, Mr. Brudenell; do not add--mine; for that would be an +insincerity unworthy of you! Of me you did not think, except as a +marplot! You say you came for the great pleasure you enjoyed in Nora's +society! Did it ever occur to you that she might learn to take too much +pleasure in yours? Answer me truly." + +"Hannah, yes, I believed that she was very happy in my company." + +"In a word, you liked her, and you knew you were winning her liking! And +yet you had no intentions of any sort, you say; you meant nothing, you +admit, but to enjoy yourself! How, Mr. Brudenell, do you think it a +manly part for a gentleman to seek to win a poor girl's love merely for +his pastime?" + +"Hannah, you are severe on me! Heaven knows I have never spoken one word +of love to Nora." + +"'Never spoken one word!' What of that? What need of words? Are not +glances, are not tones, far more eloquent than words? With these glances +and tones you have a thousand times assured my young sister that you +love her, that you adore her, that you worship her!" + +"Hannah, if my eyes spoke this language to Nora, they spoke Heaven's own +truth! There! I have told you more than I ever told her, for to her my +eyes only have spoken!" said the young man fervently. + +"Of what were you talking with your heads so close together this +morning?" asked Hannah abruptly. + +"How do I know? Of birds, of flowers, moonshine, or some such rubbish. I +was not heeding my words." + +"No, your eyes were too busy! And now, Mr. Brudenell, I repeat my +question: Was yours a manly part--discoursing all this love to Nora, and +having no ultimate intentions?" + +"Hannah, I never questioned my conscience upon that point; I was too +happy for such cross-examination." + +"But now the question is forced upon you, Mr. Brudenell, and we must +have an answer now and here." + +"Then, Hannah, I will answer truly! I love Nora; and if I were free to +marry, I would make her my wife to-morrow; but I am not; therefore I +have been wrong, and very wrong, to seek her society. I acted, however, +from want of thought, not from want of principle; I hope you will +believe that, Hannah." + +"I do believe it, Mr. Brudenell." + +"And now I put myself in your hands, Hannah! Direct me as you think +best; I will obey you. What shall I do?" + +"See Nora no more; from this day absent yourself from our house." + +He turned pale as death, reeled, and supported himself against the trunk +of a friendly tree. + +Hannah looked at him, and from the bottom of her heart she pitied him; +for she knew what love was--loving Reuben. + +"Mr. Brudenell," she said, "do not take this to heart so much: why +should you, indeed, when you know that your fate is in your own hands? +You are master of your own destiny, and no man who is so should give way +to despondency. The alternative before you is simply this: to cease to +visit Nora, or to marry her. To do the first you must sacrifice your +love, to do the last you must sacrifice your pride. Now choose between +the courses of action! Gratify your love or your pride, as you see fit, +and cheerfully pay down the price! This seems to me to be the only +manly, the only rational, course." + +"Oh, Hannah, Hannah, you do not understand! you do not!" he cried in a +voice full of anguish. + +"Yes, I do; I know how hard it would be to you in either case. On the +one hand, what a cruel wrench it will give your heart to tear yourself +from Nora--" + +"Yes, yes; oh, Heaven, yes!" + +"And, on the other hand, I know what an awful sacrifice you would make +in marrying her--" + +"It is not that! Oh, do me justice! I should not think it a sacrifice! +She is too good for me! Oh, Hannah, it is not that which hinders!" + +"It is the thought of your mother and sisters, perhaps; but surely if +they love you, as I am certain they do, and if they see your happiness +depends upon this marriage--in time they will yield!" + +"It is not my family either, Hannah! Do you think that I would sacrifice +my peace--or hers--to the unreasonable pride of my family? No, Hannah, +no!" + +"Then what is it? What stands in the way of your offering your hand to +her to whom you have given your heart?" + +"Hannah, I cannot tell you! Oh, Hannah, I feel that I have been very +wrong, criminal even! But I acted blindly; you have opened my eyes, and +now I see I must visit your house no more; how much it costs me to say +this--to do this--you can never know!" + +He wiped the perspiration from his pale brow, and, after a few moments +given to the effort of composing himself, he asked: + +"Shall we go on now?" + +She nodded assent and they walked onward. + +"Hannah," he said, as they went along, "I have one deplorable weakness." + +She looked up suddenly, fearing to hear the confession of some fatal +vice. + +He continued: + +"It is the propensity to please others, whether by doing so I act well +or ill!" + +"Mr. Brudenell!" exclaimed Hannah, in a shocked voice. + +"Yes, the pain I feel in seeing others suffer, the delight I have in +seeing them enjoy, often leads--leads me to sacrifice not only my own +personal interests, but the principles of truth and justice!" + +"Oh, Mr. Brudenell!" + +"It is so, Hannah! And one signal instance of such a sacrifice at once +of myself and of the right has loaded my life with endless regret! +However, I am ungenerous to say this; for a gift once given, even if it +is of that which one holds most precious in the world, should be +forgotten or at least not be grudged by the giver! Ah, Hannah--" He +stopped abruptly. + +"Mr. Brudenell, you will excuse me for saying that I agree with you in +your reproach of yourself. That trait of which you speak is a weakness +which should be cured. I am but a poor country girl. But I have seen +enough to know that sensitive and sympathizing natures like your own are +always at the mercy of all around them. The honest and the generous take +no advantage of such; but the selfish and the calculating make a prey of +them! You call this weakness a propensity to please others! Mr. +Brudenell, seek to please the Lord and He will give you strength to +resist the spoilers," said Hannah gravely. + +"Too late, too late, at least as far as this life is concerned, for I am +ruined, Hannah!" + +"Ruined! Mr. Brudenell!" + +"Ruined, Hannah!" + +"Good Heaven! I hope you have not endorsed for anyone to the whole +extent of your fortune?" + +"Ha, ha, ha! You make me laugh, Hannah! laugh in the very face of ruin, +to think that you should consider loss of fortune a subject of such +eternal regret as I told you my life was loaded with!" + +"Oh, Mr. Brudenell, I have known you from childhood! I hope, I hope you +haven't gambled or--" + +"Thank Heaven, no, Hannah! I have never gambled, nor drank, nor--in +fact, done anything of the sort!" + +"You have not endorsed for anyone, nor gambled, nor drank, nor anything +of that sort, and yet you are ruined!" + +"Ruined and wretched, Hannah! I do not exaggerate in saying so!" + +"And yet you looked so happy!" + +"Grasses grow and flowers bloom above burning volcanoes, Hannah." + +"Ah, Mr. Brudenell, what is the nature of this ruin then? Tell me! I am +your sincere friend, and I am older than you; perhaps I could counsel +you." + +"It is past counsel, Hannah." + +"What is it then?" + +"I cannot tell you except this! that the fatality of which I speak is +the only reason why I do not overstep the boundary of conventional rank +and marry Nora! Why I do not marry anybody! Hush! here we are at the +house." + +Very stately and beautiful looked the mansion with its walls of white +free-stone and its porticos of white marble, gleaming through its groves +upon the top of the hill. + +When they reached it Hannah turned to go around to the servants' door, +but Mr. Brudenell called to her, saying: + +"This way! this way, Hannah!" and conducted her up the marble steps to +the visitors' entrance. + +He preceded her into the drawing-room, a spacious apartment now in its +simple summer dress of straw matting, linen covers, and lace curtains. + +Mrs. Brudenell and the two young ladies, all in white muslin morning +dresses, were gathered around a marble table in the recess of the back +bay window, looking over newspapers. + +On seeing the visitor who accompanied her son, Mrs. Brudenell arose with +a look of haughty surprise. + +"You wished to see Hannah Worth, I believe, mother, and here she is," +said Herman. + +"My housekeeper did. Touch the bell, if you please, Herman." + +Mr. Brudenell did as requested, and the summons was answered by Jovial. + +"Take this woman to Mrs. Spicer, and say that she has come about the +weaving. When she leaves show her where the servants' door is, so that +she may know where to find it when she comes again," said Mrs. Brudenell +haughtily. As soon as Hannah had left the room Herman said: + +"Mother, you need not have hurt that poor girl's feelings by speaking so +before her." + +"She need not have exposed herself to rebuke by entering where she did." + +"Mother, she entered with me. I brought her in." + +"Then you were very wrong. These people, like all of their class, +require to be kept down--repressed." + +"Mother, this is a republic!" + +"Yes; and it is ten times more necessary to keep the lower orders down, +in a republic like this, where they are always trying to rise, than it +is in a monarchy, where they always keep their place," said the lady +arrogantly. + +"What have you there?" inquired Herman, with a view of changing the +disagreeable subject. + +"The English papers. The foreign mail is in. And, by the way, here is a +letter for you." + +Herman received the letter from her hand, changed color as he looked at +the writing on the envelope, and walked away to the front window to read +it alone. + +His mother's watchful eyes followed him. + +As he read, his face flushed and paled; his eyes flashed and smoldered; +sighs and moans escaped his lips. At length, softly crumpling up the +letter, he thrust it into his pocket, and was stealing from the room to +conceal his agitation, when his mother, who had seen it all, spoke: + +"Any bad news, Herman?" + +"No, madam," he promptly answered. + +"What is the matter, then?" + +He hesitated, and answered: + +"Nothing." + +"Who is that letter from?" + +"A correspondent," he replied, escaping from the room. + +"Humph! I might have surmised that much," laughed the lady, with angry +scorn. + +But he was out of hearing. + +"Did you notice the handwriting on the envelope of that letter, +Elizabeth?" she inquired of her elder daughter. + +"Which letter, mamma?" + +"That one for your brother, of course." + +"No, mamma, I did not look at it." + +"You never look at anything but your stupid worsted work. You will be an +old maid, Elizabeth. Did you notice it, Elinor?" + +"Yes, mamma. The superscription was in a very delicate feminine +handwriting; and the seal was a wounded falcon, drawing the arrow from +its own breast--surmounted by an earl's coronet." + +"'Tis the seal of the Countess of Hurstmonceux." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE FATAL DEED. + + I am undone; there is no living, none, + If Bertram be away. It were all one, + That I should love a bright particular star, + And think to wed it, he is so above me. + The hind that would be mated by the lion, + Must die for love. 'Twas pretty though a plague + To see him every hour; to sit and draw + His arched brow, his hawking eyes, his curls + In our heart's table; heart too capable + Of every line and trick of his sweet favor. + + --_Shakspere_. + +Hannah Worth walked home, laden like a beast of burden, with an enormous +bag of hanked yarn on her back. She entered her hut, dropped the burden +on the floor, and stopped to take breath. + +"I think they might have sent a negro man to bring that for you, +Hannah," said Nora, pausing in her spinning. + +"As if they would do that!" panted Hannah. + +Not a word was said upon the subject of Herman Brudenell's morning +visit. Hannah forebore to allude to it from pity; Nora from modesty. + +Hannah sat down to rest, and Nora got up to prepare their simple +afternoon meal. For these sisters, like many poor women, took but two +meals a day. + +The evening passed much as usual; but the next morning, as the sisters +were at work, Hannah putting the warp for Mrs. Brudenell's new web of +cloth in the loom, and Nora spinning, the elder noticed that the younger +often paused in her work and glanced uneasily from the window. Ah, too +well Hannah understood the meaning of those involuntary glances. Nora +was "watching for the steps that came not back again!" + +Hannah felt sorry for her sister; but she said to herself: + +"Never mind, she will be all right in a few days. She will forget him." + +This did not happen so, however. As day followed day, and Herman +Brudenell failed to appear, Nora Worth grew more uneasy, expectant, and +anxious. Ah! who can estimate the real heart-sickness of "hope +deferred!" Every morning she said to herself: "He will surely come +to-day !" Every day each sense of hearing and of seeing was on the qui +vive to catch the first sound or the first sight of his approach. Every +night she went to bed to weep in silent sorrow. + +All other sorrows may be shared and lightened by sympathy except that of +a young girl's disappointment in love. With that no one intermeddles +with impunity. To notice it is to distress her; to speak of it is to +insult her; even her sister must in silence respect it; as the expiring +dove folds her wing over her mortal wound, so does the maiden jealously +conceal her grief and die. Days grew into weeks, and Herman did not +come. And still Nora watched and listened as she spun--every nerve +strained to its utmost tension in vigilance and expectancy. Human +nature--especially a girl's nature--cannot bear such a trial for any +long time together. Nora's health began to fail; first she lost her +spirits, and then her appetite, and finally her sleep. She grew pale, +thin, and nervous. + +Hannah's heart ached for her sister. + +"This will never do," she said; "suspense is killing her. I must end +it." + +So one morning while they were at work as usual, and Nora's hand was +pausing on her spindle, and her eyes were fixed upon the narrow path +leading through the Forest Valley, Hannah spoke: + +"It will not do, dear; he is not coming! he will never come again; and +since he cannot be anything to you, he ought not to come!" + +"Oh, Hannah, I know it; but it is killing me!" + +These words were surprised from the poor girl; for the very next instant +her waxen cheeks, brow, neck, and very ears kindled up into fiery +blushes, and hiding her face in her hands she sank down in her chair +overwhelmed. + +Hannah watched, and then went to her, and began to caress her, saying: + +"Nora, Nora, dear; Nora, love; Nora, my own darling, look up!" + +"Don't speak to me; I am glad he does not come; never mention his name +to me again, Hannah," said the stricken girl, in a low, peremptory +whisper. + +Hannah felt that this order must be obeyed, and so she went back to her +loom and worked on in silence. + +After a few minutes Nora arose and resumed her spinning, and for some +time the wheel whirled briskly and merrily around. But towards the +middle of the day it began to turn slowly and still more slowly. + +At length it stopped entirely, and the spinner said: + +"Hannah, I feel very tired; would you mind if I should lay down a little +while?" + +"No, certainly not, my darling. Are you poorly, Nora?" + +"No, I am quite well, only tired," replied the girl, as she threw +herself upon the bed. + +Perhaps Hannah had made a fatal mistake in saying to her sister, "He +will never come again," and so depriving her of the last frail plank of +hope, and letting her sink in the waves of despair. Perhaps, after all, +suspense is not the worst of all things to bear; for in suspense there +is hope, and in hope, life! Certain it is that a prop seemed withdrawn +from Nora, and from this day she rapidly sunk. She would not take to her +bed. Every morning she would insist upon rising and dressing, though +daily the effort was more difficult. Every day she would go to her wheel +and spin slowly and feebly, until by fatigue she was obliged to stop and +throw herself upon the bed. To all Hannah's anxious questions she +answered: + +"I am very well! indeed there is nothing ails me; only I am so tired!" + +One day about this time Reuben Gray called to see Hannah. Reuben was one +of the most discreet of lovers, never venturing to visit his beloved +more than once in each month. + +"Look at Nora!" said Hannah, in a heart-broken tone, as she pointed to +her sister, who was sitting at her wheel, not spinning, but gazing from +the window down the narrow footpath, and apparently lost in mournful +reverie. + +"I'll go and fetch a medical man," said Reuben, and he left the hut for +that purpose. + +But distances from house to house in that sparsely settled neighborhood +were great, and doctors were few and could not be had the moment they +were called for. So it was not until the next day that Doctor Potts, the +round-bodied little medical attendant of the neighborhood, made his +appearance at the hut. + +He was welcomed by Hannah, who introduced him to her sister. + +Nora received his visit with a great deal of nervous irritability, +declaring that nothing at all ailed her, only that she was tired. + +"Tired," repeated the doctor, as he felt her pulse and watched her +countenance. "Yes, tired of living! a serious fatigue this, Hannah. Her +malady is more on the mind than the body! You must try to rouse her, +take her into company, keep her amused. If you were able to travel, I +should recommend change of scene; but of course that is out of the +question. However, give her this, according to the directions. I will +call in again to see her in a few days." And so saying, the doctor left +a bottle of medicine and took his departure. + +That day the doctor had to make a professional visit of inspection to +the negro quarters at Brudenell Hall; so he mounted his fat little white +cob and trotted down the hill in the direction of the valley. + +When he arrived at Brudenell Hall he was met by Mrs. Brudenell, who said +to him: + +"Dr. Potts, I wish before you leave, you would see my son. I am +seriously anxious about his health. He objected to my sending for you; +but now that you are here on a visit to the quarters, perhaps his +objections may give way." + +"Very well, madam; but since he does not wish to be attended, perhaps he +had better not know that my visit is to him; I will just make you a call +as usual." + +"Join us at lunch, doctor, and you can observe him at your leisure." + +"Thank you, madam. What seems the matter with Mr. Brudenell?" + +"A general failure without any particular disease. If it were not that I +know better, I would say that something lay heavily upon his mind." + +"Humph! a second case of that kind to-day! Well, madam, I will join you +at two o'clock," said the doctor, as he trotted off towards the negro +quarters. + +Punctually at the hour the doctor presented himself at the luncheon +table of Mrs. Brudenell. There were present Mrs. Brudenell, her two +daughters, her son, and a tall, dark, distinguished looking man, whom +the lady named as Colonel Mervin. + +The conversation, enlivened by a bottle of fine champagne, flowed +briskly and cheerfully around the table. But through all the doctor +watched Herman Brudenell. He was indeed changed. He looked ill, yet he +ate, drank, laughed, and talked with the best there. But when his eye +met that of the doctor fixed upon him, it flashed with a threatening +glance that seemed to repel scrutiny. + +The doctor, to turn the attention of the lady from her son, said: + +"I was at the hut on the hill to-day. One of those poor girls, the +youngest, Nora, I think they call her, is in a bad way. She seems to me +to be sinking into a decline." As he said this he happened to glance at +Herman Brudenell. That gentleman's eyes were fixed upon his with a gaze +of wild alarm, but they sank as soon as noticed. + +"Poor creatures! that class of people scarcely ever get enough to eat or +drink, and thus so many of them die of decline brought on from +insufficiency of nourishment. I will send a bag of flour up to the hut +to-morrow," said Mrs. Brudenell complacently. + +Soon after they all arose from the table. + +The little doctor offered his arm to Mrs. Brudenell, and as they walked +to the drawing-room he found an opportunity of saying to her: + +"It is, I think, as you surmised. There is something on his mind. Try to +find out what it is. That is my advice. It is of no use to tease him +with medical attendance." + +When they reached the drawing room they found the boy with the mail bag +waiting for his mistress. She quickly unlocked and distributed its +contents. + +"Letters for everybody except myself! But here is a late copy of the +'London Times' with which I can amuse myself while you look over your +epistles, ladies and gentlemen," said Mrs. Brudenell, as she settled +herself to the perusal of her paper. She skipped the leader, read the +court circular, and was deep in the column of casualties, when she +suddenly cried out: + +"Good Heaven, Herman! what a catastrophe!" + +"What is it, mother?" + +"A collision on the London and Brighton Railway, and ever so many killed +or wounded, and--Gracious goodness!" + +"What, mother?" + +"Among those instantly killed are the Marquis and Marchioness of +Brambleton and the Countess of Hurstmonceux!" + +"No!" cried the young man, rushing across the room, snatching the paper +from his mother's hand, and with starting eyes fixed upon the paragraph +that she hastily pointed out, seeming to devour the words. + +A few days after this Nora Worth sat propped up in an easy-chair by the +open window that commanded the view of the Forest Valley and of the +opposite hill crowned with the splendid mansion of Brudenell Hall. + +But Nora was not looking upon this view; at least except upon a very +small part of it--namely, the little narrow footpath that led down her +own hill and was lost in the shade of the valley. The doctor's +prescriptions had done Nora no good; how should they? Could he, more +than others, "minister to a mind diseased"? In a word, she had now grown +so weak that the spinning was entirely set aside, and she passed her +days propped up in the easy-chair beside the window, through which she +could watch that little path, which was now indeed so disused, so +neglected and grass grown, as to be almost obliterated. + +Suddenly, while Nora's eyes were fixed abstractedly upon this path, she +uttered a great cry and started to her feet. + +Hannah stopped the clatter of her shuttle to see what was the matter. + +Nora was leaning from the window, gazing breathlessly down the path. + +"What is it, Nora, my dear? Don't lean so far out; you will fall! What +is it?" + +"Oh, Hannah, he is coming! he is coming!" + +"Who is coming, my darling? I see no one!" said the elder sister, +straining her eyes down the path. + +"But I feel him coming! He is coming fast! He will be in sight +presently! There! what did I tell you? There he is!" + +And truly at that moment Herman Brudenell advanced from the thicket and +walked rapidly up the path towards the hut. + +Nora sank back in her seat, overcome, almost fainting. + +Another moment and Herman Brudenell was in the room, clasping her form, +and sobbing: + +"Nora! Nora, my beloved! my beautiful! you have been ill and I knew it +not! dying, and I knew it not! Oh! oh! oh!" + +"Yes, but I am well, now that you are here!" gasped the girl, as she +thrilled and trembled with returning life. But the moment this +confession had been surprised from her she blushed fiery red to the very +tips of her ears and hid her face in the pillows of her chair. + +"My darling girl! My own blessed girl! do not turn your face away! look +at me with your sweet eyes! See, I am here at your side, telling you how +deep my own sorrow had been at the separation from you, and how much +deeper at the thought that you also have suffered! Look at me! Smile on +me! Speak to me, beloved! I am your own!" + +These and many other wild, tender, pleading words of love he breathed in +the ear of the listening, blushing, happy girl; both quite heedless of +the presence of Hannah, who stood petrified with consternation. + +At length, however, by the time Herman had seated himself beside Nora, +Hannah recovered her presence of mind and power of motion; and she went +to him and said: + +"Mr. Brudenell! Is this well? Could you not leave her in peace?" + +"No, I could not leave her! Yes, it is well, Hannah! The burden I spoke +of is unexpectedly lifted from my life! I am a restored man. And I have +come here to-day to ask Nora, in your presence, and with your consent, +to be my wife!" + +"And with your mother's consent, Mr. Brudenell?" + +"Hannah, that was unkind of you to throw a damper upon my joy. And look +at me, I have not been in such robust health myself since you drove me +away!" + +As he said this, Nora's hand, which he held, closed convulsively on his, +and she murmured under her breath: + +"Have you been ill? You are not pale!" + +"No, love, I was only sad at our long separation; now you see I am +flushed with joy; for now I shall see you every day!" he replied, +lifting her hand to his lips. + +Hannah was dreadfully disturbed. She was delighted to see life, and +light, and color flowing back to her sister's face; but she was dismayed +at the very cause of this--the presence of Herman Brudenell. The +instincts of her affections and the sense of her duties were at war in +her bosom. The latter as yet was in the ascendency. It was under its +influence she spoke again. + +"But, Mr. Brudenell, your mother?" + +"Hannah! Hannah! don't be disagreeable! You are too young to play duenna +yet!" he said gayly. + +"I do not know what you mean by duenna, Mr. Brudenell, but I know what +is due to your mother," replied the elder sister gravely. + +"Mother, mother, mother; how tiresome you are, Hannah, everlastingly +repeating the same word over and over again! You shall not make us +miserable. We intend to be happy, now, Nora and myself. Do we not, +dearest?" he added, changing the testy tone in which he had spoken to +the elder sister for one of the deepest tenderness as he turned and +addressed the younger. + +"Yes, but, your mother," murmured Nora very softly and timidly. + +"You too! Decidedly that word is infectious, like yawning! Well, my +dears, since you will bring it on the tapis, let us discuss and dismiss +it. My mother is a very fine woman, Hannah; but she is unreasonable, +Nora. She is attached to what she calls her 'order,' my dears, and never +would consent to my marriage with any other than a lady of rank and +wealth." + +"Then you must give up Nora, Mr. Brudenell," said Hannah gravely. + +"Yes, indeed," assented poor Nora, under her breath, and turning pale. + +"May the Lord give me up if I do!" cried the young man impetuously. + +"You will never defy your mother," said Hannah. + +"Oh, no! oh, no! I should be frightened to death," gasped Nora, +trembling between weakness and fear. + +"No, I will never defy my mother; there are other ways of doing things; +I must marry Nora, and we must keep the affair quiet for a time." + +"I do not understand you," said Hannah coldly. + +"Nora does, though! Do you not, my darling?" exclaimed Herman +triumphantly. + +And the blushing but joyous face of Nora answered him. + +"You say you will not defy your mother. Do you mean then to deceive her, +Mr. Brudenell?" inquired the elder sister severely. + +"Hannah, don't be abusive! This is just the whole matter, in brief. I am +twenty-one, master of myself and my estate. I could marry Nora at any +time, openly, without my mother's consent. But that would give her great +pain. It would not kill her, nor make her ill, but it would wound her in +her tenderest points--her love of her son, and her love of rank; it +would produce an open rupture between us. She would never forgive me, +nor acknowledge my wife." + +"Then why do you speak at all of marrying Nora?" interrupted Hannah +angrily. + +Herman turned and looked at Nora. That mute look was his only answer, +and it was eloquent; it said plainly what his lips forbore to speak: "I +have won her love, and I ought to marry her; for if I do not, she will +die." + +Then he continued as if Hannah had not interrupted him: + +"I wish to get on as easily as I can between these conflicting +difficulties. I will not wrong Nora, and I will not grieve my mother. +The only way to avoid doing either will be for me to marry my darling +privately, and keep the affair a secret until a fitting opportunity +offers to publish it." + +"A secret marriage! Mr. Brudenell! is that what you propose to my +sister?" + +"Why not, Hannah?" + +"Secret marriages are terrible things!" + +"Disappointed affections, broken hearts, early graves, are more +terrible." + +"Fudge!" was the word that rose to Hannah's lips, as she looked at the +young man; but when she turned to her sister she felt that his words +might be true. + +"Besides, Hannah," he continued, "this will not be a secret marriage. +You cannot call that a secret which will be known to four persons--the +parson, you, Nora, and myself. I shall not even bind you or Nora to keep +the secret longer than you think it her interest to declare it. She +shall have the marriage certificate in her own keeping, and every legal +protection and defense; so that even if I should die suddenly--" + +Nora gasped for breath. + +--"she would be able to claim and establish her rights and position in +the world. Hannah, you must see that I mean to act honestly and +honorably," said the young man, in an earnest tone. + +"I see that you do; but, Mr. Brudenell, it appears to me that the fatal +weakness of which you have already spoken to me--the 'propensity to +please'--is again leading you into error. You wish to save Nora, and you +wish to spare your mother; and to do both these things, you are +sacrificing--" + +"What, Hannah?" + +"Well--fair, plain, open, straight-forward, upright dealing, such as +should always exist between man and woman." + +"Hannah, you are unjust to me! Am I not fair, plain, open, +straight-forward, upright, and all the rest of it in my dealing with +you?" + +"With us, yes; but--" + +"With my mother it is necessary to be cautious. It is true that she has +no right to oppose my marriage with Nora; but yet she would oppose it, +even to death! Therefore, to save trouble and secure peace, I would +marry my dear Nora quietly. Mystery, Hannah, is not necessarily guilt; +it is often wisdom and mercy. Do not object to a little harmless +mystery, that is besides to secure peace! Come, Hannah, what say you?" + +"How long must this marriage, should it take place, be kept a secret?" +inquired Hannah uneasily. + +"Not one hour longer than you and Nora think it necessary that it should +be declared! Still, I should beg your forbearance as long as possible. +Come, Hannah, your answer!" + +"I must have time to reflect. I fear I should be doing very wrong to +consent to this marriage, and yet--and yet--. But I must take a night to +think of it! To-morrow, Mr. Brudenell, I will give you an answer!" + +With this reply the young man was obliged to be contented. Soon after he +arose and took his leave. + +When he was quite out of hearing Nora arose and threw herself into her +sister's arms, crying: + +"Oh, Hannah, consent! consent! I cannot live without him!" + +The elder sister caressed the younger tenderly; told her of all the +dangers of a secret marriage; of all the miseries of an ill-sorted one; +and implored her to dismiss her wealthy lover, and struggle with her +misplaced love. + +Nora replied only with tears and sobs, and vain repetitions of the +words: + +"I cannot live without him, Hannah! I cannot live without him!" + +Alas, for weakness, willfulness, and passion! They, and not wise +counsels, gained the day. Nora would not give up her lover; would not +struggle with her love; but would have her own way. + +At length, in yielding a reluctant acquiesence, Hannah said: + +"I would never countenance this--never, Nora! but for one reason; it is +that I know, whether I consent or not, you two, weak and willful and +passionate as you are, will rush into this imprudent marriage all the +same! And I think for your sake it had better take place with my +sanction, and in my presence, than otherwise." + +Nora clasped her sister's neck and covered her face with kisses. + +"He means well by us, dear Hannah--indeed he does, bless him! So do not +look so grave because we are going to be happy." + +Had Herman felt sure of his answer the next day? It really seemed so; +for when he made his appearance at the cottage in the morning he brought +the marriage license in his pocket and a peripatetic minister in his +company. + +And before the astonished sisters had time to recover their +self-possession Herman Brudenell's will had carried his purpose, and the +marriage ceremony was performed. The minister then wrote out the +certificate, which was signed by himself, and witnessed by Hannah, and +handed it to the bride. + +"Now, dearest Nora," whispered the triumphant bridegroom, "I am happy, +and you are safe!" + +But--were either of them really safe or happy? + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +LOVE AND FATE. + + Amid the sylvan solitude + Of unshorn grass and waving wood + And waters glancing bright and fast, + A softened voice was in her ear, + Sweet as those lulling sounds and fine + The hunter lifts his head to hear, + Now far and faint, now full and near-- + The murmur of the wood swept pine. + A manly form was ever nigh, + A bold, free hunter, with an eye + Whose dark, keen glance had power to wake + Both fear and love--to awe and charm. + Faded the world that they had known, + A poor vain shadow, cold and waste, + In the warm present bliss alone + Seemed they of actual life to taste. + + --_Whittier_. + +It was in the month of June they were married; when the sun shone with +his brightest splendor; when the sky was of the clearest blue, when the +grass was of the freshest green, the woods in their rudest foliage, the +flowers in their richest bloom, and all nature in her most luxuriant +life! Yes, June was their honeymoon; the forest shades their bridal +halls, and birds and flowers and leaves and rills their train of +attendants. For weeks they lived a kind of fairy life, wandering +together through the depths of the valley forest, discovering through +the illumination of their love new beauties and glories in the earth and +sky; new sympathies with every form of life. Were ever suns so bright, +skies so clear, and woods so green as theirs in this month of beauty, +love, and joy! + +"It seems to me that I must have been deaf and blind and stupid in the +days before I knew you, Herman! for then the sun seemed only to shine, +and now I feel that he smiles as well as shines; then the trees only +seemed to bend under a passing breeze, now I know they stoop to caress +us; then the flowers seemed only to be crowded, now I know they draw +together to kiss; then indeed I loved nature, but now I know that she +also is alive and loves me!" said Nora, one day, as they sat upon a bank +of wild thyme under the spreading branches of an old oak tree that stood +alone in a little opening of the forest. + +"You darling of nature! you might have known that all along!" exclaimed +Herman, enthusiastically pressing her to his heart. + +"Oh, how good you are to love me so much! you--so high, so learned, so +wealthy; you who have seen so many fine ladies--to come down to me, a +poor, ignorant, weaver-girl!" said Nora humbly--for true love in many a +woman is ever most humble and most idolatrous, abasing itself and +idolizing its object. + +"Come down to you, my angel and my queen! to you, whose beauty is so +heavenly and so royal that it seems to me everyone should worship and +adore you! how could I come down to you! Ah, Nora, it seems to me that +it is you who have stooped to me! There are kings on this earth, my +beloved, who might be proud to place such regal beauty on their thrones +beside them! For, oh! you are as beautiful, my Nora, as any woman of +old, for whom heroes lost worlds!" + +"Do you think so? do you really think so? I am so glad for your sake! I +wish I were ten times as beautiful! and high-born, and learned, and +accomplished, and wealthy, and everything else that is good, for your +sake! Herman, I would be willing to pass through a fiery furnace if by +doing so I could come out like refined gold, for your sake!" + +"Hush, hush, sweet love! that fiery furnace of which you speak is the +Scriptural symbol for fearful trial and intense suffering! far be it +from you! for I would rather my whole body were consumed to ashes than +one shining tress of your raven hair should be singed!" + +"But, Herman! one of the books you read to me said: 'All that is good +must be toiled for; all that is best must be suffered for'; and I am +willing to do or bear anything in the world that would make me more +worthy of you!" + +"My darling, you are worthy of a monarch, and much too good for me!" + +"How kind you are to say so! but for all that I know I am only a poor, +humble, ignorant girl, quite unfit to be your wife! And, oh! sometimes +it makes me very sad to think so!" said Nora, with a deep sigh. + +"Then do not think so, my own! why should you? You are beautiful; you +are good; you are lovely and beloved, and you ought to be happy!" +exclaimed Herman. + +"Oh, I am happy! very happy now! For whatever I do or say, right or +wrong, is good in your eyes, and pleases you because you love me so +much. God bless you! God love you! God save you, whatever becomes of +your poor Nora!" she said, with a still heavier sigh. + +At this moment a soft summer cloud floated between them and the blazing +meridian sun, veiling its glory. + +"Why, what is the matter, love? What has come over you?" inquired +Herman, gently caressing her. + +"I do not know; nothing more than that perhaps," answered Nora, pointing +to the cloud that was now passing over the sun. + +"'Nothing more than that.' Well, that has now passed, so smile forth +again, my sun!" said Herman gayly. + +"Ah, dear Herman, if this happy life could only last! this life in which +we wander or repose in these beautiful summer woods, among rills and +flowers and birds! Oh, it is like the Arcadia of which you read to me in +your books, Herman! Ah, if it would only last!" + +"Why should it not, love?" + +"Because it cannot. Winter will come with its wind and snow and ice. The +woods will be bare, the grass dry, the flowers all withered, the streams +frozen, and the birds gone away, and we--" Here her voice sank into +silence, but Herman took up the word: + +"Well, and we, beloved! we shall pass to something much better! We are +not partridges or squirrels to live in the woods and fields all winter! +We shall go to our own luxurious home! You will be my loved and honored +and happy wife; the mistress of an elegant house, a fine estate, and +many negroes. You will have superb furniture, beautiful dresses, +splendid jewels, servants to attend you, carriages, horses, pleasure +boats, and everything else that heart could wish, or money buy, or love +find to make you happy! Think! Oh, think of all the joys that are in +store for you!" + +"Not for me! Oh, not for me those splendors and luxuries and joys that +you speak of! They are too good for me; I shall never possess them; I +know it, Herman; and I knew it even in that hour of heavenly bliss when +you first told me you loved me! I knew it even when we stood before the +minister to be married, and I know it still! This short summer of love +will be all the joy I shall ever have." + +"In the name of Heaven, Nora, what do you mean? Is it possible that you +can imagine I shall ever be false to you?" passionately demanded the +young man, who was deeply impressed at last by the sad earnestness of +her manner. + +"No! no! no! I never imagine anything unworthy of your gentle and noble +nature," said Nora, with fervent emphasis as she pressed closer to his +side. + +"Then why, why, do you torture yourself and me with these dark +previsions?" + +"I do not know. Forgive me, Herman," softly sighed Nora, laying her +cheek against his own. + +He stole his arm around her waist, and as he drew her to his heart, +murmured: + +"Why should you not enjoy all the wealth, rank, and love to which you +are entitled as my wife?" + +"Ah! dear Herman, I cannot tell why. I only know that I never shall! +Bear with me, dear Herman, while I say this; After I had learned to love +you; after I had grieved myself almost to death for your absence; when +you returned and asked me to be your wife, I seemed suddenly to have +passed from darkness into radiant light! But in the midst of it all I +seemed to hear a voice in my heart, saying: 'Poor Moth! you are basking +in a consuming fire; you will presently fall to the ground a burnt, +blackened, tortured, and writhing thing.' And, Herman, when I thought of +the great difference between us; of your old family, high rank, and vast +wealth; and of your magnificent house, and your stately lady mother and +fine lady sisters, I knew that though you had married me, I never could +be owned as your wife--" + +"Nora, if it were possible for me to be angry with you, I should be so!" +interrupted Herman vehemently; "'you never could be owned as my wife!' I +tell you that you can be--and that you shall be, and very soon! It was +only to avoid a rupture with my mother that I married you privately at +all. Have I not surrounded you with every legal security? Have I not +armed you even against myself? Do you not know that even if it were +possible for me to turn rascal, and become so mean, and miserable, and +dishonored as to desert you, you could still demand your rights as a +wife, and compel me to yield them!" + +"As if I would! Oh, Herman, as if I would depend upon anything but your +dear love to give me all I need! Armed against you, am I? I do not +choose to be so! It is enough for me to know that I am your wife. I do +not care to be able to prove it; for, Herman, were it possible for you +to forsake me, I should not insist upon my 'rights'--I should die. +Therefore, why should I be armed with legal proofs against you, my +Herman, my life, my soul, my self? I will not continue so!" And with a +generous abandonment she drew from her bosom the marriage certificate, +tore it to pieces, and scattered it abroad, saying: "There now! I had +kept it as a love token, close to my heart, little knowing it was a +cold-blooded, cautious, legal proof, else it should have gone before, +where it has gone now, to the winds! There now, Herman, I am your own +wife, your own Nora, quite unarmed and defenseless before you; trusting +only to your faith for my happiness; knowing that you will never +willingly forsake me; but feeling that if you do, I should not pursue +you, but die!" + +"Dear trusting girl! would you indeed deprive yourself of all defenses +thus? But, my Nora, did you suppose when I took you to my bosom that I +had intrusted your peace and safety and honor only to a scrap of +perishable paper? No, Nora, no! Infidelity to you is forever impossible +to me; but death is always possible to all persons; and so, though I +could never forsake you, I might die and leave you; and to guard against +the consequences of such a contingency I surrounded you with every legal +security. The minister that married us resides in this county; the +witness that attended us lives with you. So that if to-morrow I should +die, you could claim, as my widow, your half of my personal property +and your life-interest in my estate. And if to-morrow you should become +impatient of your condition as a secreted wife, and wish to enter upon +all the honors of Bradenell Hall, you have the power to do so!" + +"As if I would! As if it was for that I loved you! oh, Herman!" + +"I know you would not, love! And I know it was not for that you loved +me! I have perfect confidence in your disinterestedness. And I hope you +have as much in mine." + +"I have, Herman. I have!" + +"Then, to go back to the first question, why did you wound me by saying, +that though I had married you, you knew you never could be owned as my +wife?" + +"I spoke from a deep conviction! Oh, Herman, I know you will never +willingly forsake me; but I feel you will never acknowledge me!" + +"Then you must think me a villain!" said Herman bitterly. + +"No, no, no; I think, if you must have my thoughts, you are the +gentlest, truest, and noblest among men." + +"You cannot get away from the point; if you think I could desert you, +you must think I am a villain!" + +"Oh, no, no! besides, I did not say you would desert me! I said you +would never own me!" + +"It is in effect the same thing." + +"Herman, understand me: when I say, from the deep conviction I feel, +that you will never own me, I also say that you will be blameless." + +"Those two things are incompatible, Nora! But why do you persist in +asserting that you will never be owned?" + +"Ah, dear me, because it is true!" + +"But why do you think it is true?" + +"Because when I try to imagine our future, I see only my own humble hut, +with its spinning-wheel and loom. And I feel I shall never live in +Brudenell Hall!" + +"Nora, hear me: this is near the first of July; in six months, that is +before the first of January, whether I live or die, as my wife or as my +widow, you shall rule at Brudenell Hall!" + +Nora smiled, a strange, sad smile. + +"Listen, dearest," he continued; "my mother leaves Brudenell in +December. She thinks the two young ladies, my sisters, should have more +society; so she has purchased a fine house in a fashionable quarter of +Washington City. The workmen are now busy decorating and furnishing it. +She takes possession of it early in December. Then, my Nora, when my +mother and sisters are clear of Brudenell Hall, and settled in their +town-house, I will bring you home and write and announce our marriage. +Thus there can be no noise. People cannot quarrel very long or fiercely +through the post. And finally time and reflection will reconcile my +mother to the inevitable, and we shall be all once more united and +happy." + +"Herman dear," said Nora softly, "indeed my heart is toward your mother; +I could love and revere and serve her as dutifully as if I were her +daughter, if she would only deign to let me. And, at any rate, whether +she will or not, I cannot help loving and honoring her, because she is +your mother and loves you. And, oh, Herman, if she could look into my +heart and see how truly I love you, her son, how gladly I would suffer +to make you happy, and how willing I should be to live in utter poverty +and obscurity, if it would be for your good, I do think she would love +me a little for your sake!" + +"Heaven grant it, my darling!" + +"But be sure of this, dear Herman. No matter how she may think it good +to treat me, I can never be angry with her. I must always love her and +seek her favor, for she is your mother." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +A SECRET REVEALED. + + Full soon upon that dream of sin + An awful light came bursting in; + The shrine was cold at which she knelt; + The idol of that shrine was gone; + An humbled thing of shame and guilt; + Outcast and spurned and lone, + Wrapt in the shadows of that crime, + With withered heart and burning brain, + And tears that fell like fiery rain, + She passed a fearful time. + + --_Whittier_. + +Thus in pleasant wandering through the wood and sweet repose beneath the +trees the happy lovers passed the blooming months of summer and the +glowing months of autumn. + +But when the seasons changed again, and with the last days of November +came the bleak northwestern winds that stripped the last leaves from the +bare trees, and covered the ground with snow and bound up the streams +with ice, and drove the birds to the South, the lovers withdrew within +doors, and spent many hours beside the humble cottage fireside. + +Here for the first time Herman had ample opportunity of finding out how +very poor the sisters really were, and how very hard one of them at +least worked. + +And from the abundance of his own resources he would have supplied their +wants and relieved them from this excess of toil, but that there was a +reserve of honest pride in these poor girls that forbade them to accept +his pressing offers. + +"But this is my own family now," said Herman. "Nora is my wife and +Hannah is my sister-in-law, and it is equally my duty and pleasure to +provide for them." + +"No, Herman! No, dear Herman! we cannot be considered as your family +until you publicly acknowledge us as such. Dear Herman, do not think me +cold or ungrateful, when I say to you that it would give me pain and +mortification to receive anything from you, until I do so as your +acknowledged wife," said Nora. + +"You give everything--you give your hand, your heart, yourself! and you +will take nothing," said the young man sadly. + +"Yes, I take as much as I give! I take your hand, your heart, and +yourself in return for mine. That is fair; but I will take no more until +as your wife I take the head of your establishment," said Nora proudly. + +"Hannah, is this right? She is my wife; she promised to obey me, and she +defies me--I ask you is this right?" + +"Yes, Mr. Brudenell. When she is your acknowledged wife, in your house, +then she will obey and never 'defy' you, as you call it; but now it is +quite different; she has not the shield of your name, and she must take +care of her own self-respect until you relieve her of the charge," said +the elder sister gravely. + +"Hannah, you are a terrible duenna! You would be an acquisition to some +crabbed old Spaniard who had a beautiful young wife to look after! Now I +want you to tell me how on earth my burning up that old loom and wheel, +and putting a little comfortable furniture in this room, and paying you +sufficient to support you both, can possibly hurt her self-respect?" +demanded Herman. + +"It will do more than that! it will hurt her character, Mr. Brudenell; +and that should be as dear to you as to herself." + +"It is! it is the dearest thing in life to me! But how should what I +propose to do hurt either her self-respect or her character? You have +not told me that yet!" + +"This way, Mr. Brudenell! If we were to accept your offers, our +neighbors would talk of us." + +"Neighbors! why, Hannah, what neighbors have you? In all the months that +I have been coming here, I have not chanced to meet a single soul!" + +"No, you have not. And if you had, once in a way, met anyone here, they +would have taken you to be a mere passer-by resting yourself in our hut; +but if you were to make us as comfortable as you wish, why the very +first chance visitor to the hut who would see that the loom and the +spinning-wheel and old furniture were gone, and were replaced by the +fine carpet, curtains, chairs, and sofa that you wish to give us, would +go away and tell the wonder. And people would say: 'Where did Hannah +Worth get these things?' or, 'How do they live?' or, 'Who supports those +girls?' and so on. Now, Mr. Brudenell, those are questions I will not +have asked about myself and my sister, and that you ought not to wish to +have asked about your wife!" + +"Hannah, you are quite right! You always are! And yet it distresses me +to see you living and working as you do." + +"We are inured to it, Mr. Brudenell." + +"But it will not be for long, Hannah. Very soon my mother and sisters go +to take possession of their new house in Washington. When they have left +Brudenell I will announce our marriage and bring you and your sister +home." + +"Not me, Mr. Brudenell! I have said before that in marrying Nora you did +not marry all her poor relatives. I have told you that I will not share +the splendors of Nora's destiny. No one shall have reason to say of me, +as they would say if I went home with you, that I had connived at the +young heir's secret marriage with my sister for the sake of securing a +luxurious home for myself. No, Mr. Brudenell, Nora is beautiful, and it +is not unnatural that she should have made a high match; and the world +will soon forgive her for it and forget her humble origin. But I am a +plain, rude, hard-working woman; am engaged to a man as poor, as rugged, +and toil-worn as myself. We would be strangely out of place in your +mansion, subjected to the comments of your friends. We will never +intrude there. I shall remain here at my weaving until the time comes, +if it ever should come, when Reuben and myself may marry, and then, if +possible, we will go to the West, to better ourselves in a better +country." + +"Well, Hannah, well, if such be your final determination, you will allow +me at least to do something towards expediting your marriage. I can +advance such a sum to Reuben Gray as will enable him to marry, and take +you and all his own brothers and sisters to the rich lands of the West, +where, instead of being encumbrances, they will be great helps to him; +for there is to be found much work for every pair of hands, young or +old, male or female," said the young man, not displeased, perhaps, to +provide for his wife's poor relations at a distance from which they +would not be likely ever to enter his sphere. + +Hannah reflected for a moment and then said: + +"I thank you very much for that offer, Mr. Brudenell. It was the wisest +and kindest, both for yourself and us, that you could have made. And I +think that if we could see our way through repaying the advance, we +would gratefully accept it." + +"Never trouble yourself about the repayment! Talk to Gray, and then, +when my mother has gone, send him up to talk to me," said Herman. + +To all this Nora said nothing. She sat silently, with her head resting +upon her hand, and a heavy weight at her heart, such as she always felt +when their future was spoken of. To her inner vision a heavy cloud that +would not disperse always rested on that future. + +Thus the matter rested for the present. + +Herman continued his daily visits to the sisters, and longed impatiently +for the time when he should feel free to acknowledge his beautiful young +peasant-wife and place her at the head of his princely establishment. + +These daily visits of the young heir to the poor sisters attracted no +general attention. The hut on the hill was so remote from any road or +any dwelling-house that few persons passed near it, and fewer still +entered its door. + +It was near the middle of December, when Mrs. Brudenell was busy with +her last preparations for her removal, that the first rumor of Herman's +visits to the hut reached her. + +She was in the housekeeper's room, superintending in person the +selection of certain choice pots of domestic sweetmeats from the family +stores to be taken to the town-house, when Mrs. Spicer, who was +attending her, said: + +"If you please, ma'am, there's Jem Morris been waiting in the kitchen +all the morning to see you." + +"Ah! What does he want? A job, I suppose. Well, tell him to come in +here," said the lady carelessly, as she scrutinized the label upon a jar +of red currant jelly. + +The housekeeper left the room to obey, and returned ushering in an +individual who, as he performs an important part in this history, +deserves some special notice. + +He was a mulatto, between forty-five and fifty years of age, of medium +size, and regular features, with a quantity of woolly hair and beard +that hung down upon his breast. He was neatly dressed in the gray +homespun cloth of the country, and entered with a smiling countenance +and respectful manner. Upon the whole he was rather a good-looking and +pleasing darky. He was a character, too, in his way. He possessed a fair +amount of intellect, and a considerable fund of general information. He +had contrived, somehow or other, to read and write; and he would read +everything he could lay his hands on, from the Bible to the almanac. He +had formed his own opinions upon most of the subjects that interest +society, and he expressed them freely. He kept himself well posted up in +the politics of the day, and was ready to discuss them with anyone who +would enter into the debate. + +He had a high appreciation of himself, and also a deep veneration for +his superiors. And thus it happened that, when in the presence of his +betters, he maintained a certain sort of droll dignity in himself while +treating them with the utmost deference. He was faithful in his dealings +with his numerous employers, all of whom he looked upon as so many +helpless dependents under his protection, for whose well-being in +certain respects he was strictly responsible. So much for his character. +In circumstances he was a free man, living with his wife and children, +who were also free, in a small house on Mr. Brudenell's estate, and +supporting his family by such a very great variety of labor as had +earned for him the title of "Professor of Odd Jobs." It was young Herman +Brudenell, when a boy, who gave him this title, which, from its singular +appropriateness, stuck to him; for he could, as he expressed it himself, +"do anything as any other man could do." He could shoe a horse, doctor a +cow, mend a fence, make a boot, set a bone, fix a lock, draw a tooth, +roof a cabin, drive a carriage, put up a chimney, glaze a window, lay a +hearth, play a fiddle, or preach a sermon. He could do all these +things, and many others besides too numerous to mention, and he did do +them for the population of the whole neighborhood, who, having no +regular mechanics, gave this "Jack of all Trades" a plenty of work. This +universal usefulness won for him, as I said, the title of "Professor of +Odd Jobs." This was soon abbreviated to the simple "Professor," which +had a singular significance also when applied to one who, in addition to +all his other excellencies, believed himself to be pretty well posted up +in law, physic, and theology, upon either of which he would stop in his +work to hold forth to anyone who would listen. + +Finally, there was another little peculiarity about the manner of the +professor. In his excessive agreeability he would always preface his +answer to any observation whatever with some sort of assent, such as +"yes, sir," or "yes, madam," right or wrong. + +This morning the professor entered the presence of Mrs. Brudenell, hat +in hand, smiling and respectful. + +"Well, Morris, who has brought you here this morning?" inquired the +lady. + +"Yes, madam. I been thinkin' about you, and should a-been here 'fore +this to see after your affairs, on'y I had to go over to Colonel +Mervin's to give one of his horses a draught, and then to stop at the +colored, people's meetin' house to lead the exercises, and afterwards to +call at the Miss Worthses to mend Miss Hannah's loom and put a few new +spokes in Miss Nora's wheel. And so many people's been after me to do +jobs that I'm fairly torn to pieces among um. And it's 'Professor' here, +and 'Professor' there, and 'Professor' everywhere, till I think my +senses will leave me, ma'am." + +"Then, if you are so busy why do you come here, Morris?" said Mrs. +Brudenell, who was far too dignified to give him his title. + +"Yes, madam. Why, you see, ma'am, I came, as in duty bound, to look +after your affairs and see as they were all right, which they are not, +ma'am. There's the rain pipes along the roof of the house leaking so the +cistern never gets full of water, and I must come and solder them right +away, and the lightning reds wants fastenin' more securely, and--" + +"Well, but see Grainger, my overseer, about these things; do not trouble +me with them." + +"Yes, madam. I think overseers ought to be called overlookers, because +they oversee so little and overlook so much. Now, there's the hinges +nearly rusted off the big barn door, and I dessay he never saw it." + +"Well, Morris, call his attention to that also; do whatever you find +necessary to be done, and call upon Grainger to settle with you." + +"Yes, madam. It wasn't on'y the rain pipes and hinges as wanted +attention that brought me here, however, ma'am," + +"What was it, then? Be quick, if you please. I am very much occupied +this morning." + +"Yes, madam. It was something I heard and felt it my duty to tell you; +because, you see, ma'am, I think it is the duty of every honest--" + +"Come, come, Morris, I have no time to listen to an oration from you +now. In two words, what had you to tell me?" interrupted the lady +impatiently. + +"Yes, madam. It were about young Mr. Herman, ma'am." + +"Mr. Brudenell, if you please, Morris. My son is the head of his +family." + +"Certainly, madam. Mr. Brudenell." + +"Well, what about Mr. Brudenell?" + +"Yes, madam. You know he was away from home every day last spring and +summer." + +"I remember; he went to fish; he is very fond of fishing." + +"Certainly, madam; but he was out every day this autumn." + +"I am aware of that; he was shooting; he is an enthusiastic sportsman." + +"To be sure, madam, so he is; but he is gone every day this winter." + +"Of course; hunting; there is no better huntsman in the country than Mr. +Brudenell." + +"That is very true, madam; do you know what sort of game he is a-huntin' +of?" inquired the professor meaningly, but most deferentially. + +"Foxes, I presume," said the lady, with a look of inquiry. + +"Yes, madam, sure enough; I suppose they is foxes, though in female +form," said the professor dryly, but still respectfully. + +"Whatever do you mean, Morris?" demanded the lady sternly. + +"Well, madam, if it was not from a sense of duty, I would not dare to +speak to you on this subject; for I think when a man presumes to meddle +with things above his speer, he--" + +"I remarked to you before, Morris, that I had no time to listen to your +moral disquisitions. Tell me at once, then, what you meant to insinuate +by that strange speech," interrupted the lady. + +"Yes, madam, certainly. When you said Mr. Brudenell was a hunting of +foxes, I saw at once the correctness of your suspicions, madam; for they +is foxes." + +"Who are foxes?" + +"Why, the Miss Worthses, madam." + +"The Miss Worths! the weavers! why, what on earth have they to do with +what we nave been speaking of?" + +"Yes, madam; the Miss Worthses is the foxes that Mr. Brudenell is +a-huntin' of." + +"The Miss Worths? My son hunting the Miss Worths! What do you mean, sir? +Take care what you say of Mr. Brudenell, Morris." + +"Yes, madam, certainly; I won't speak another word on the subject; and I +beg your pardon for having mentioned it at all; which I did from a sense +of duty to your family, madam, thinking you ought to know it; but I am +very sorry I made such a mistake, and again I beg your pardon, madam, +and I humbly take my leave." And with a low bow the professor turned to +depart. + +"Stop, fool!" said Mrs. Brudenell. And the "fool" stopped and turned, +hat in hand, waiting further orders. + +"Do you mean to say that Mr. Brudenell goes after those girls?" asked +the lady, raising her voice ominously. + +"Yes, madam; leastways, after Miss Nora. You see, madam, young gentlemen +will be young gentlemen, for all their mas can say or do; and when the +blood is warm and the spirits is high, and the wine is in and the wit is +out--" + +"No preaching, I say! Pray, are you a clergyman or a barrister? Tell me +at once what reason you have for saying that my son goes to Worths' +cottage?" + +"Yes, madam; I has seen him often and often along of Miss Nora a-walking +in the valley forest, when I have been there myself looking for herbs +and roots to make up my vegetable medicines with. And I have seen him go +home with her. And at last I said, 'It is my bounden duty to go and tell +the madam.'" + +"You are very sure of what you say?" + +"Yes, madam, sure as I am of my life and my death." + +"This is very annoying! very! I had supposed Mr. Brudenell to have had +better principles. Of course, when a young gentleman of his position +goes to see a girl of hers, it can be but with one object. I had thought +Herman had better morals, and Hannah at least more sense! This is very +annoying! very!" said the lady to herself, as her brows contracted with +anger. After a few moments spent in silent thought, she said: + +"It is the girl Nora, you say, he is with so much?" + +"Yes, madam." + +"Then go to the hut this very evening and tell that girl she must come +up here to-morrow morning to see me. I thank you for your zeal in my +service, Morris, and will find a way to reward you. And now you may do +my errand." + +"Certainly, madam! My duty to you, madam," said the professor, with a +low bow, as he left the room and hurried away to deliver his message to +Nora Worth. + +"This is very unpleasant," said the lady. "But since Hannah has no more +prudence than to let a young gentleman visit her sister, I must talk to +the poor, ignorant child myself, and warn her that she risks her good +name, as well as her peace of mind." + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +MOTHER- AND DAUGHTER-IN-LAW. + + Your pardon, noble lady! + My friends were poor but honest--so is my love; + Be not offended, for it hurts him not + That he is loved of me. My dearest madam, + Let not your hate encounter with my love + For loving where _you_ do. + + --_Shakspere_. + +The poor sisters had just finished their afternoon meal, cleaned their +room, and settled themselves to their evening's work. Nora was spinning +gayly, Hannah weaving diligently--the whir of Nora's wheel keeping time +to the clatter of Hannah's loom, when the latch was lifted and Herman +Brudenell, bringing a brace of hares in his hand, entered the hut. + +"There, Hannah, those are prime! I just dropped in to leave them, and to +say that it is certain my mother leaves for Washington on Saturday. On +Sunday morning I shall bring my wife home; and you, too, Hannah; for if +you will not consent to live with us, you must still stop with us until +you and Gray are married and ready to go to the West," he said, throwing +the game upon the table, and shaking hands with the sisters. His face +was glowing from exercise, and his eyes sparkling with joy. + +"Sit down, Mr. Brudenell," said Hannah hospitably. + +The young man hesitated, and a look of droll perplexity passed over his +face as he said: + +"Now don't tempt me, Hannah, my dear; don't ask me to stop this evening; +and don't even let me do so if I wish to. You see I promised my mother +to be home in time to meet some friends at dinner, and I am late now! +Good-by, sister; good-by, sweet wife! Sunday morning, Mrs. Herman +Brudenell, you will take the head of your own table at Brudenell Hall!" + +And giving Hannah a cordial shake of the hand, and Nora a warm kiss, he +hurried from the hut. + +When he had closed the door behind him, the sisters looked at each +other. + +"Think of it, Hannah! This is Thursday, and he says that he will take us +home on Sunday--in three days! Hannah, do you know I never before +believed that this would be! I always thought that to be acknowledged as +the wife of Herman Brudenell--placed at the head of his establishment, +settled in that magnificent house, with superb furniture and splendid +dresses, and costly jewels, and carriages, and horses, and servants to +attend me, and to be called Mrs. Brudenell of Brudenell Hall, and +visited by the old country families--was a great deal too much +happiness, and prosperity, and glory for poor me!" + +"Do you believe it now?" inquired Hannah thoughtfully. + +"Why, yes! now that it draws so near. There is not much that can happen +between this and Sunday to prevent it. I said it was only three +days--but in fact it is only two, for this is Thursday evening, and he +will take us home on Sunday morning; so you see there is only two whole +days--Friday and Saturday--between this and that!" + +"And how do you feel about this great change of fortune? Are you still +frightened, though no longer unbelieving?" + +"No, indeed!" replied Nora, glancing up at the little looking-glass that +hung immediately opposite to her wheel; "if I have pleased Herman, who +is so fastidious, it is not likely that. I should disgust others. And +mind this, too: I pleased Herman in my homespun gown, and when I meet +his friends at Brudenell Hall, I shall have all the advantages of +splendid dress. No, Hannah, I am no longer incredulous or frightened. +And if ever, when sitting at the head of his table when there is a +dinner party, my heart should begin to fail me, I will say to myself: 'I +pleased Herman--the noblest of you all,' and then I know my courage will +return. But, Hannah, won't people be astonished when they find out that +I, poor Nora Worth, am really and truly Mrs. Herman Brudenell! What will +they say? What will old Mrs. Jones say? And oh! what will the Miss +Mervins say? I should like to see their faces when they hear it! for you +know it is reported that Colonel Mervin is to marry Miss Brudenell, and +that the two Miss Mervins are secretly pulling caps who shall take +Herman! Poor young ladies! won't they be dumfounded when they find out +that poor Nora Worth has had him all this time! I wonder how long it +will take them to get over the mortification, and also whether they will +call to see me. Do you think they will, Hannah?" + +"I do not know, my dear. The Mervins hold their heads very high," +replied the sober elder sister. + +"Do they! Well, I fancy they have not much right to hold their heads +much higher than the Brudenells of Brudenell Hall hold theirs. Hannah, +do you happen to know who our first ancestor was?" + +"Adam, my dear, I believe.'' + +"Nonsense, Hannah; I do not mean the first father of all mankind--I mean +the head of our house." + +"Our house? Indeed, my dear, I don't even know who our grandfather was." + +"Fudge, Hannah, I am not talking of the Worths, who of course have no +history. I am talking of our family--the Brudenells!" + +"Oh!" said Hannah dryly. + +"And now do you know who our first ancestor was?" + +"Yes; some Norman filibuster who came over to England with William the +Conqueror, I suppose. I believe from all that I have heard, that to have +been the origin of most of the noble English families and old Maryland +ones." + +"No, you don't, neither. Herman says our family is much older than the +Conquest. They were a noble race of Saxon chiefs that held large sway in +England from the time of the first invasion of the Saxons to that of the +Norman Conquest; at which period a certain Wolfbold waged such +successful war against the invader and held out so long and fought so +furiously as to have received the surname of 'Bred-in-hell!'" + +"Humph! do you call that an honor, or him a respectable ancestor?" + +"Yes, indeed! because it was for no vice or crime that they give him +that surname, but because it was said no man born of woman could have +exhibited such frantic courage or performed such prodigies of valor as +he did. Well, anyway, that was the origin of our family name. From +Bred-in-hell it became Bredi-nell, then Bredenell, and finally, as it +still sounded rough for the name of a respectable family, they have in +these latter generations softened it down into Brudenell. So you see! I +should like to detect the Mervins looking down upon us!" concluded Nora, +with a pretty assumption of dignity. + +"But, my dear, you are not a Brudenell." + +"I don't care! My husband is, and Herman says a wife takes rank from her +husband! As Nora Worth, or as Mrs. Herman Brudenell, of course I am the +very same person; but then, ignorant as I may be, I know enough of the +world to feel sure that those who despised Nora Worth will not dare to +slight Mrs. Herman Brudenell!" + +"Take care! Take care, Nora, dear! 'Pride goeth before a fall, and a +haughty temper before destruction!'" said Hannah, in solemn warning. + +"Well, I will not be proud if I can help it; yet--how hard to help it! +But I will not let it grow on me. I will remember my humble origin and +that I am undeserving of anything better." + +At this moment the latch of the door was raised and Jem Morris presented +himself, taking off his hat and bowing low, as he said: + +"Evening, Miss Hannah; evening, Miss Nora. Hopes you finds yourselves +well?" + +"Why, law, professor, is that you? You have just come in time. Hannah +wants you to put a new bottom in her tin saucepan and a new cover on her +umbrella, and to mend her coffee-mill; it won't grind at all!" said +Nora. + +"Yes, miss; soon's ever I gets the time. See, I've got a well to dig at +Colonel Mervin's, and a chimney to build at Major Blackistone's, and a +hearth to lay at Commodore Burgh's, and a roof to put over old Mrs. +Jones'; and see, that will take me all the rest of the week," objected +Jem. + +"But can't you take the things home with you and do them at night?" +inquired Hannah. + +"Yes, miss; but you see there's only three nights more this week, and I +am engaged for all! To-night I've got to go and sit up long of old Jem +Brown's corpse, and to-morrow night to play the fiddle at Miss Polly +Hodges' wedding, and the next night I promised to be a waiter at the +college ball, and even Sunday night aint free, 'cause our preacher is +sick and I've been invited to take his place and read a sermon and lead +the prayer! So you see I couldn't possibly mend the coffee-mill and the +rest till some time next week, nohow!" + +"I tell you what, Morris, you have the monopoly of your line of business +in this neighborhood, and so you put on airs and make people wait. I +wish to goodness we could induce some other professor of odd jobs to +come and settle among us," said Nora archly. + +"Yes, miss; I wish I could, for I am pretty nearly run offen my feet," +Jem agreed. "But what I was wishing to say to you, miss," he added, "was +that the madam sent me here with a message to you." + +"Who sent a message, Jem?" + +"The madam up yonder, miss." + +"Oh! you mean Mrs. Brudenell! It was to Hannah, I suppose, in relation +to work," said Nora. + +"Yes, miss; but this time it was not to Miss Hannah; it was to you, Miss +Nora. 'Go up to the hut on the hill, and request Nora Worth to come up +to see me this evening. I wish to have a talk with her?' Such were the +madam's words, Miss Nora." + +"Oh, Hannah!" breathed Nora, in terror. + +"What can she want with my sister?" inquired Hannah. + +"Well, yes, miss. She didn't say any further. And now, ladies, as I have +declared my message, I must bid you good evening; as they expects me +round to old uncle Jem Brown's to watch to-night." And with a deep bow +the professor retired. + +"Oh, Hannah!" wailed Nora, hiding her head in her sister's bosom. + +"Well, my dear, what is the matter?" + +"I am so frightened." + +"What at?" + +"The thoughts of Mrs. Brudenell!" + +"Then don't go. You are not a slave to be at that lady's beck and call, +I reckon!" + +"Yes, but I am Herman's wife and her daughter, and I will not slight her +request! I will go, Hannah, though I had rather plunge into ice water +this freezing weather than meet that proud lady!" said Nora, shivering. + +"Child, you need not do so! You are not bound! You owe no duty to Mrs. +Brudenell, until Mr. Brudenell has acknowledged you as his wife and Mrs. +Brudenell as her daughter." + +"Hannah, it may be so; yet she is my mother-in-law, being dear Herman's +mother; and though I am frightened at the thought of meeting her, still +I love her; I do, indeed, Hannah! and my heart longs for her love! +Therefore I must not begin by disregarding her requests. I will go! But +oh, Hannah! what can she want with me? Do you think it possible that she +has heard anything? Oh, suppose she were to say anything to me about +Herman? What should I do!" cried Nora, her teeth fairly chattering with +nervousness. + +"Don't go, I say; you are cold and trembling with fear; it is also after +sunset, too late for you to go out alone." + +"Yes; but, Hannah, I must go! I am not afraid of the night! I am afraid +of her! But if you do not think it well for me to go alone, you can go +with me, you know. There will be no harm in that, I suppose?" + +"It is a pity Herman had not stayed a little longer, we might have asked +him; I do not think he would have been in favor of your going." + +"I do not know; but, as there is no chance of consulting him, I must do +what I think right in the case and obey his mother," said Nora, rising +from her position in Hannah's lap and going to make some change in her +simple dress. When she was ready she asked: + +"Are you going with me, Hannah?" + +"Surely, my child," said the elder sister, reaching her bonnet and +shawl. + +The weather was intensely cold, and in going to Brudenell the sisters +had to face a fierce northwest wind. In walking through the valley they +were sheltered by the wood; but in climbing the hill upon the opposite +side they could scarcely keep their feet against the furious blast. + +They reached the house at last. Hannah remembered to go to the servants' +door. + +"Ah, Hannah! they little think that when next I come to Brudenell it +will be in my own carriage, which will draw up at the main entrance," +said Nora, with exultant pride, as she blew her cold fingers while they +waited to be admitted. + +The door was opened by Jovial, who started back at the sight of the +sisters and exclaimed: + +"Hi, Miss Hannah, and Miss Nora, you here? Loramity sake come in and +lemme shet the door. Dere, go to de fire, chillern! Name o' de law what +fetch you out dis bitter night? Wind sharp nuff to peel de skin right +offen your faces!" + +"Your mistress sent word that she wished to see Nora this evening, +Jovial. Will you please to let her know that we are here?" asked Hannah, +as she and her sister seated themselves beside the roaring hickory fire +in the ample kitchen fireplace. + +"Sartain, Miss Hannah! Anything to obligate the ladies," said Jovial, as +he left the kitchen to do his errand. + +Before the sisters had time to thaw, their messenger re-entered, saying: + +"Mistess will 'ceive Miss Nora into de drawing-room." + +Nora arose in trepidation to obey the summons. + +Jovial led her along a spacious, well-lighted passage, through an open +door, on the left side of which she saw the dining-room and the +dinner-table, at which Mr. Brudenell and his gentlemen guests still sat +lingering over their wine. His back was towards the door, so that he +could not see her, or know who was at that time passing. But as her eyes +fell upon him, a glow of love and pride warmed and strengthened her +heart, and she said: + +"After all, he is my husband and this is my house! Why should I be +afraid to meet the lady mother?" + +And with a firm, elastic step Nora entered the drawing-room. At first +she was dazzled and bewildered by its splendor and luxury. It was fitted +up with almost Oriental magnificence. Her feet seemed to sink among +blooming flowers in the soft rich texture of the carpet. Her eyes fell +upon crimson velvet curtains that swept in massive folds from ceiling to +floor; upon rare full-length pictures that filled up the recesses +between the gorgeously draped windows; broad crystal mirrors above the +marble mantel-shelves; marble statuettes wherever there was a corner to +hold one; soft crimson velvet sofas, chairs, ottomans and stools; inlaid +tables; papier-mache stands; and all the thousand miscellaneous vanities +of a modern drawing-room. + +"And to think that all this is mine! and how little she dreams of it!" +said Nora, in an awe-struck whisper to her own heart, as she gazed +around upon all this wealth until at last her eye fell upon the stately +form of the lady as she sat alone upon a sofa at the back of the room. + +"Come here, my girl, if you please," said Mrs. Brudenell. + +Nora advanced timidly until she had reached to within a yard of the +lady, when she stopped, courtesied, and stood with folded hands waiting, +pretty much as a child would stand when called up before its betters for +examination. + +"Your name is Nora Worth, I believe," said the lady. + +"My name is Nora, madam," answered the girl. + +"You are Hannah Worth's younger sister?" + +"Yes, madam." + +"Now, then, my girl, do you know why I have sent for you here to-night?" + +"No, madam." + +"Are you quite sure that your conscience does not warn you?" + +Nora was silent. + +"Ah, I have my answer!" remarked the lady in a low voice; then raising +her tone she said: + +"I believe that my son, Mr. Herman Brudenell, is in the habit of daily +visiting your house; is it not so?" + +Nora looked up at the lady for an instant and then dropped her eyes. + +"Quite sufficient! Now, my girl, as by your silence you have admitted +all my suppositions, I must speak to you very seriously. And in the +first place I would ask you, if you do not know, that when a gentleman +of Mr. Brudenell's high position takes notice of a girl of your low +rank, he does so with but one purpose? Answer me!" + +"I do not understand you, madam." + +"Very well, then, I will speak more plainly! Are you not aware, I would +say, that when Herman Brudenell visits Nora Worth daily for months he +means her no good?" + +Nora paused for a moment to turn this question over in her mind before +replying. + +"I cannot think, madam, that Mr. Herman Brudenell could mean anything +but good to any creature, however humble, whom he deigned to notice!" + +"You are a natural fool or a very artful girl, one or the other!" said +the lady, who was not very choice in her language when speaking in anger +to her inferiors. + +"You admit by your silence that Mr. Brudenell has been visiting you +daily for months; and yet you imply that in doing so he means you no +harm! I should think he meant your utter ruin!" + +"Mrs. Brudenell!" exclaimed Nora, in a surprise so sorrowful and +indignant that it made her forget herself and her fears, "you are +speaking of your own son, your only son; you are his mother, how can you +accuse him of a base crime?" + +"Recollect yourself, my girl! You surely forget the presence in which +you stand! Baseness, crime, can never be connected with the name of +Brudenell. But young gentlemen will be young gentlemen, and amuse +themselves with just such credulous fools as you!" said the lady +haughtily. + +"Although their amusement ends in the utter ruin of its subject? Do you +not call that a crime?" + +"Girl, keep your place, if you please! Twice you have ventured to call +me Mrs. Brudenell. To you I am madam. Twice you have asked me questions. +You are here to answer, not to ask!" + +"Pardon me, madam, if I have offended you through my ignorance of +forms," said Nora, bowing with gentle dignity; for somehow or other she +was gaining self-possession every moment. + +"Will you answer my questions then; or continue to evade them?" + +"I can answer you so far, madam--Mr. Brudenell has never attempted to +amuse himself at the expense of Nora Worth; nor is she one to permit +herself to become the subject of any man's amusement, whether he be +gentle or simple!" + +"And yet he visits you daily, and you permit his visits! And this has +gone on for months! You cannot deny it--you do not attempt to deny it!" +She paused, as if waiting some reply; but Nora kept silence. + +"And yet you say he is not amusing himself at your expense!" + +"He is not, madam; nor would I permit anyone to do so!" + +"I do not understand this! Girl! answer me! What are you to my son?" + +Nora was silent. + +"Answer me!" said the lady severely. + +"I cannot, madam! Oh, forgive me, but I cannot answer you!" said Nora. + +The lady looked fixedly at her for a few seconds; something in the +girl's appearance startled her; rising, she advanced and pulled the +heavy shawl from Nora's shoulders, and regarded her with an expression +of mingled hauteur, anger, and scorn. + +Nora dropped her head upon her breast and covered her blushing face with +both hands. + +"I am answered!" said the lady, throwing her shawl upon the floor and +touching the bell rope. + +Jovial answered the summons. + +"Put this vile creature out of the house, and if she ever dares to show +her face upon these premises again send for a constable and have her +taken up," said Mrs. Brudenell hoarsely and white with suppressed rage, +as she pointed to the shrinking girl before her. + +"Come, Miss Nora, honey," whispered the old man kindly, as he picked up +the shawl and put it over her shoulders and took her hand to lead her +from the room; for, ah! old Jovial as well as his fellow-servants had +good cause to know and understand the "white heat" of their mistress' +anger. + +As with downcast eyes and shrinking form Nora followed her conductor +through the central passage and past the dining-room door, she once more +saw Herman Brudenell still sitting with his friends at the table. + +"Ah, if he did but know what I have had to bear within the last few +minutes!" she said to herself as she hurried by. + +When she re-entered the kitchen she drew the shawl closer around her +shivering figure, pulled the bonnet farther over her blushing face, and +silently took the arm of Hannah to return home. + +The elder sister asked no question. And when they had left the house +their walk was as silent as their departure had been. It required all +their attention to hold their course through the darkness of the night, +the intensity of the cold and the fury of the wind. It was not until +they had reached the shelter of their poor hut, drawn the fire-brands +together and sat down before the cheerful blaze, that Nora threw herself +sobbing into the arms of her sister. + +Hannah gathered her child closer to her heart and caressed her in +silence until her fit of sobbing had exhausted itself, and then she +inquired: + +"What did Mrs. Brudenell want with you, dear?" + +"Oh, Hannah, she had heard of Herman's visits here! She questioned and +cross-questioned me. I would not admit anything, but then I could not +deny anything either. I could give her no satisfaction, because you know +my tongue was tied by my promise. Then, she suspected me of being a bad +girl. And she cross-questioned me more severely than ever. Still I could +give her no satisfaction. And her suspicions seemed to be confirmed. And +she looked at me--oh! with such terrible eyes, that they seemed to burn +me up. I know, not only my poor face, but the very tips of my ears +seemed on fire. And suddenly she snatched my shawl off me, and oh! if +her look was terrible before, it was consuming now! Hannah, I seemed to +shrivel all up in the glare of that look, like some poor worm in the +flame!" gasped Nora, with a spasmodic catch of her breath, as she once +more clung to the neck of her sister. + +"What next?" curtly inquired Hannah. + +"She rang the bell and ordered Jovial to 'put this vile creature +(meaning me) out'; and if ever I dared to show my face on the premises +again, to send for a constable to take me up." + +"The insolent woman!" exclaimed the elder sister, with a burst of very +natural indignation. "She will have you taken up by a constable if ever +you show your face there again, will he? We'll see that! I shall tell +Herman Brudenell all about it to-morrow as soon as he comes! He must not +wait until his another goes to Washington! He must acknowledge you as +his wife immediately. To-morrow morning he must take you up and +introduce you as such to his mother. If there is to be an explosion, let +it come! The lady must be taught to know who it is that she has branded +with ill names, driven from the house and threatened with a constable! +She must learn that it is an honorable wife whom she has called a vile +creature; the mistress of the house whom she turned out of doors, and +finally that it is Mrs. Herman Brudenell whom she has threatened with a +constable!" Hannah had spoken with such vehemence and rapidity that Nora +had found no opportunity to stop her. She could not, to use a common +phrase, "get in a word edgeways." It was only now when Hannah paused for +breath that Nora took up the discourse with: + +"Hannah! Hannah! Hannah! how you do go on! Tell Herman Brudenell about +his own mother's treatment of me, indeed! I will never forgive you if +you do, Hannah! Do you think it will be such a pleasant thing for him +to hear? Consider how much it would hurt him, and perhaps estrange him +from his mother too! And what! shall I do anything, or consent to +anything, to set my husband against his own mother? Never, Hannah! I +would rather remain forever in my present obscurity. Besides, consider, +she was not so much to blame for her treatment of me! You know she never +imagined such a thing as that her son had actually married me, and--" + +"I should have told her!" interrupted Hannah vehemently. "I should not +have borne her evil charges for one moment in silence! I should have +soon let her know who and what I was! I should have taken possession of +my rightful place then and there! I should have rung a bell and sent for +Mr. Herman Brudenell and had it out with the old lady once for all!" + +"Hannah, I could not! my tongue was tied by my promise, and besides--" + +"It was not tied!" again dashed in the elder sister, whose unusual +vehemence of mood seemed to require her to do all the talking herself. +"Herman Brudenell--he is a generous fellow with all his +faults!--released both you and myself from our promise, and told us at +any time when we should feel that the marriage ought not any longer to +be kept secret it might be divulged. You should have told her!" + +"What! and raised a storm there between mother and son when both those +high spirits would have become so inflamed that they would have said +things to each other that neither could ever forgive? What! cause a +rupture between them that never could be closed? No, indeed, Hannah! +Burned and shriveled up as I was with shame in the glare of that lady's +scornful look, I would not save myself at such a cost to him and--to +her. For though you mayn't believe me, Hannah, I love that lady! I do in +spite of her scorn! She is my husband's mother; I love her as I should +have loved my own. And, oh, while she was scorching me up with her +scornful looks and words, how I did long to show her that I was not the +unworthy creature she deemed me, but a poor, honest, loving girl, who +adored both her and her son, and who would, for the love I bore them--" + +"Die, if necessary, I suppose! That is just about what foolish lovers +promise to do for each other," said the elder sister, impatiently. + +"Well, I would, Hannah; though that is not what I meant to say; I meant +that for the love I bore them I would so strive to improve in every +respect that I should at last lift myself to their level and be worthy +of them!" + +"Humph! and you can rest under this ban of reproach!" + +"No, not rest, Hannah! no one can rest in fire! and reproach is fire to +me! but I can bear it, knowing it to be undeserved! For, Hannah, even +when I stood shriveling in the blaze of that lady's presence, the +feeling of innocence, deep in my heart, kept me from death! for I think, +Hannah, if I had deserved her reproaches I should have dropped, +blackened, at her feet! Dear sister, I am very sorry I told you anything +about it. Only I have never kept anything from you, and so the force of +habit and my own swelling heart that overflowed with trouble made me do +it. Be patient now, Hannah! Say nothing to my dear husband of this. In +two days the lady and her daughters will be in Washington. Herman will +take us home, acknowledge me and write to his mother. There will then be +no outbreak; both will command their tempers better when they are apart! +And there will be nothing said or done that need make an irreparable +breach between the mother and son, or between her and myself. Promise +me, Hannah, that you will say nothing to Herman about it to-morrow!" + +"I promise you, Nora; but only because the time draws so very near when +you will be acknowledged without any interference on my part." + +"And now, dear sister, about you and Reuben. Have you told him of Mr. +Brudenell's offer?" + +"Yes, dear." + +"And he will accept it?" + +"Yes." + +"And when shall you be married?" + +"The very day that you shall be settled in your new home, dear. We both +thought that best. I do not wish to go to Brudenell, Nora. Nothing can +ever polish me into a fine lady; so I should be out of place there even +for a day. Besides it would be awkward on account of the house-servants, +who have always looked upon me as a sort of companion, because I have +been their fellow-laborer in busy times. And they would not know how to +treat me if they found me in the drawing-room or at the dinner-table! +With you it is different; you are naturally refined! You have never +worked out of our own house; you are their master's wife, and they will +respect you as such. But as for me, I am sure I should embarrass +everybody if I should go to Brudenell. And, on the other hand, I cannot +remain here by myself. So I have taken Reuben's advice and agreed to +walk with him to the church the same hour that Mr. Brudenell takes you +home." + +"That will be early Sunday morning." + +"Yes, dear!" + +"Well, God bless you, best of mother-sisters! May you have much +happiness," said Nora, as she raised herself from Hannah's knees to +prepare for rest. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +END OF THE SECRET MARRIAGE. + + Upon her stubborn brow alone + Nor ruth nor mercy's trace is shown, + Her look is hard and stern. + + --_Scott_. + +After the departure of Nora Worth Mrs. Brudenell seated herself upon the +sofa, leaned her elbow upon the little stand at her side, bowed her head +upon her hand and fell into deep thought. Should she speak to Herman +Brudenell of this matter? No! it was too late; affairs had gone too far; +they must now take their course; the foolish girl's fate must be on her +own head, and on that of her careless elder sister; they would both be +ruined, that was certain; no respectable family would ever employ either +of them again; they would starve. Well, so much the better; they would +be a warning to other girls of their class, not to throw out their nets +to catch gentlemen! Herman had been foolish, wicked even, but then young +men will be young men; and then, again, of course it was that artful +creature's fault! What could she, his mother, do in the premises? Not +speak to her son upon the subject, certainly; not even let him know that +she was cognizant of the affair! What then? She was going away with her +daughters in a day or two! And good gracious, he would be left alone in +the house! to do as he pleased! to keep bachelor's hall! to bring that +girl there as his housekeeper, perhaps, and so desecrate his sacred, +patrimonial home! No, that must never be! She must invite and urge her +son to accompany herself and his sisters to Washington. But if he should +decline the invitation and persist in his declination, what then? Why, +as a last resort, she would give up the Washington campaign and remain +at home to guard the sanctity of her son's house. + +Having come to this conclusion, Mrs. Brudenell once more touched the +bell, and when Jovial made his appearance she said: + +"Let the young ladies know that I am alone, and they may join me now." + +In a few minutes Miss Brudenell and Miss Eleanora entered the room, +followed by the gentlemen, who had just left the dinner-table. + +Coffee was immediately served, and soon after the guests took leave. + +The young ladies also left the drawing-room, and retired to their +chambers to superintend the careful packing of some fine lace and +jewelry. The mother and son remained alone together--Mrs. Brudenell +seated upon her favorite back sofa and Herman walking slowly and +thoughtfully up and down the whole length of the room. + +"Herman," said the lady. + +"Well, mother?" + +"I have been thinking about our winter in Washington. I have been +reflecting that myself and your sisters will have no natural protector +there." + +"You never had any in Paris or in London, mother, and yet you got on +very well." + +"That was a matter of necessity, then; you were a youth at college; we +could not have your company; but now you are a young man, and your +place, until you marry, is with me and my daughters. We shall need your +escort, dear Herman, and be happier for your company. I should be very +glad if I could induce to accompany us to the city." + +"And I should be very glad to do so, dear mother, but for the +engagements that bind me here." + +She did not ask the very natural question of what those engagements +might be. She did not wish to let him see that she knew or suspected his +attachment to Nora Worth, so she answered: + +"You refer to the improvements and additions you mean, to add to +Brudenell Hall. Surely these repairs had better be deferred until the +spring, when the weather will be more favorable for such work?" + +"My dear mother, all the alterations I mean to have made inside the +house can very well be done this winter. By the next summer I hope to +have the whole place in complete order for you and my sisters to return +and spend the warm weather with me." + +The lady lifted her head. She had never known her son to be guilty of +the least insincerity. If he had looked forward to the coming of herself +and her daughters to Brudenell, to spend the next summer, he could not, +of course, be contemplating the removal of Nora Worth to the house. + +"Then you really expect us to make this our home, as heretofore, every +summer?" she said. + +"I have no right to expect such a favor, my dear mother: but I sincerely +hope for it," said the son courteously. + +"But it is not every young bachelor living on his own estate who cares +to be restrained by the presence of his mother and sisters; such +generally desire a life of more freedom and gayety than would be proper +with ladies in the house," said Mrs. Brudenell. + +"But I am not one of those, mother; you know that my habits are very +domestic." + +"Yes. Well, Herman, it may just as well be understood that myself and +the girls will return here to spend the summer. But now--the previous +question! Can you not be prevailed on to accompany us to Washington?" + +"My dear mother! anything on earth to oblige you I would do, if +possible! But see! you go on Saturday, and this is Thursday night. There +is but one intervening day. I could not make the necessary arrangements. +I have much business to transact with my overseer; the whole year's +accounts still to examine, and other duties to do before I could +possibly leave home. But I tell you what I can do; I can hurry up these +matters and join you in Washington at the end of the week, in full time +to escort you and my sisters to that grand national ball of which I hear +them incessantly talking." + +"And remain with us for the winter?" + +"If you shall continue to wish it, and if I can find a builder, +decorator, and upholsterer whom I can send down to Brudenell Hall, to +make the improvements, and whom I can trust to carry out my ideas." + +The lady's heart leaped for joy! It was all right then! he was willing +to leave the neighborhood! he had no particular attractions here! his +affections were not involved! his acquaintance with that girl had been +only a piece of transient folly, of which he was probably sick and +tired! These were her thoughts as she thanked her son for his ready +acquiescence in her wishes. + +Meanwhile what were his purposes? To conciliate his mother by every +concession except one! To let her depart from his house with the best +feelings towards himself! then to write to her and announce his +marriage; plead his great love as its excuse, and implore her +forgiveness; then to keep his word and go to Washington, taking Nora +with him, and remain in the capital for the winter if his mother should +still desire him to do so. + +A few moments longer the mother and son remained in the drawing room +before separating for the night--Mrs. Brudenell seated on her sofa and +Herman walking slowly up and down the floor. Then the lady arose to +retire, and Herman lighted a bedroom candle and put it in her hand. + +When she had bidden him good night and left the room, he resumed his +slow and thoughtful walk. It was very late, and Jovial opened the door +for the purpose of entering and putting out the lights; but seeing his +master still walking up and down the floor, he retired, and sat yawning +while he waited in the hall without. + +The clock upon the mantel-piece struck one, and Herman Brudenell lighted +his own candle to retire, when his steps were arrested by a sound--a +common one enough at other hours and places, only unprecedented at that +hour and in that place. It was the roll of carriage wheels upon the +drive approaching the house. + +Who could possibly be coming to this remote country mansion at one +o'clock at night? While Herman Brudenell paused in expectancy, taper in +hand, Jovial once more opened the door and looked in. + +"Jovial, is that the sound of carriage wheels, or do I only fancy so?" +asked the young man, + +"Carriage wheels, marser, coming right to de house, too!" answered the +negro. + +"Who on earth can be coming here at this hour of the night? We have not +an acquaintance intimate enough with us to take such a liberty. And it +cannot be a belated traveler, for we are miles from any public road." + +"Dat's jes' what I been a-sayin' to myself, sir. But we shall find out +now directly." + +While this short conversation went on, the carriage drew nearer and +nearer, and finally rolled up to the door and stopped. Steps were +rattled down, someone alighted, and the bell was rung. + +Jovial flew to open the door--curiosity giving wings to his feet. + +Mr. Brudenell remained standing in the middle of the drawing-room, +attentive to what was going on without. He heard Jovial open the door; +then a woman's voice inquired: + +"Is this Brudenell Hall?" + +"In course it is, miss." + +"And are the family at home?" + +"Yes, miss, dey most, in gen'al, is at dis hour ob de night, dough dey +don't expect wisiters." + +"Are all the family here?" + +"Dey is, miss." + +"All right, coachman, you can take off the luggage," said the woman, and +then her voice, sounding softer and farther off, spoke to someone still +within the carriage: "We are quite right, my lady, this is Brudenell +Hall; the family are all at home, and have not yet retired. Shall I +assist your ladyship to alight?" + +Then a soft, low voice replied: + +"Yes, thank you, Phoebe. But first give the dressing-bag to the man to +take in, and you carry Fidelle." + +"Bub--bub--bub--bub--but," stammered the appalled Jovial, with his arms +full of lap-dogs and dressing-bags that the woman had forced upon him, +"you better some of you send in your names, and see if it won't be +ill-convenient to the fam'ly, afore you 'spects me to denounce a whole +coach full of travelers to my masser! Who is you all, anyhow, young +woman?" + +"My lady will soon let you know who she is! Be careful of that dog! you +are squeezing her! and here take this shawl, and this bird-cage, and +this carpetbag, and these umbrellas," replied the woman, overwhelming +him with luggage. "Here, coachman! bring that large trunk into the hall! +And come now, my lady; the luggage is all right." + +As for Jovial, he dropped lap-dogs, bird-cages, carpetbags and +umbrellas plump upon the hall floor, and rushed into the drawing-room, +exclaiming: + +"Masser, it's an invasion of de Goffs and Wandalls, or some other sich +furriners! And I think the milishy ought to be called out." + +"Don't be a fool, if you please. These are travelers who have missed +their way, and are in need of shelter this bitter night. Go at once, and +show them in here, and then wake up the housekeeper to prepare +refreshments," said Mr. Brudenell. + +"It is not my wishes to act foolish, marser; but it's enough to +constunnate the sensoriest person to be tumbled in upon dis way at dis +hour ob de night by a whole raft of strangers--men, and women, and dogs, +and cats, and birds included!" mumbled Jovial, as he went to do his +errand. + +But his services as gentleman usher seemed not to be needed by the +stranger, for as he left the drawing-room a lady entered, followed by a +waiting maid. + +The lady was clothed in deep mourning, with a thick crape veil +concealing her face. + +As Herman advanced to welcome her she threw aside her veil, revealing a +pale, sad, young face, shaded by thick curls of glossy black hair. + +At the sight of that face the young man started back, the pallor of +death overspreading his countenance as he sunk upon the nearest sofa, +breathing in a dying voice: + +"Berenice! You here! Is it you? Oh, Heaven have pity on us!" + +"Phoebe, go and find out the housekeeper, explain who I am, and have +my luggage taken up to my apartment. Then order tea in this room," said +the lady, perhaps with the sole view of getting rid of her attendant; +for as soon as the latter had withdrawn she threw oft her bonnet, went +to the overwhelmed young man, sat down beside him, put her arms around +him, and drew his head down to meet her own, as she said, caressingly: + +"You did not expect me, love? And my arrival here overcomes you." + +"I thought you had been killed in that railway collision," came in +hoarse and guttural tones from a throat that seemed suddenly parched to +ashes. + +"Poor Herman! and you had rallied from that shock of grief; but was not +strong enough to sustain a shock of joy! I ought not to have given you +this surprise! But try now to compose yourself, and give me welcome. I +am here; alive, warm, loving, hungry even! a woman, and no specter risen +from the grave, although you look at me just as if I were one! Dear +Herman, kiss me! I have come a long way to join you!" she said, in a +voice softer than the softest notes of the cushat dove. + +"How was it that you were not killed?" demanded the young man, with the +manner of one who exacted an apology for a grievous wrong. + +"My dearest Herman, I came very near being crushed to death; all that +were in the same carriage with me perished. I was so seriously injured +that I was reported among the killed; but the report was contradicted in +the next day's paper." + +"How was it that you were not killed, I asked you?" + +"My dearest one, I suppose it was the will of Heaven that I should not +be. I do not know any other reason." + +"Why did you not write and tell me you had escaped?" + +"Dear Herman, how hoarsely you speak! And how ill you look! I fear you +have a very bad cold!" said the stranger tenderly. + +"Why did you not write and tell me of your escape, I ask you? Why did +you permit me to believe for months that you were no longer in life?" + +"Herman, I thought surely if you should have seen the announcement of my +death in one paper, you would see it contradicted, as it was, in half a +dozen others. And as for writing, I was incapable of that for months! +Among other injuries, my right hand was crushed, Herman. And that it has +been saved at all, is owing to a miracle of medical skill!" + +"Why did you not get someone else to write, then?" + +"Dear Herman, you forget! There was no one in our secret! I had no +confidante at all! Besides, as soon as I could be moved, my father took +me to Paris, to place me under the care of a celebrated surgeon there. +Poor father! he is dead now, Herman! He left me all his money. I am one +among the richest heiresses in England. But it is all yours now, dear +Herman. When I closed my poor father's eyes my hand was still too stiff +to wield a pen! And still, though there was no longer any reason for +mystery, I felt that I would rather come to you at once than employ the +pen of another to write. That is the reason, dear Herman, why I have +been so long silent, and why at last I arrive so unexpectedly. I hope it +is satisfactory. But what is the matter, Herman? You do not seem to be +yourself! You have not welcomed me! you have not kissed me! you have not +even called me by my name, since I first came in! Oh! can it be possible +that after all you are not glad to see me?" she exclaimed, rising from +her caressing posture and standing sorrowfully before him. Her face that +had looked pale and sad from the first was now convulsed by some passing +anguish. + +He looked at that suffering face, then covered his eyes with his hands +and groaned. + +"What is this, Herman? Are you sorry that I have come? Do you no longer +love me? What is the matter? Oh, speak to me!" + +"The matter is--ruin! I am a felon, my lady! And it were better that you +had been crushed to death in that railway collision than lived to rejoin +me here! I am a wretch, too base to live! And I wish the earth would +open beneath our feet and swallow us!" + +The lady stepped back, appalled, and before she could think of a reply, +the door opened and Mrs. Brudenell, who had been, awakened by the +disturbance, sailed into the room. + +"It is my mother!" said the young man, struggling for composure. And +rising, he took the hand of the stranger and led her to the elder lady, +saying: + +"This is the Countess of Hurstmonceux, madam; I commend her to your +care." + +And having done this, he turned and abruptly left the room and the +house. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE VICTIM. + + Good hath been born of Evil, many times, + As pearls and precious ambergris are grown, + Fruits of disease in pain and sickness sown, + So think not to unravel, in thy thought, + This mingled tissue, this mysterious plan, + The Alchemy of Good through Evil wrought. + + --_Tupper_. + +"But one more day, Hannah! but one more day!" gayly exclaimed Nora +Worth, as she busied herself in setting the room in order on Friday +morning. + +"Yes, but one more day in any event! For even if the weather should +change in this uncertain season of the year, and a heavy fall of snow +should stop Mrs. Brudenell's journey, that shall not prevent Mr. +Brudenell from acknowledging you as his wife on Sunday! for it is quite +time this were done, in order to save your good name, which I will not +have longer endangered!" said the elder sister, with grim determination. + +And she spoke with good reason; it was time the secret marriage was made +public, for the young wife was destined soon to become a mother. + +"Now, do not use any of these threats to Herman, when he comes this +morning, Hannah! Leave him alone; it will all be right," said Nora, as +she seated herself at her spinning-wheel. + +Hannah was already seated at her loom; and there was but little more +conversation between the sisters, for the whir of the wheel and the +clatter of the loom would have drowned their voices, so that to begin +talking, they must have stopped working. + +Nora's caution to Hannah was needless; for the hours of the forenoon +passed away, and Herman did not appear. + +"I wonder why he does not come?" inquired Nora, straining her eyes down +the path for the thousandth time that day. + +"Perhaps, Nora, the old lady has been blowing him up, also," suggested +the elder sister. + +"No, no, no--that is not it! Because if she said a word to him about his +acquaintance with me, and particularly if she were to speak to him of me +as she spoke to me of myself, he would acknowledge me that moment, and +come and fetch me home, sooner than have me wrongly accused for an +instant. No, Hannah, I will tell you what it is: it is his mother's last +day at home, and he is assisting her with her last preparations," said +Nora. + +"It may be so," replied her sister; and once more whir and clatter put a +stop to conversation. + +The afternoon drew on. + +"It is strange he does not come!" sighed Nora, as she put aside her +wheel, and went to mend the fire and hang on the kettle for their +evening meal. + +Hannah made no comment, but worked on; for she was in a hurry to finish +the piece of cloth then in the loom; and so she diligently drove her +shuttle until Nora had baked the biscuits, fried the fish, made the +tea, set the table, and called her to supper. + +"I suppose he has had a great deal to do, Hannah; but perhaps he may get +over here later in the evening," sighed Nora, as they took their seats +at the table. + +"I don't know, dear; but it is my opinion that the old lady, even if she +is too artful to blow him up about you, will contrive to keep him busy +as long as possible to prevent his coming." + +"Now, Hannah, I wish you wouldn't speak so disrespectfully of Herman's +mother. If she tries to prevent him from coming to see me, it is because +she thinks it her duty to do so, believing of me as badly as she does." + +"Yes! I do not know how you can breathe under such a suspicion! It would +smother me!" + +"I can bear it because I know it to be false, Hannah; and soon to be +proved so! Only one day more, Hannah! only one day!" exclaimed Nora, +gleefully clapping her hands. + +They finished their supper, set the room in order, lighted the candle, +and sat down to the knitting that was their usual evening occupation. + +Their needles were clicking merrily, when suddenly, in the midst of +their work, footsteps were heard outside. + +"There he is now!" exclaimed Nora gayly, starting up to open the door. + +But she was mistaken; there he was not, but an old woman, covered with +snow. . + +"Law, Mrs. Jones, is this you?" exclaimed Nora, in a tone of +disappointment and vexation. + +"Yes, child--don't ye see it's me? Le'me come in out'n the snow," +replied the dame, shaking herself and bustling in. + +"Why, law, Mrs. Jones, you don't mean it's snowing!" said Hannah, +mending the fire, and setting a chair for her visitor. + +"Why, child, can't you see it's a-snowing--fast as ever it can? been +snowing ever since dark--soft and fine and thick too, which is a sure +sign it is agoing to be a deep fall; I shouldn't wonder if the snow was +three or four feet deep to-morrow morning!" said Mrs. Jones, as she +seated herself in the warmest corner of the chimney and drew up the +front of her skirt to toast her shins. + +"Nora, dear, pour out a glass of wine for Mrs. Jones; it may warm her +up, and keep her from taking cold," said Hannah hospitably. + +Wine glass there was none in the hut, but Nora generously poured out a +large tea-cup full of fine old port that had been given her by Herman, +and handed it to the visitor. + +Mrs. Jones' palate was accustomed to no better stimulant than weak toddy +made of cheap whisky and water, and sweetened with brown sugar. +Therefore to her this strong, sweet, rich wine was nectar. + +"Now, this ere is prime! Now, where upon the face of the yeth did you +get this?" she inquired, as she sniffed and sipped the beverage, that +was equally grateful to smell and taste. + +"A friend gave it to Nora, who has been poorly, you know; but Nora does +not like wine herself, and I would advise you not to drink all that, for +it would certainly get in your head," said Hannah. + +"Law, child, I wish it would; if it would do my head half as much good +as it is a-doing of my insides this blessed minute! after being out in +the snow, too! Why, it makes me feel as good as preaching all over!" +smiled the old woman, slowly sniffing and sipping the elixir of life, +while her bleared eyes shone over the rim of the cup like phosphorus. + +"But how came you out in the snow, Mrs. Jones?" inquired Hannah. + +"Why, my dear, good child, when did ever I stop for weather? I've been +a-monthly nussing up to Colonel Mervin's for the last four weeks, and my +time was up to-day, and so I sat out to come home; and first I stopped +on my way and got my tea along of Mrs. Spicer, at Brudenell, and now I +s'pose I shall have to stop all night along of you. Can you 'commodate +me?" + +"Of course we can," said Hannah. "You can sleep with me and Nora; you +will be rather crowded, but that won't matter on a cold night; anyway, +it will be better than for you to try to get home in this snow-storm." + +"Thank y', children; and now, to pay you for that, I have got sich a +story to tell you! I've been saving of it up till I got dry and warm, +'cause I knew if I did but give you a hint of it, you'd be for wanting +to know all the particulars afore I was ready to tell 'em! But now I can +sit myself down for a good comfortable chat! And it is one, too, I tell +you! good as a novel!" said the old woman, nodded her head knowingly. + +"Oh, what is it about, Mrs. Jones?" inquired Hannah and Nora in a +breath, as they stopped knitting and drew their chairs nearer together. + +"Well, then," said the dame, hitching her chair between the sisters, +placing a hand upon each of their laps, and looking from one to the +other--"what would ye give to know, now?" + +"Nonsense! a night's lodging and your breakfast!" laughed Nora. + +"And ye'll get your story cheap enough at that! And now listen and open +your eyes as wide as ever you can!" said the dame, repeating her +emphatic gestures of laying her hands heavily upon the knees of the +visitors and looking intently from one eager face to the other. +"Mr.--Herman--Brudenell--have--got--a--wife! There, now! What d'ye +think o' that! aint you struck all of a heap?" + +No, they were not; Hannah's face was perfectly calm; Nora's indeed was +radiant, not with wonder, but with joy! + +"There, Hannah! What did I tell you!" she exclaimed. "Mrs. Brudenell has +spoken to him and he has owned his marriage! But dear Mrs. Jones, tell +me--was his mother very, very angry with him about it?" she inquired, +turning to the visitor. + +"Angry? Dear heart, no! pleased as Punch! 'peared's if a great weight +was lifted offen her mind," replied the latter. + +"There again, Hannah! What else did I tell you! Herman's mother is a +Christian lady! She ill-used me only when she thought I was bad; now +Herman has owned his marriage, and she is pleased to find that it is all +right! Now isn't that good? Oh, I know I shall love her, and make her +love me, too, more than any high-bred, wealthy daughter-in-law ever +could! And I shall serve her more than any of her own children ever +would! And she will find out the true worth of a faithful, affectionate, +devoted heart, that would die to save her or her son, or live to serve +both! And she will love me dearly yet!" exclaimed Nora, with a glow of +enthusiasm suffusing her beautiful face. + +"Now, what upon the face of the yeth be that gal a-talking about? I want +to tell my story!" exclaimed Mrs. Jones, who had been listening +indignantly, without comprehending entirely Nora's interruption. + +"Oh, I beg your pardon, Mrs. Jones," laughed the latter, "I should not +have jumped to the conclusion of your story. I should have let you tell +it in your own manner; though I doubt if you know all about it either, +from the way you talk." + +"Don't I, though! I should like to know who knows more." + +"Well, now, tell us all about it!" + +"You've gone and put me out now, and I don't know where to begin." + +"Well, then, I'll help you out--what time was it that Mr. Brudenell +acknowledged his private marriage?" + +"There now; how did you know it was a private marriage? I never said +nothing about it being private yet! Hows'ever, I s'pose you so clever +you guessed it, and anyway you guessed right; it were a private +marriage. And when did he own up to it, you ask? Why, not as long as he +could help it, you may depend! Not until his lawful wife actilly arove +up at Brudenell Hall, and that was last night about one o'clock!" + +"Oh, there you are very much mistaken; it was but seven in the evening," +said Nora. + +"There now, again! how do you know anything about it? Somebody's been +here afore me and been a-telling of you, I suppose; and a-telling of you +wrong, too!" petulantly exclaimed the old woman. + +"No, indeed, there has not been a soul here to-day; neither have we +heard a word from Brudenell Hall! Still, I think you must be mistaken as +to the hour of the wife's arrival, and perhaps as to other particulars, +too; but excuse me, dear Mrs. Jones, and go on and tell the story." + +"Well, but what made you say it was seven o'clock when his wife arrove?" +inquired the gossip. + +"Because that was really the hour that I went up to Brudenell. Hannah +was with me and knows it." + +"Law, honey, were you up to Brudenell yesterday evening?" + +"To be sure I was! I thought you knew it! Haven't you just said that the +marriage was not acknowledged until his wife arrived?" + +"Why, yes, honey; but what's that to do with it? with you being there, I +mean? Seems to me there's a puzzlement here between us? Did you stay +there till one o'clock, honey?" + +"Why, no, of course not! We came away at eight." + +"Then I'm blessed if I know what you're a-driving at! For, in course, if +you come away at eight o'clock you couldn't a-seen her." + +"Seen whom?" questioned Nora. + +"Why, laws, his wife, child, as never arrove till one o'clock." + +Nora burst out laughing; and in the midst of her mirthfulness +exclaimed: + +"There, now, Mrs. Jones, I thought you didn't know half the rights of +the story you promised to tell us, and now I'm sure of it! Seems like +you've heard Mr. Brudenell has acknowledged his marriage; but you +haven't even found out who the lady is! Well, I could tell you; but I +won't yet, without his leave." + +"So you know all about it, after all? How did you find out?" + +"Never mind how; you'll find out how I knew it when you hear the bride's +name," laughed Nora. + +"But I have hearn the bride's name; and a rum un it is, too! Lady, Lady +Hoist? no! Hurl? no! Hurt? yes, that is it! Lady Hurt-me-so, that's the +name of the lady he's done married!" said the old woman confidently. + +"Ha, ha, ha! I tell you what, Hannah, she has had too much wine, and it +has got into her poor old head!" laughed Nora, laying her hand +caressingly upon the red-cotton handkerchief that covered the gray hair +of the gossip. + +"No, it aint, nuther! I never drunk the half of what you gin me! I put +it up there on the mantel, and kivered it over with the brass +candlestick, to keep till I go to bed. No, indeed! my head-piece is as +clear as a bell!" said the old woman, nodding. + +"But what put it in there, then, that Mr. Herman Brudenell has married a +lady with a ridiculous name?" laughed Nora. + +"Acause he have, honey! which I would a-told you all about it ef you +hadn't a-kept on, and kept on, and kept on interrupting of me!" + +"Nora," said Hannah, speaking for the first time in many minutes, and +looking very grave, "she has something to tell, and we had better let +her tell it." + +"Very well, then! I'm agreed! Go on, Mrs. Jones!" + +"Hem-m-m!" began Mrs. Jones, loudly clearing her throat. "Now I'll tell +you, jest as I got it, this arternoon, first from Uncle Jovial, and then +from Mrs. Spicer, and then from Madam Brudenell herself, and last of all +from my own precious eyesight! 'Pears like Mr. Herman Brudenell fell in +long o' this Lady Hurl-my-soul--Hurt-me-so, I mean,--while he was out +yonder in forring parts. And 'pears she was a very great lady indeed, +and a beautiful young widder besides. So she and Mr. Brudenell, they +fell in love long of each other. But law, you see her kinfolks was +bitter agin her a-marrying of him--which they called him a commoner, as +isn't true, you know, 'cause he is not one of the common sort at +all--though I s'pose they being so high, looked down upon him as sich. +Well, anyways, they was as bitter against her marrying of him, as his +kinsfolks would be agin him a-marrying of you. And, to be sure, being of +a widder, she a-done as she pleased, only she didn't want to give no +offense to her old father, who was very rich and very proud of her, who +was his onliest child he ever had in the world; so to make a long +rigamarole short, they runned away, so they did, Mr. Brudenell and her, +and they got married private, and never let the old man know it long as +ever he lived--" + +"Hannah! what is she talking about?" gasped Nora, who heard the words, +but could not take in the sense of this story. + +"Hush! I do not know yet, myself; there is some mistake! listen," +whispered Hannah, putting her arms over her young sister's shoulders, +for Nora was then seated on the floor beside Hannah's chair, with her +head upon Hannah's lap. Mrs. Jones went straight on. + +"And so that was easy enough, too; as soon arter they was married, Mr. +Herman Brudenell, you know, he was a-coming of age, and so he had to be +home to do business long of his guardeens, and take possession of his +'states and so on; and so he come, and kept his birthday last April! +And--" + +"Hannah! Hannah! what does this all mean? It cannot be true! I know it +is not true! And yet, oh, Heaven! every word she speaks goes through my +heart like a red hot spear! Woman! do you mean to say that Mr.--Mr. +Herman Brudenell left a wife in Europe when he came back here?" cried +Nora, clasping her hands in vague, incredulous anguish. + +"Hush, hush, Nora, be quiet, my dear. The very question you ask does +wrong to your--to Herman Brudenell, who with all his faults is still the +soul of honor," murmured Hannah soothingly. + +"Yes, I know he is; and yet--but there is some stupid mistake," sighed +Nora, dropping her head upon her sister's lap. + +Straight through this low, loving talk went the words of Mrs. Jones: + +"Well, now, I can't take upon myself to say whether it was Europe or +London, or which of them outlandish places; but, anyways, in some on 'em +he did leave his wife a-living along of her 'pa. But you see 'bout a +month ago, her 'pa he died, a-leaving of all his property to his +onliest darter, Lady Hoist, Hurl, Hurt, Hurt-my-toe. No! Hurt-me-so, +Lady Hurt-me-so! I never can get the hang of her outlandish name. Well, +then you know there wa'n't no call to keep the marriage secret no more. +So what does my lady do but want to put a joyful surprise on the top of +her husband; so without writing of him a word of what she was a-gwine to +do, soon as ever the old man was buried and the will read, off she sets +and comes over the sea to New York, and took a boat there for Baymouth, +and hired of a carriage and rid over to Brudenell Hall, and arrove there +at one o'clock last night, as I telled you afore!" + +"Are you certain that all this is true?" murmured Hannah, in a husky +undertone. + +"Hi, Miss Hannah, didn't Jovial, and Mrs. Spicer, and Madam Brudenell +herself tell me? And besides I seen the young cre'tur' myself, with my +own eyes, dressed in deep mourning, which it was a fine black crape +dress out and out, and a sweet pretty cre'tur' she was too, only so +pale!" + +"Hannah!" screamed Nora, starting up, "it is false! I know it is false! +but I shall go raving mad if I do not prove it so!" And she rushed to +the door, tore it open, and ran out into the night and storm. + +"What in the name of the law ails her?" inquired Mrs. Jones. + +"Nora! Nora! Nora!" cried Hannah, running after her. "Come back! come +in! you will get your death! Are you crazy? Where are you going in the +snowstorm this time of night, without your bonnet and shawl, too?" + +"To Brudenell Hall, to find out the rights of this story" were the words +that came from a great distance wafted by the wind. + +"Come back! come back!" shrieked Hannah. But there was no answer. + +Hannah rushed into the hut, seized her own bonnet and shawl and Nora's, +and ran out again. + +"Where are you going? What's the matter? What ails that girl?" cried old +Mrs. Jones. + +Hannah never even thought of answering her, but sped down the narrow +path leading into the valley, and through it up towards Brudenell as +fast as the dark night, the falling snow, and the slippery ground would +permit; but it was too late; the fleet-footed Nora was far in advance. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE RIVALS. + + One word-yes or no! and it means + Death or life! Speak, are you his wife? + + --_Anon_. + +Heedless as the mad, of night, of storm, and danger, Nora hurried +desperately on. She was blinded by the darkness and smothered by the +thickly-falling snow, and torn by the thorns and briars of the +brushwood; but not for these impediments would the frantic girl abate +her speed. She slipped often, hurt herself sometimes, and once she fell +and rolled down the steep hill-side until stopped by a clump of cedars. +But she scrambled up, wet, wounded, and bleeding, and tore on, through +the depths of the valley and up the opposite heights. Panting, +breathless, dying almost, she reached Brudenell Hall. + +The house was closely shut up to exclude the storm, and outside the +strongly barred window-shutters there was a barricade of drifted snow. +The roofs were all deeply covered with snow, and it was only by its +faint white glare in the darkness that Nora found her way to the house. +Her feet sank half a leg deep in the drifts as she toiled on towards the +servants' door. All was darkness there! if there was any light, it was +too closely shut in to gleam abroad. + +For a moment Nora leaned against the wall to recover a little strength, +and then she knocked. But she had to repeat the summons again and again +before the door was opened. Then old Jovial appeared--his mouth and eyes +wide open with astonishment at seeing the visitor. + +"Name o' de law, Miss Nora, dis you? What de matter? Is you clean tuk +leave of your senses to be a-comin' up here, dis hour of de night in +snowstorm?" he cried. + +"Let me in, Jovial! Is Mr. Herman Brudenell at home?" gasped Nora, as +without waiting for an answer she pushed past him and sunk into the +nearest chair. + +"Marser Bredinell home? No, miss! Nor likewise been home since late last +night. He went away' mediately arter interdoocing de young madam to de +ole one; which she tumbled in upon us with a whole raft of waiting +maids, and men, and dogs, and birds, and gold fishes, and debil knows +what all besides, long arter midnight last night--and so he hasn't been +hearn on since, and de fambly is in de greatest 'stress and anxiety. +Particular she, poor thing, as comed so far to see him! And we no more +s'picioning as he had a wife, nor anything at all, 'til she tumbled +right in on top of us! Law, Miss Nora, somefin werry particular must +have fetch you out in de snow to-night, and 'deed you do look like you +had heard bad news! Has you hearn anything 'bout him, honey?" + +"Is it true, then?" moaned Nora, in a dying tone, without heeding his +last question. + +"Which true, honey?" + +"About the foreign lady coming here last night and claiming to be his +wife?" + +"As true as gospel, honey--which you may judge the astonishment is put +on to us all." + +"Jovial, where is the lady?" + +"Up in de drawing-room, honey, if she has not 'tired to her chamber." + +"Show me up there, Jovial, I must see her for myself," Nora wailed, with +her head fallen upon her chest. + +"Now, sure as the world, honey, you done heard somefin 'bout de poor +young marser? Is he come to an accident, honey?" inquired the man very +uneasily. + +"Who?" questioned Nora vaguely. + +"The young marser, honey; Mr. Herman Brudenell, chile!" + +"What of him?" cried Nora--a sharp new anxiety added to her woe. + +"Why, law, honey, aint I just been a-telling of you? In one half an hour +arter de forein lady tumbled in, young marse lef' de house an' haint +been seen nor heard on since. I t'ought maybe you'd might a hearn what's +become of him. It is mighty hard on her, poor young creatur, to be +fairly forsok de very night she come." + +"Ah!" cried Nora, in the sharp tones of pain--"take me to that lady at +once! I must, must see her! I must hear from her own lips--the truth!" + +"Come along then, chile! Sure as the worl' you has hearn somefin, dough +you won't tell me; for I sees it in your face; you's as white as a +sheet, an' all shakin' like a leaf an' ready to drop down dead! You +won't let on to me; but mayhaps you may to her," said Jovial, as he led +the way along the lighted halls to the drawing-room door, which, he +opened, announcing: + +"Here's Miss Nora Worth, mistess, come to see Lady Hurt-my-soul." + +And as soon as Nora, more like a ghost than a living creature, had +glided in, he shut the door, went down on his knees outside and applied +his ear to the key-hole. + +Meanwhile Nora found herself once more in the gorgeously furnished, +splendidly decorated, and brilliantly lighted drawing room that had been +the scene of her last night's humiliation. But she did not think of that +now, in this supreme crisis of her fate. + +Straight before her, opposite the door by which she entered, was an +interesting tableau, in a dazzling light--it was a sumptuous fireside +picture--the coal-fire glowing between the polished steel bars of the +wide grate, the white marble mantel-piece, and above that, reaching to +the lofty ceiling, a full-length portrait of Herman Brudenell; before +the fire an inlaid mosaic table, covered with costly books, work-boxes, +hand-screens, a vase of hot-house flowers, and other elegant trifles of +luxury; on the right of this, in a tall easy-chair, sat Mrs. Brudenell; +on this side sat the Misses Brudenell; these three ladies were all +dressed in slight mourning, if black silk dresses and white lace collars +can be termed such; and they were all engaged in the busy idleness of +crochet work; but on a luxurious crimson velvet sofa, drawn up to the +left side of the fire, reclined a lady dressed in the deepest mourning, +and having her delicate pale, sad face half veiled by her long, soft +black ringlets. + +While Nora gazed breathlessly upon this pretty creature, whom she +recognized at once as the stranger, Mrs. Brudenell slowly raised her +head and stared at Nora. + +"You here, Nora Worth! How dare you? Who had the insolence to let you +in?" she said, rising and advancing to the bell-cord. But before she +could pull it Nora Worth lifted her hand with that commanding power +despair often lends to the humblest, and said: + +"Stop, madam, this is no time to heap unmerited scorn upon one crushed +to the dust already, and whose life cannot possibly offend you or cumber +the earth much longer. I wish to speak to that lady." + +"With me!" exclaimed Lady Hurstmonceux, rising upon her elbow and gazing +with curiosity upon the beautiful statue that was gliding toward her as +if it were moved by invisible means. + +Mrs. Brudenell paused with her hand upon the bell-tassel and looked at +Nora, whose lovely face seemed to have been thus turned to stone in some +moment of mortal suffering, so agonized and yet so still it looked! Her +hair had fallen loose and hung in long, wet, black strings about her +white bare neck, for she had neither shawl nor bonnet; her clothes were +soaked with the melted snow, and she had lost one shoe in her wild night +walk. + +Mrs. Brudenell shuddered with aversion as she looked at Nora; when she +found her voice she said: + +"Do not let her approach you, Berenice. She is but a low creature; not +fit to speak to one of the decent negroes even; and besides she is +wringing wet and will give you a cold." + +"Poor thing! she will certainly take one herself, mamma; she looks too +miserable to live! If you please, I would rather talk with her! Come +here, my poor, poor girl! what is it that troubles you so? Tell me! Can +I help you? I will, cheerfully, if I can." And the equally "poor" lady, +poor in happiness as Nora herself, put her hand in her pocket and drew +forth an elegant portmonnaie of jet. + +"Put up your purse, lady! It is not help that I want--save from God! I +want but a true answer to one single question, if you will give it to +me." + +"Certainly, I will, my poor creature; but stand nearer the fire; it will +dry your clothes while we talk." + +"Thank you, madam, I do not need to." + +"Well, then, ask me the question that you wish to have answered. Don't +be afraid, I give you leave, you know," said the lady kindly. + +Nora hesitated, shivered, and gasped; but could not then ask the +question that was to confirm her fate; it was worse than throwing the +dice upon which a whole fortune was staked; it was like giving the +signal for the ax to fall upon her own neck. At last, however, it came, +in low, fearful, but distinct words: + +"Madam, are you the wife of Mr. Herman Brudenell?" + +"Nora Worth, how dare you? Leave the room and the house this instant, +before I send for a constable and have you taken away?" exclaimed Mrs. +Brudenell, violently pulling at the bell-cord. + +"Mamma, she is insane, poor thing! do not be hard on her," said Lady +Hurstmonceux gently; and then turning to poor Nora she answered, in the +manner of one humoring a maniac: + +"Yes, my poor girl, I am the wife of Mr. Herman Brudenell. Can I do +anything for you?" + +"Nothing, madam," was the answer that came sad, sweet, and low as the +wail of an Aeolian harp swept by the south wind. + +The stranger lady's eyes were bent with deep pity upon her; but before +she could speak again Mrs. Brudenell broke into the discourse by +exclaiming: + +"Do not speak to her, Berenice! I warned you not to let her speak to +you, but you would not take my advice, and now you have been insulted." + +"But, mamma, she is insane, poor thing; some great misery has turned her +brain; I am very sorry for her," said the kind-hearted stranger. + +"I tell you she is not! She is as sane as you are! Look at her! Not in +that amazed, pitying manner, but closely and critically, and you will +see what she is; one of those low creatures who are the shame of women +and the scorn of men. And if she has misery for her portion, she has +brought it upon herself, and it is a just punishment." + +The eyes of Lady Hurstmonceux turned again upon the unfortunate young +creature before her, and this time she did examine her attentively, +letting her gaze rove over her form. + +This time Nora did not lift up her hands to cover her burning face; that +marble face could never burn or blush again; since speaking her last +words Nora had remained standing like one in a trance, stone still, with +her head fallen upon her breast, and her arms hanging listlessly by her +side. She seemed dead to all around her. + +Not so Lady Hurstmonceux; as her eyes roved over this form of stone her +pale face suddenly flushed, her dark eyes flashed, and she sprang up +from the sofa, asking the same question that Mrs. Brudenell had put the +evening before. + +"Girl! what is it to you whether Mr. Brudenell has a wife or not? What +are you to Mr. Herman Brudenell?" + +"Nothing, madam; nothing for evermore," wailed Nora, without looking up +or changing her posture. + +"Humph! I am glad to hear it, I am sure!" grunted Mrs. Brudenell. + +"Nothing? you say; nothing?" questioned Lady Hurstmonceux. + +"Nothing in this world, madam; nothing whatever! so be at ease." It was +another wail of the storm-swept heart-strings. + +"I truly believe you; I ought to have believed without asking you; but +who, then, has been your betrayer, my poor girl?" inquired the young +matron in tones of deepest pity. + +This question at length shook the statue; a storm passed through her; +she essayed to speak, but her voice failed. + +"Tell me, poor one; and I will do what I can to right your wrongs. Who +is it?" + +"Myself!" moaned Nora, closing her eyes as if to shut out all light and +life, while a spasm drew back the corners of her mouth and convulsed her +face. + +"Enough of this, Berenice! You forget the girls!" said Mrs. Brudenell, +putting her hand to the bell and ringing again. + +"I beg your pardon, madam; I did indeed forget the presence of the +innocent and happy in looking upon the erring and wretched," said Lady +Hurstmonceux. + +"That will do," said the elder lady. "Here is Jovial at last! Why did +you not come when I first rang?" she demanded of the negro, who now +stood in the door. + +"I 'clare, mist'ess, I never heerd it de fust time, madam." + +"Keep your ears open in future, or it will be the worse for you! And now +what excuse can you offer for disobeying my express orders, and not only +admitting this creature to the house, but even bringing her to our +presence?" demanded the lady severely. + +"I clare 'fore my 'vine Marster, madam, when Miss Nora come in de storm +to de kitchen-door, looking so wild and scared like, and asked to see de +young madam dere, I t'ought in my soul how she had some news of de young +marster to tell! an' dat was de why I denounced her into dis +drawin'-room." + +"Do not make such a mistake again! if you do I will make you suffer +severely for it! And you, shameless girl! if you presume to set foot on +these premises but once again, I will have you sent to the work-house as +a troublesome vagrant." + +Nora did not seem to hear her; she had relapsed into her stony, +trance-like stupor. + +"And now, sir, since you took the liberty of bringing her in, put her +out--out of the room, and out of the house!" said Mis. Brudenell. + +"Mamma! what! at midnight! in the snow-storm?" exclaimed Lady +Hurstmonceux, in horror. + +"Yes! she shall not desecrate the bleakest garret, or the lowest cellar, +or barest barn on the premises!" + +"Mamma! It would be murder! She would perish!" pleaded the young lady. + +"Not she! Such animals are used to exposure! And if she and all like her +were to 'perish,' as you call it, the world would be so much the better +for it! They are the pests of society!" + +"Mamma, in pity, look at her! consider her situation! She would surely +die! and not alone, mamma! think of that!" pleaded Berenice. + +"Jovial! am I to be obeyed or not?" sternly demanded the elder lady. + +"Come, Miss Nora; come, my poor, poor child," said Jovial, in a low +tone, taking the arm of the miserable girl, who turned, mechanically, to +be led away. + +"Jovial, stop a moment! Mrs. Brudenell, I have surely some little +authority in my husband's house; authority that I should be ashamed to +claim in the presence of his mother, were it not to be exercised in the +cause of humanity. This girl must not leave the house to-night," said +Berenice respectfully, but firmly. + +"Lady Hurstmonceux, if you did but know what excellent cause you have to +loathe that creature, you would not oppose my orders respecting her; if +you keep her under your roof this night you degrade yourself; and, +finally, if she does not leave the house at once I and my daughters +must--midnight and snow-storm, notwithstanding. We are not accustomed to +domicile with such wretches," said the old lady grimly. + +Berenice was not prepared for this extreme issue; Mrs. Brudenell's +threat of departing with her daughters at midnight, and in the storm, +shocked and alarmed her; and the other words reawakened her jealous +misgivings. Dropping the hand that she had laid protectingly upon Nora's +shoulder, she said: + +"It shall be as you please, madam. I shall not interfere again." + +This altercation had now aroused poor Nora to the consciousness that she +herself was a cause of dispute between the two ladies; so putting her +hand to her forehead and looking around in a bewildered way, she said: + +"No; it is true; I have no right to stop here now; I will go!" + +"Jovial," said Berenice, addressing the negro, "have you a wife and a +cabin of your own?" + +"Yes, madam; at your sarvice." + +"Then let it be at my service in good earnest to-night, Jovial; take +this poor girl home, and ask your wife to take care of her to-night; and +receive this as your compensation," she said, putting a piece of gold in +the hand of the man. + +"There can be no objection to that, I suppose, madam?" she inquired of +Mrs. Brudenell. + +"None in the world, unless Dinah objects; it is not every honest negro +woman that will consent to have a creature like that thrust upon her. +Take her away, Jovial!" + +"Come, Miss Nora, honey; my ole 'oman aint agwine to turn you away for +your misfortins: we leabes dat to white folk; she'll be a mother to you, +honey; and I'll be a father; an' I wish in my soul as I knowed de man as +wronged you; if I did, if I didn't give him a skin-full ob broken bones +if he was as white as cotton wool, if I didn't, my name aint Mr. Jovial +Brudenell, esquire, and I aint no gentleman. And if Mr. Reuben Gray +don't hunt him up and punish him, he aint no gentleman, neither!" said +Jovial, as he carefully led his half fainting charge along the passages +back to the kitchen. + +The servants had all gone to bed, except Jovial, whose duty it was, as +major-domo, to go all around the house the last thing at night to fasten +the doors and windows and put out the fires and lights. So when they +reached the kitchen it was empty, though a fine fire was burning in the +ample chimney. + +"There, my poor hunted hare, you sit down there an' warm yourself good, +while I go an' wake up my ole 'oman, an' fetch her here to get something +hot for you, afore takin' of you to de cabin, an' likewise to make a +fire dere for you; for I 'spects Dinah hab let it go out," said the +kind-hearted old man, gently depositing his charge upon a seat in the +chimney corner and leaving her there while he went to prepare for her +comfort. + +When she was alone Nora, who had scarcely heeded a word of his +exhortation, sat for a few minutes gazing woefully into vacancy; then +she put her hand to her forehead, passing it to and fro, as if to clear +away a mist--a gesture common to human creatures bewildered with sorrow; +then suddenly crying out: + +"My Lord! It is true! and I have no business here! It is a sin and a +shame to be here! or anywhere! anywhere in the world!" And throwing up +her arms with a gesture of wild despair, she sprang up, tore open the +door, and the second time that night rushed out into the storm and +darkness. + +The warm, light kitchen remained untenanted for perhaps twenty minutes, +when Jovial, with his Dinah on his arm and a lantern in his hand, +entered, Jovial grumbling: + +"Law-a-mity knows, I don't see what she should be a-wantin' to come here +for! partic'lar arter de treatment she 'ceived from ole mis'tess las' +night! tain't sich a par'dise nohow for nobody--much less for she! Hi, +'oman!" he suddenly cried, turning the rays of the lantern in all +directions, though the kitchen was quite light enough without them. + +"What de matter now, ole man?" asked Dinah. + +"Where Nora? I lef' her here an' she aint here now! where she gone?" + +"Hi, ole man, what you ax me for? how you 'spect I know?" + +"Well, I 'clare ef dat don't beat eberyting!" + +"Maybe she done gone back in de house ag'in!" suggested Dinah. + +"Maybe she hab; I go look; but stop, first let me look out'n de door to +see if she went away," said Jovial, going to the door and holding the +lantern down near the ground. + +"Yes, Dinah, 'oman, here day is; little foot-prints in de snow a-goin' +away from de house an' almost covered up now! She done gone! Now don't +dat beat eberything? Now she'll be froze to death, 'less I goes out in +de storm to look for her; an' maybe she'll be froze anyway; for dere's +no sartainty 'bout my findin' of her. Now aint dat a trial for any +colored gentleman's narves! Well den, here goes! Wait for me here, ole +'omen, till I come back, and if I nebber comes, all I leabes is yourn, +you know," sighed the old man, setting down the lantern and beginning to +button up his great coat preparatory to braving the storm. + +But at this moment a figure came rushing through the snow towards the +kitchen door. + +"Here she is now; now, ole 'oman! get de gruel ready!" exclaimed Jovial, +as the snow-covered form rushed in. "No, it aint, nyther! Miss Hannah! +My goodness, gracious me alibe, is all de worl' gone ravin', starin', +'stracted mad to-night? What de debil fotch you out in de storm at +midnight?" he asked, as Hannah Worth threw off her shawl and stood in +their midst. + +"Oh, Jovial! I am looking for poor Nora! Have you seen anything of her?" +asked Hannah anxiously. + +"She was here a-sittin' by dat fire, not half an hour ago. And I lef her +to go and fetch my ole 'oman to get somefin hot, and when I come back, +jes' dis wery minute, she's gone!" + +"Where, where did she go?" asked Hannah, clasping hear hands in the +agony of her anxiety. + +"Out o' doors, I see by her little foot-prints a-leading away from de +door; dough I 'spects dey's filled up by dis time. I was jes' agwine out +to look for her." + +"Oh, bless you, Jovial!" + +"Which way do you think she went, Miss Hannah?" + +"Home again, I suppose, poor child." + +"It's a wonder you hadn't met her." + +"The night is so dark, and then you know there is more than one path +leading from Brudenell down into the valley. And if she went that way +she took a different path from the one I came by." + +"I go look for her now! I won't lose no more time talkin'," and the old +man clapped his hat upon his head and picked up his lantern. + +"I will go with you, Jovial," said Nora's sister. + +"No, Miss Hannah, don't you 'tempt it; tain't no night for no 'oman to +be out." + +"And dat a fact, Miss Hannah! don't you go! I can't 'mit of it! You stay +here long o' me till my ole man fines her and brings her back here; an' +I'll have a bit of supper ready, an' you'll both stop wid us all night," +suggested Dinah. + +"I thank you both, but I cannot keep still while Nora is in danger! I +must help in the search for her," insisted Hannah, with the obstinacy of +a loving heart, as she wrapped her shawl more closely around her +shoulders and followed the old man out in the midnight storm. It was +still snowing very fast. Her guide went a step in front with the +lantern, throwing a feeble light upon the soft white path that seemed to +sink under their feet as they walked. The old man peered about on the +right and left and straight before him, so as to miss no object in his +way that might be Nora. + +"Jovial," said Hannah, as they crept along, "is it true about the young +foreign lady that arrived here last night and turned out to be the wife +of Mr. Herman?" + +"All as true as gospel, honey," replied the old man, who, in his love +of gossip, immediately related to Hannah all the particulars of the +arrival of Lady Hurstmonceux and the flight of Herman Brudenell. "Seems +like he run away at the sight of his wife, honey; and 'pears like she +thinks so too, 'cause she's taken of it sorely to heart, scarce' holdin' +up her head since. And it is a pity for her, too, poor young thing; for +she's a sweet perty young cre'tur', and took Miss Nora's part like an +angel when de old madam was a-callin' of her names, and orderin' of her +out'n de house." + +"Calling her names! ordering her out of the house! Did Mrs. Brudenell +dare to treat Nora Worth so?" cried Hannah indignantly. + +"Well, honey, she did rayther, that's a fact. Law, honey, you know +yourself how ha'sh ladies is to poor young gals as has done wrong. A +hawk down on a chicken aint nuffin to 'em!" + +"But my sister has done no wrong; Nora Worth is as innocent as an angel, +as honorable as an empress. I can prove it, and I will prove it, let the +consequences to the Brudenells be what they may! Called her ill names, +did she? Very well! whether my poor wronged child lives or dies this +bitter night, I will clear her character to-morrow, let who will be +blackened instead of her! Ordered her out of the house, did she? All +right! we will soon see how long the heir himself will be permitted to +stop there! There's law in the land, for rich as well as poor, I reckon! +Threatened her with a constable, did she? Just so! I wonder how she will +feel when her own son is dragged off to prison! That will take her +down--" + +Hannah's words were suddenly cut short, for Jovial, who was going on +before her, fell sprawling over some object that lay directly across the +path, and the lantern rolled down the hill. + +"What is the matter, Jovial?" she inquired. + +"Honey, I done fell--fell over somefin' or oder; it is--law, yes--" + +"What, Jovial?" + +"It's a 'oman, honey; feels like Miss Nora." + +In an instant Hannah was down on her knees beside the fallen figure, +clearing away the snow that covered it. + +"It is Nora," she said, trying to lift the insensible body; but it was a +cold, damp, heavy weight, deeply bedded in the snow, and resisted all +her efforts. + +"Oh, Jovial, I am afraid she is dead! and I cannot get her up! You come +and try!" wept Hannah. + +"Well, there now, I knowed it--I jest did; I knowed if she was turned +out in de snow-storm this night she'd freeze to death! Ole mist'ess aint +no better dan a she-bearess!" grumbled the old man, as he rooted his +arms under the cold dead weight of the unfortunate girl, and with much +tugging succeeded in raising her. + +"Now, den, Miss Hannah, hadn't I better tote her back to my ole 'oman?" + +"No; we are much nearer the hut than the hall, and even if it were not +so, I would not have her taken back there." + +They were in fact going up the path leading to the hut on the top of the +hill. So, by dint of much lugging and tugging, and many breathless +pauses to rest, the old man succeeded in bearing his lifeless burden to +the hut. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE MARTYRS OF LOVE. + + She woke at length, but not as sleepers wake, + Rather the dead, for life seemed something new, + A strange sensation which she must partake + Perforce, since whatsoever met her view + Struck not her memory; though a heavy ache + Lay at her heart, whose earliest beat, still true, + Brought back the sense of pain, without the cause, + For, for a time the furies made a pause. + + --_Byron_. + +So Nora's lifeless form was laid upon the bed. Old Mrs. Jones, who had +fallen asleep in her chair, was aroused by the disturbance, and stumbled +up only half awake to see what was the matter, and to offer her +assistance. + +Old Jovial had modestly retired to the chimney corner, leaving the poor +girl to the personal attention of her sister. + +Hannah had thrown off her shawl and bonnet, and was hastily divesting +Nora of her wet garments, when the old nurse appeared at her side. + +"Oh, Mrs. Jones, is she dead?" cried the elder sister. + +"No," replied the oracle, putting her warm hand upon the heart of the +patient, "only in a dead faint and chilled to the marrow of her bones, +poor heart! Whatever made her run out so in this storm? Where did you +find her? had she fallen down in a fit? What was the cause on it?" she +went on to hurry question upon question, with the vehemence of an old +gossip starving for sensation news. + +"Oh, Mrs. Jones, this is no time to talk! we must do something to bring +her to life!" wept Hannah. + +"That's a fact! Jovial, you good-for-nothing, lazy, lumbering nigger, +what are ye idling there for, a-toasting of your crooked black shins? +Put up the chunks and hang on the kettle directly," said the nurse with +authority. + +Poor old Jovial, who was anxious to be of service, waiting only to be +called upon, and glad to be set to work, sprung up eagerly to obey this +mandate. + +Thanks to the huge logs of wood used in Hannah's wide chimney, the +neglected fire still burned hotly, and Jovial soon had it in a roaring +blaze around the suspended kettle. + +"And now, Hannah, you had better get out her dry clothes and a thick +blanket, and hang 'em before the fire to warm. And give me some of that +wine and some allspice to heat," continued Mrs. Jones. + +The sister obeyed, with as much docility as the slave had done, and by +their united efforts the patient was soon dressed in warm dry clothes, +wrapped in a hot, thick blanket, and tucked up comfortably in bed. But +though her form was now limber, and her pulse perceptible, she had not +yet spoken or opened her eyes. It was a half an hour later, while Hannah +stood bathing her temples with camphor, and Mrs. Jones sat rubbing her +hands, that Nora showed the first signs of returning consciousness, and +these seemed attended with great mental or bodily pain, it was difficult +to tell which, for the stately head was jerked back, the fair forehead +corrugated, and the beautiful lips writhen out of shape. + +"Fetch me the spiced wine now, Hannah," said the nurse; and when it was +brought she administered it by teaspoonfuls. It seemed to do the patient +good, for when she had mechanically swallowed it, she sighed as with a +sense of relief, sank back upon her pillow and closed her eyes. Her face +had lost its look of agony; she seemed perfectly at ease. In a little +while she opened her eyes calmly and looked around. Hannah bent over +her, murmuring: + +"Nora, darling, how do you feel? Speak to me, my pet!" + +"Stoop down to me, Hannah! low, lower still, I want to whisper to you." + +Hannah put her ear to Nora's lips. + +"Oh, Hannah, it was all true! he was married to another woman." And as +she gasped out these words with a great sob, her face became convulsed +again with agony, and she covered it with her hands. + +"Do not take this so much to heart, sweet sister. Heaven knows that you +were innocent, and the earth shall know it, too; as for him, he was a +villain and a hypocrite not worth a tear," whispered Hannah. + +"Oh, no, no, no! I am sure he was not to blame. I cannot tell you why, +because I know so little; but I feel that he was faultless," murmured +Nora, as the spasm passed off, leaving her in that elysium of physical +ease which succeeds great pain. + +Hannah was intensely disgusted by Nora's misplaced confidence; but she +did not contradict her, for she wished to soothe, not to excite the +sufferer. + +For a few minutes Nora lay with her eyes closed and her hands crossed +upon her bosom, while her watchers stood in silence beside her bed. Then +springing up with wildly flaring eyes she seized her sister, crying out: + +"Hannah! Oh, Hannah!" + +"What is it, child?" exclaimed Hannah, in affright. + +"I do believe I'm dying--and, oh! I hope I am." + +"Oh, no, ye aint a-dying, nyther; there's more life than death in this +'ere; Lord forgive ye, girl, fer bringing such a grief upon your good +sister," said Mrs. Jones grimly. + +"Oh, Mrs. Jones, what is the matter with her? Has she taken poison, do +you think? She has been in a great deal of trouble to-night!" cried +Hannah, in dismay. + +"No, it's worse than pi'sen. Hannah, you send that ere gaping and +staring nigger right away directly; this aint no place, no longer, for +no men-folks to be in, even s'posin they is nothin' but nigger +cre-turs.". + +Hannah raised her eyes to the speaker. A look of intelligence passed +between the two women. The old dame nodded her head knowingly, and then +Hannah gently laid Nora back upon her pillow, for she seemed at ease +again now, and went to the old man and said: + +"Uncle Jovial, you had better go home now. Aunt Dinah will be anxious +about you, you know." + +"Yes, honey, I knows it, and I was only awaitin' to see if I could be of +any more use," replied the old man, meekly rising to obey. + +"I thank you very much, dear old Uncle Jovial, for all your goodness to +us to-night, and I will knit you a pair of nice warm socks to prove it." + +"Laws, child, I don't want nothing of no thanks, nor no socks for +a-doin' of a Christian man's duty. And now, Miss Hannah, don't you be +cast down about this here misfortin'; it's nothin' of no fault of yours; +everybody 'spects you for a well-conducted young 'oman; an' you is no +ways 'countable for your sister's mishaps. Why, there was my own Aunt +Dolly's step-daughter's husband's sister-in-law's son as was took up for +stealin' of sheep. But does anybody 'spect me the less for that? No! and +no more won't nobody 'spect you no less for poor misfortinit Miss Nora. +Only I do wish I had that ere scamp, whoever he is, by the ha'r of his +head! I'd give his blamed neck one twist he wouldn't 'cover of in a +hurry," said the old man, drawing himself up stiffly as he buttoned his +overcoat. + +"And now good-night, chile! I'll send my ole 'oman over early in de +mornin', to fetch Miss Nora somefin' nourishin, an' likewise to see if +she can be of any use," said Jovial, as he took up his hat to depart. + +The snow had ceased to fall, the sky was perfectly clear, and the stars +were shining brightly. Hannah felt glad of this for the old man's sake, +as she closed the door behind him. + +But Nora demanded her instant attention. That sufferer was in a paroxysm +of agony stronger than any that had yet preceded it. + +There was a night of extreme illness, deadly peril, and fearful anxiety +in the hut. + +But the next morning, just as the sun arose above the opposite heights +of Brudenell, flooding all the cloudless heavens and the snow-clad earth +with light and glory, a new life also arose in that humble hut upon the +hill. + + * * * * * + +Hannah Worth held a new-born infant boy in her arms, and her tears fell +fast upon his face like a baptism of sorrow. + +The miserable young mother lay back upon her pillow--death impressed +upon the sunken features, the ashen complexion, and the fixed eyes. + +"Oh, what a blessing if this child could die!" cried Hannah, in a +piercing voice that reached even the failing senses of the dying girl. + +There was an instant change. It was like the sudden flaring up of an +expiring light. Down came the stony eyes, melting with tenderness and +kindling with light. All the features were softened and illumined. + +Those who have watched the dying are familiar with these sudden +re-kindlings of life. She spoke in tones of infinite sweetness: + +"Oh, do not say so, Hannah! Do not grudge the poor little thing his +life! Everything else has been taken from him, Hannah!--father, mother, +name, inheritance, and all! Leave him his little life: it has been +dearly purchased! Hold him down to me, Hannah; I will give him one kiss, +if no one ever kisses him again." + +"Nora, my poor darling, you know that I will love your boy, and work for +him, and take care of him, if he lives; only I thought it was better if +it pleased God that he should go home to the Saviour," said Hannah, as +she held the infant down to receive his mother's kiss. + +"God love you, poor, poor baby!" said Nora, putting up her feeble hands, +and bringing the little face close to her lips. "He will live, Hannah! +Oh, I prayed all through the dreadful night that he might live, and the +Lord has answered my prayer," she added, as she resigned the child once +more to her sister's care. + +Then folding her hands over her heart, and lifting her eyes towards +heaven with a look of sweet solemnity, and, in a voice so deep, +bell-like, and beautiful that it scarcely seemed a human one, she said: + +"Out of the Depths have I called to Thee, and Thou hast heard my voice." + +And with these sublime words upon her lips she once more dropped away +into sleep, stupor, or exhaustion--for it is difficult to define the +conditions produced in the dying by the rising and falling of the waves +of life when the tide is ebbing away. The beautiful eyes did not close, +but rolled themselves up under their lids; the sweet lips fell apart, +and the pearly teeth grew dry. + +Old Mrs. Jones, who had been busy with a saucepan over the fire, now +approached the bedside, saying: + +"Is she 'sleep?" + +"I do not know. Look at her, and see if she is," replied the weeping +sister. + +"Well, I can't tell," said the nurse, after a close examination. + +And neither could Hippocrates, if he had been there. + +"Do you think she can possibly live?" sobbed Hannah. + +"Well--I hope so, honey. Law, I've seen 'em as low as that come round +again. Now lay the baby down, Hannah Worth, and come away to the window; +I want to talk to you without the risk of disturbing her." + +Hannah deposited the baby by its mother's side and followed the nurse. + +"Now you know, Hannah, you must not think as I'm a hard-hearted ole +'oman; but you see I must go." + +"Go! oh, no! don't leave Nora in her low state! I have so little +experience in these cases, you know. Stay with her! I will pay you well, +if I am poor." + +"Child, it aint the fear of losin' of the pay; I'm sure you're welcome +to all I've done for you." + +"Then do stay! It seems indeed that Providence himself sent you to us +last night! What on earth should we have done without you! It was really +the Lord that sent you to us." + +"'Pears to me it was Old Nick! I know one thing: I shouldn't a-come if I +had known what an adventur' I was a-goin' to have," mumbled the old +woman to herself. + +Hannah, who had not heard her words, spoke again: + +"You'll stay?" + +"Now, look here, Hannah Worth, I'm a poor old lady, with nothing but my +character and my profession; and if I was to stay here and nuss Nora +Worth, I should jes' lose both on 'em, and sarve me right, too! What call +have I to fly in the face of society?" + +Hannah made no answer, but went and reached a cracked tea-pot from the +top shelf of the dresser, took from it six dollars and a half, which was +all her fortune, and came and put it in the hand of the nurse, saying: + +"Here! take this as your fee for your last night's work and go, and +never let me see your face again if you can help it." + +"Now, Hannah Worth, don't you be unreasonable--now, don't ye; drat the +money, child; I can live without it, I reckon; though I can't live +without my character and my perfession; here, take it, child--you may +want it bad afore all's done; and I'm sure I would stay and take care of +the poor gal if I dared; but now you know yourself, Hannah, that if I +was to do so, I should be a ruinated old 'oman; for there ain't a +respectable lady in the world as would ever employ me again." + +"But I tell you that Nora is as innocent as her own babe; and her +character shall be cleared before the day is out!" exclaimed Hannah, +tears of rage and shame welling to her eyes. + +"Yes, honey, I dessay; and when it's done I'll come back and nuss +her--for nothing, too," replied the old woman dryly, as she put on her +bonnet and shawl. + +This done she returned to the side of Hannah. + +"Now, you know I have told you everything what to do for Nora; and +by-and-by, I suppose, old Dinah will come, as old Jovial promised; and +maybe she'll stay and 'tend to the gal and the child; 'twon't hurt her, +you know, 'cause niggers aint mostly got much character to lose. There, +child, take up your money; I wouldn't take it from you, no more'n I'd +pick a pocket. Good-by." + +Hannah would have thrown the money after the dame as she left the hut, +but that Nora's dulcet tones recalled her: + +"Hannah, don't!" + +She hurried to the patient's bedside; there was another rising of the +waves of life; Nora's face, so dark and rigid a moment before, was now +again soft and luminous. + +"What is it, sister?" inquired Hannah, bending over her. + +"Don't be angry with her, dear; she did all she could for us, you know, +without injuring herself--and we had no right to expect that." + +"But--her cruel words!" + +"Dear Hannah, never mind; when you are hurt by such, remember our +Saviour; think of the indignities that were heaped upon the Son of God; +and how meekly he bore them, and how freely he forgave them." + +"Nora, dear, you do not talk like yourself." + +"Because I am dying, Hannah. My boy came in with the rising sun, and I +shall go out with its setting." + +"No, no, my darling--you are much better than you were. I do not see why +you should die!" wept Hannah. + +"But I do; I am not better, Hannah--I have only floated back. I am +always floating backward and forward, towards life and towards death; +only every time I float towards death I go farther away, and I shall +float out with the day." + +Hannah was too much moved to trust herself to speak. + +"Sister," said Nora, in a fainter voice, "I have one last wish." + +"What is it, my own darling?" + +"To see poor, poor Herman once more before I die." + +"To forgive him! Yes, I suppose that will be right, though very hard," +sighed the elder girl. + +"No, not to forgive him, Hannah--for he has never willingly injured me, +poor boy; but to lay my hand upon his head, and look into his eyes, and +assure him with my dying breath that I know he was not to blame; for I +do know it, Hannah." + +"Oh, Nora, what faith!" cried the sister. + +The dying girl, who, to use her own words, was floating away again, +scarcely heard this exclamation, for she murmured on in a lower tone, +like the receding voice of the wind: + +"For if I do not have a chance of saying this to him, Hannah--if he is +left to suppose I went down to the grave believing him to be +treacherous--it will utterly break his heart, Hannah; for I know him, +poor fellow---he is as sensitive as--as--any--." She was gone again +out of reach. + +Hannah watched the change that slowly grew over her beautiful face: saw +the grayness of death creep over it--saw its muscles stiffen into +stone--saw the lovely eyeballs roll upward out of sight--and the sweet +lips drawn away from the glistening teeth. + +While she thus watched she heard a sound behind her. She turned in time +to see the door pushed open, and Herman Brudenell--pale, wild, haggard, +with matted hair, and blood-shot eyes, and shuddering frame--totter into +the room. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +HERMAN'S STORY. + + Thus lived--thus died she; never more on her + Shall sorrow light or shame. She was not made, + Through years of moons, the inner weight to bear, + Which colder hearts endure 'til they are laid + By age in earth: her days and pleasures were + Brief but delightful--such as had not stayed + Long with her destiny; but she sleeps well + By the sea-shore, whereon she loved to dwell. + + --_Byron_. + +Hannah arose, met the intruder, took his hand, led him to the bed of +death and silently pointed to the ghastly form of Nora. + +He gazed with horror on the sunken features, gray complexion, upturned +eyes, and parted lips of the once beautiful girl. + +"Hannah, how is this--dying?" he whispered huskily. + +"Dying," replied the woman solemnly. + +"So best," he whispered, in a choking voice. + +"So best," she echoed, as she drew away to the distant window. "So best, +as death is better than dishonor. But you! Oh, you villain! oh, you +heartless, shameless villain! to pass yourself off for a single man and +win her love and deceive her with a false marriage!" + +"Hannah! hear me!" cried the young man, in a voice of anguish. + +"Dog! ask the judge and jury to hear you when you are brought to trial +for your crime! For do you think that I am a-going to let that girl go +down to her grave in undeserved reproach? No, you wretch! not to save +from ruin you and your fine sisters and high mother, and all your proud, +shameful race! No, you devil! if there is law in the land, you shall be +dragged to jail like a thief and exposed in court to answer for your +bigamy; and all the world shall hear that you are a felon and she an +honest girl who thought herself your wife when she gave you her love!" + +"Hannah, Hannah, prosecute, expose me if you like! I am so miserable +that I care not what becomes of me or mine. The earth is crumbling under +my feet! do you think I care for trifles? Denounce, but hear me! Heaven +knows I did not willingly deceive poor Nora! I was myself deceived! If +she believed herself to be my wife, I as fully believed myself to be her +husband." + +"You lie!" exclaimed this rude child of nature, who knew no fine word +for falsehood. + +"Oh, it is natural you should rail at me! But, Hannah, my sharp, sharp +grief makes me insensible to mere stinging words. Yet if you would let +me, I could tell you the combination of circumstances that deceived us +both!" replied Herman, with the patience of one who, having suffered the +extreme power of torture, could feel no new wound. + +"Tell me, then!" snapped Hannah harshly and incredulously. + +He leaned against the window-frame and whispered: + +"I shall not survive Nora long; I feel that I shall not; I have not +taken food or drink, or rested under a roof, since I heard that news, +Hannah. Well, to explain--I was very young when I first met her---" + +"Met who?" savagely demanded Hannah. + +"My first wife. She was the only child and heiress of a retired +Jew-tradesman. Her beauty fascinated an imbecile old nobleman, who, +having insulted the daughter with 'liberal' proposals, that were +scornfully rejected, tempted the father with 'honorable' ones, which +were eagerly accepted. The old Jew, in his ambition to become +father-in-law to the old earl, forgot his religious prejudices and +coaxed his daughter to sacrifice herself. And thus Berenice D'Israeli +became Countess of Hurstmonceux. The old peer survived his foolish +marriage but six months, and died leaving his widow penniless, his debts +having swamped even her marriage portion. His entailed estates went to +the heir-at-law, a distant relation--" + +"What in the name of Heaven do you think I care for your countesses! I +want to know what excuse you can give for your base deception of my +sister," fiercely interrupted Hannah. + +"I am coming to that. It was in the second year of the Countess +Hurstmonceux's widowhood that I met her at Brighton. Oh, Hannah, it is +not in vanity; but in palliation of my offense that I tell you she loved +me first. And when a widow loves a single man, in nine cases out of ten +she will make him marry her. She hunted me down, ran me to earth--" + +"Oh, you wretch! to say such things of a lady!" exclaimed the woman, +with indignation. + +"It is true, Hannah, and in this awful hour, with that ghastly form +before me, truth and not false delicacy must prevail. I say then that +the Countess of Hurstmonceux hunted me down and run me to earth, but all +in such feminine fashion that I scarcely knew I was hunted. I was +flattered by her preference, grateful for her kindness and proud of the +prospect of carrying off from all competitors the most beautiful among +the Brighton belles; but all this would not have tempted me to offer her +my hand, for I did not love her, Hannah." + +"What did tempt you then?" inquired the woman. + +"Pity; I saw that she loved me passionately, and--I proposed to her." + +"Coxcomb! do you think she would have broken her heart if you hadn't?" + +"Yes, Hannah, to tell the truth, I did think so then; I was but a boy, +you know; and I had that fatal weakness of which I told you--that which +dreaded to inflict pain and delighted to impart joy. So I asked her to +marry me. But the penniless Countess of Hurstmonceux was the sole +heiress of the wealthy old Jew, Jacob D'Israeli. And he had set his mind +upon her marrying a gouty marquis, and thus taking one step higher in +the peerage; so of course he would not listen to my proposal, and he +threatened to disinherit his daughter if she married me. Then we did +what so many others in similar circumstances do--we married privately. +Soon after this I was summoned home to take possession of my estates. So +I left England; but not until I had discovered the utter unworthiness of +the siren whom I was so weak as to make my wife. I did not reproach the +woman, but when I sailed from Liverpool it was with the resolution never +to return." + +"Well, sir! even supposing you were drawn into a foolish marriage with +an artful woman, and had a good excuse for deserting her, was that any +reason why you should have committed the crime of marrying Nora?" cried +the woman fiercely. + +"Hannah, it was not until after I had read an account of a railway +collision, in which it was stated that the Countess of Hurstmonceux was +among the killed that I proposed for Nora. Oh, Hannah, as the Lord in +heaven hears me, I believed myself to be a free, single man, a widower, +when I married Nora! My only fault was too great haste. I believed Nora +to be my lawful wife until the unexpected arrival of the Countess of +Hurstmonceux, who had been falsely reported among the killed." + +"If this is so," said Hannah, beginning to relent, "perhaps after all +you are more to be pitied than blamed." + +"Thank you, thank you, Hannah, for saying that! But tell me, does she +believe that I willfully deceived her? Yet why should I ask? She must +think so! appearances are so strong against me," he sadly reflected. + +"But she does not believe it; her last prayer was that she might see you +once more before she died, to tell you that she knew you were not to +blame," wept Hannah. + +"Bless her! bless her!" exclaimed the young man. + +Hannah, whose eyes had never, during this interview, left the face of +Nora, now murmured: + +"She is reviving again; will you see her now?" + +Herman humbly bowed his head and both approached the bed. + +That power--what is it?--awe?--that power which subdues the wildest +passions in the presence of death, calmed the grief of Herman as he +stood over Nora. + +She was too far gone for any strong human emotion; but her pale, rigid +face softened and brightened as she recognized him, and she tried to +extend her hand towards him. + +He saw and gently took it, and stooped low to hear the sacred words her +dying lips were trying to pronounce. + +"Poor, poor boy; don't grieve so bitterly; it wasn't your fault," she +murmured. + +"Oh, Nora, your gentle spirit may forgive me, but I never can forgive +myself for the reckless haste that has wrought all this ruin!" groaned +Herman, sinking on his knees and burying his face on the counterpane, +overwhelmed by grief and remorse for the great, unintentional wrong he +had done; and by the impossibility of explaining the cause of his fatal +mistake to this poor girl whose minutes were now numbered. + +Softly and tremblingly the dying hand arose, fluttered a moment like a +white dove, and then dropped in blessing on his head. + +"May the Lord give the peace that he only can bestow; may the Lord pity +you, comfort you, bless you and save you forever, Herman, poor Herman!" + +A few minutes longer her hand rested on his head, and then she removed +it and murmured: + +"Now leave me for a little while; I wish to speak to my sister." + +Herman arose and went out of the hut, where he gave way to the pent-up +storm of grief that could not be vented by the awful bed of death. + +Nora then beckoned Hannah, who approached and stooped low to catch her +words. + +"Sister, you would not refuse to grant my dying prayers, would you?" + +"Oh, no, no, Nora!" wept the woman. + +"Then promise me to forgive poor Herman the wrong that he has done us; +he did not mean to do it, Hannah." + +"I know he did not, love; he explained it all to me. The first wife was +a bad woman who took him in. He thought she had been killed in a railway +collision, when he married you, and he never found out his mistake until +she followed him home." + +"I knew there was something of that sort; but I did not know what. Now, +Hannah, promise me not to breathe a word to any human being of his +second marriage with me; it would ruin him, you know, Hannah; for no one +would believe but that he knew his first wife was living all the time. +Will you promise me this, Hannah?" + +Even though she spoke with great difficulty, Hannah did not answer until +she repeated the question. + +Then with a sob and a gulp the elder sister said: + +"Keep silence, and let people reproach your memory, Nora? How can I do +that?" + +"Can reproach reach me--there?" she asked, raising her hand towards +heaven. + +"But your child, Nora; for his sake his mother's memory should be +vindicated!" + +"At the expense of making his father out a felon? No, Hannah, no; people +will soon forget he ever had a mother. He will only be known as Hannah +Worth's nephew, and she is everywhere respected. Promise me, Hannah." + +"Nora, I dare not." + +"Sister, I am dying; you cannot refuse the prayer of the dying." + +Hannah was silent. + +"Promise me! promise me! promise me! while my ears can yet take in your +voice!" Nora's words fell fainter and fainter; she was failing fast. + +"Oh, Heaven, I promise you, Nora--the Lord forgive me for it!" wept +Hannah. + +"The Lord bless you for it, Hannah." Her voice sunk into murmurs and the +cold shades of death crept over her face again; but rallying her fast +failing strength she gasped: + +"My boy, quick! Oh, quick, Hannah!" + +Hannah lifted the babe from his nest and held him low to meet his +mother's last kiss. + +"There, now, lay him on my arm, Hannah, close to my left side, and draw +my hand over him; I would feel him near me to the very last." + +With trembling fingers the poor woman obeyed. + +And the dying mother held her child to her heart, and raised her glazing +eyes full of the agony of human love to Heaven, and prayed: + +"O pitiful Lord, look down in mercy on this poor, poor babe! Take him +under thy care!" And with this prayer she sank into insensibility. + +Hannah flew to the door and beckoned Herman. He came in, the living +image of despair. And both went and stood by the bed. They dared not +break the sacred spell by speech. They gazed upon her in silent awe. + +Her face was gray and rigid; her eyes were still and stony; her breath +and pulse were stopped. Was she gone? No, for suddenly upon that face of +death a great light dawned, irradiating it with angelic beauty and +glory; and once more with awful solemnity deep bell-like tones tolled +forth the notes. + +"Out of the depths have I called to Thee +And Thou hast heard my voice." + +And with these holy words upon her lips the gentle spirit of Nora Worth, +ruined maiden but innocent mother, winged its way to heaven. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE FLIGHT OF HERMAN. + + Tread softly--bow the head-- + In reverent silence bow; + There's one in that poor shed, + One by that humble bed, + Greater than thou! + + Oh, change! Stupendous change! + Fled the immortal one! + A moment here, so low, + So agonized, and now-- + Beyond the sun! + + --_Caroline Bowles_. + +For some time Hannah Worth and Herman Brudenell remained standing by the +bedside, and gazing in awful silence upon the beautiful clay extended +before them, upon which the spirit in parting had left the impress of +its last earthly smile! + +Then the bitter grief of the bereaved woman burst through all outward +restraints, and she threw herself upon the bed and clasped the dead body +of her sister to her breast, and broke into a tempest of tears and sobs +and lamentations. + +"Oh, Nora! my darling! are you really dead and gone from me forever? +Shall I never hear the sound of your light step coming in, nor meet the +beamings of your soft eyes, nor feel your warm arms around my neck, nor +listen to your coaxing voice, pleading for some little indulgence which +half the time I refused you? + +"How could I have refused you, my darling, anything, hard-hearted that I +was! Ah! how little did I think how soon you would be taken from me, and +I should never be able to give you anything more! Oh, Nora, come back to +me, and I will give you everything I have--yes, my eyes, and my life, +and my soul, if they could bring you back and make you happy! + +"My beautiful darling, you were the light of my eyes and the pulse of my +heart and the joy of my life! You were all that I had in the world! my +little sister and my daughter and my baby, all in one! How could you die +and leave me all alone in the world, for the love of a man? me who loves +you more than all the men on the earth could love! + +"Nora, I shall look up from my loom and see your little wheel standing +still--and where the spinner? I shall sit down to my solitary meals and +see your vacant chair--and where my companion? I shall wake in the dark +night and stretch out my arms to your empty place beside me--and where +my warm loving sister? In the grave! in the cold, dark, still grave! + +"Oh, Heaven! Heaven! how can I bear it?--I, all day in the lonely house! +all night in the lonely bed! all my life in the lonely world! the black, +freezing, desolate world! and she in her grave! I cannot bear it! Oh, +no, I cannot bear it! Angels in heaven, you know that I cannot! Speak to +the Lord, and ask him to take me! + +"Lord, Lord, please to take me along with my child. We were but two! two +orphan sisters! I have grown gray in taking care of her! She cannot do +without me, nor I without her! We were but two! Why should one be taken +and the other left? It is not fair, Lord! I say it is not fair!" raved +the mourner, in that blind and passionate abandonment of grief which is +sure at its climax to reach frenzy, and break into open rebellion +against Omnipotent Power. + +And it is well for us that the Father is more merciful than our +tenderest thoughts, for he pardons the rebel and heals his wounds. + +The sorrow of the young man, deepened by remorse, was too profound for +such outward vent. He leaned against the bedpost, seemingly colder, +paler, and more lifeless than the dead body before him. + +At length the tempest of Hannah's grief raged itself into temporary +rest. She arose, composed the form of her sister, and turned and laid +her hand upon the shoulder of Herman, saying calmly: + +"It is all over. Go, young gentleman, and wrestle with your sorrow and +your remorse, as you may. Such wrestlings will be the only punishment +your rashness will receive in this world! Be free of dread from me. She +left you her forgiveness as a legacy, and you are sacred from my +pursuit. Go, and leave me with my dead." + +Herman dropped upon his knees beside the bed of death, took the cold +hand of Nora between his own, and bowed his head upon it for a little +while in penitential homage, and then arose and silently left the hut. + +After he had gone, Hannah remained for a few minutes standing where he +had left her, gazing in silent anguish upon the dark eyes of Nora, now +glazed in death, and then, with reverential tenderness, she pressed down +the white lids, closing them until the light of the resurrection morning +should open them again. + +While engaged in this holy duty, Hannah was interrupted by the +re-entrance of Herman. + +He came in tottering, as if under the influence of intoxication; but we +all know that excessive sorrow takes away the strength and senses as +surely as intoxication does. There is such a state as being drunken with +grief when we have drained the bitter cup dry! + +"Hannah," he faltered, "there are some things which should be remembered +even in this awful hour." + +The sorrowing woman, her fingers still softly pressing down her sister's +eyelids, looked up in mute inquiry. + +"Your necessities and--Nora's child must be provided for. Will you give +me some writing materials?" And the speaker dropped, as if totally +prostrated, into a chair by the table. + +With some difficulty Hannah sought and found an old inkstand, a stumpy +pen, and a scrap of paper. It was the best she could do. Stationery was +scarce in the poor hut. She laid them on the table before Herman. And +with a trembling hand he wrote out a check upon the local bank and put +it in her hand, saying: + +"This sum will provide for the boy, and set you and Gray up in some +little business. You had better marry and go to the West, taking the +child with you. Be a mother to the orphan, Hannah, for he will never +know another parent. And now shake hands and say good-by, for we shall +never meet again in this world." + +Too thoroughly bewildered with grief to comprehend the purport of his +words and acts, Hannah mechanically received the check and returned the +pressure of the hand with which it was given. + +And the next instant the miserable young man was gone indeed. + +Hannah dropped the paper upon the table; she did not in the least +suspect that that little strip of soiled foolscap represented the sum of +five thousand dollars, nor is it likely that she would have taken it had +she known what it really was. Hannah's intellects were chaotic with her +troubles. She returned to the bedside and was once more absorbed in her +sorrowful task, when she was again interrupted. + +This time it was by old Dinah, who, having no hand at liberty, shoved +the door open with her foot, and entered the hut. + +If "there is but one step between the sublime and the ridiculous," there +is no step at all between the awful and the absurd, which are constantly +seen side by side. Though such a figure as old Dinah presented, standing +in the middle of the death-chamber, is not often to be found in tragic +scenes. Her shoulders were bent beneath the burden of an enormous bundle +of bed clothing, and her arms were dragged down by the weight of two +large baskets of provisions. She was much too absorbed in her own +ostentatious benevolence to look at once towards the bed and see what +had happened there. Probably, if she glanced at the group at all, she +supposed that Hannah was only bathing Nora's head; for instead of going +forward or tendering any sympathy or assistance, she just let her huge +bundle drop from her shoulders and sat her two baskets carefully upon +the table, exclaiming triumphantly: + +"Dar! dar's somefin to make de poor gal comfo'ble for a mont' or more! +Dar, in dat bundle is two thick blankets and four pa'r o' sheets an' +pilly cases, all out'n my own precious chist; an' not beholden to ole +mis' for any on 'em," she added, as she carefully untied the bundle and +laid its contents, nicely folded, upon a chair. + +"An' dar!" she continued, beginning to unload the large basket--"dar's a +tukky an' two chickuns offen my own precious roost; nor likewise +beholden to ole mis for dem nyder. An' dar! dar's sassidges and blood +puddin's out'n our own dear pig as me an' ole man Jov'al ris an' kilt +ourselves; an' in course no ways beholden to ole mis'," she concluded, +arranging these edibles upon the table. + +"An' dar!" she recommenced as she set the smaller basket beside the +other things, "dar's a whole raft o''serves an' jellies and pickles as +may be useful. An' dat's all for dis time! An' now, how is de poor gal, +honey? Is she 'sleep?" she asked, approaching the bed. + +"Yes; sleeping her last sleep, Dinah," solemnly replied Hannah. + +"De Lor' save us! what does you mean by dat, honey? Is she faint?" + +"Look at her, Dinah, and see for yourself!" + +"Dead! oh, Lor'-a-mercy!" cried the old woman, drawing back appalled at +the sight that met her eyes; for to the animal nature of the pure +African negro death is very terrible. + +For a moment there was silence in the room, and then the voice of Hannah +was heard: + +"So you see the comforts you robbed yourself of to bring to Nora will +not be wanted, Dinah. You must take them back again." + +"Debil burn my poor, ole, black fingers if I teches of 'em to bring 'em +home again! S'posin' de poor dear gal is gone home? aint you lef wid a +mouf of your own to feed, I wonder? Tell me dat?" sobbed the old woman. + +"But, Dinah, I feel as if I should never eat again, and certainly I +shall not care what I eat. And that is your Christmas turkey, too, your +only one, for I know that you poor colored folks never have more." + +"Who you call poor? We's rich in grace, I'd have you to know! 'Sides +havin' of a heap o' treasure laid up in heaven, I reckons! Keep de +truck, chile; for 'deed you aint got no oder 'ternative! 'Taint Dinah as +is a-gwine to tote 'em home ag'n. Lor' knows how dey a'mos' broke my +back a-fetchin' of 'em over here. 'Taint likely as I'll be such a +consarned fool as to tote 'em all de way back ag'in. So say no more +'bout it, Miss Hannah! 'Sides which how can we talk o' sich wid de sight +o' she before our eyes! Ah, Miss Nora! Oh, my beauty! Oh, my pet! Is +you really gone an' died an' lef' your poor ole Aunt Dinah behind as +lubbed you like de apple of her eye! What did you do it for, honey? You +know your ole Aunt Dinah wasn't a-goin' to look down on you for nothin' +as is happened of," whined the old woman, stooping and weeping over the +corpse. Then she accidentally touched the sleeping babe, and started up +in dismay, crying: + +"What dis? Oh, my good Lor' in heaben, what dis?" + +"It is Nora's child, Dinah. Didn't you know she had one?" said Hannah; +with a choking voice and a crimson face. + +"Neber even s'picioned! I knowed as she'd been led astray, poor thin', +an' as how it was a-breakin' of her heart and a-killin' of her! +Leastways I heard it up yonder at de house; but I didn't know nuffin' +'bout dis yere!" + +"But Uncle Jovial did." + +"Dat ole sinner has got eyes like gimlets, dey bores into eberyting!" + +"But didn't he tell you?" + +"Not a singly breaf! he better not! he know bery well it's much as his +ole wool's worf to say a word agin dat gal to me. No, he on'y say how +Miss Nora wer' bery ill, an' in want ob eberyting in de worl' an' +eberyting else besides. An' how here wer' a chance to 'vest our property +to 'vantage, by lendin' of it te de Lor', accordin' te de Scriptur's as +'whoever giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord.' So I hunted up all I +could spare and fotch it ober here, little thinkin' what a sight would +meet my old eyes! Well, Lord!" + +"But, Dinah," said the weeping Hannah, "you must not think ill of Nora! +She does not deserve it. And you must not, indeed." + +"Chile, it aint for me to judge no poor motherless gal as is already +'peared afore her own Righteous Judge." + +"Yes, but you shall judge her! and judge her with righteous judgment, +too! You have known her all your life--all hers, I mean. You put the +first baby clothes on her that she ever wore! And you will put the last +dress that she ever will! And now judge her, Dinah, looking on her pure +brow, and remembering her past life, is she a girl likely to have been +'led astray,' as you call it?" + +"No, 'fore my 'Vine Marster in heaben, aint she? As I 'members ob de +time anybody had a-breaved a s'picion ob Miss Nora, I'd jest up'd an' +boxed deir years for 'em good--'deed me! But what staggers of me, +honey, is _dat!_ How de debil we gwine to 'count for _dat?_" questioned +old Dinah, pointing in sorrowful suspicion at the child. + +For all answer Hannah beckoned to the old woman to watch her, while she +untied from Nora's neck a narrow black ribbon, and removed from it a +plain gold ring. + +"A wedding-ring!" exclaimed Dinah, in perplexity. + +"Yes, it was put upon her finger by the man that married her. Then it +was taken off and hung around her neck, because for certain reasons she +could not wear it openly. But now it shall go with her to the grave in +its right place," said Hannah, as she slipped the ring upon the poor +dead finger. + +"Lor', child, who was it as married of her?" + +"I cannot tell you. I am bound to secrecy." + +The old negress shook her head slowly and doubtfully. + +"I's no misdoubts as she was innocenter dan a lamb, herself, for she do +look it as she lay dar wid de heabenly smile frozen on her face; but I +do misdoubts dese secrety marriages; I 'siders ob 'em no 'count. Ten to +one, honey, de poor forso'k sinner as married her has anoder wife +some'ers." + +Without knowing it the old woman had hit the exact truth. + +Hannah sighed deeply, and wondered silently how it was that neither +Dinah nor Jovial had ever once suspected their young master to be the +man. + +Old Dinah perceived that her conversation distressed Hannah, and so she +threw off her bonnet and cloak and set herself to work to help the poor +bereaved sister. + +There was enough to occupy both women. There was the dead mother to be +prepared for burial, and there was the living child to be cared far. + +By the time that they had laid Nora out in her only white dress, and had +fed the babe and put it to sleep, and cleaned up the cottage, the winter +day had drawn to its close and the room was growing dark. + +Old Dinah, thinking it was time to light up, took a home-dipped candle +from the cupboard, and seeing a piece of soiled paper on the table, +actually lighted her candle with a check for five thousand dollars! + +And thus it happened that the poor boy who, without any fault of his +mother, had come into the world with a stigma on his birth, now, without +any neglect of his father, was left in a state of complete destitution +as well as of entire orphanage. + +On the Tuesday following her death poor Nora Worth was laid in her +humble grave under a spreading oak behind the hut. + +This spot was selected by Hannah, who wished to keep her sister's last +resting-place always in her sight, and who insisted that every foot of +God's earth, enclosed or unenclosed--consecrated or unconsecrated--was +holy ground. + +Jim Morris, Professor of Odd Jobs for the country side, made the coffin, +dug the grave, and managed the funeral. + +The Rev. William Wynne, the minister who had performed the fatal nuptial +ceremony of the fair bride, read the funeral services over her dead +body. + +No one was present at the burial but Hannah Worth, Reuben Gray, the two +old negroes, Dinah and Jovial, the Professor of Odd Jobs, and the +officiating clergyman. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +OVER NORA'S GRAVE. + + Oh, Mother Earth! upon thy lap, + Thy weary ones receiving, + And o'er them, silent as a dream, + Thy grassy mantle weaving, + Fold softly, in thy long embrace, + That heart so worn and broken, + And cool its pulse of fire beneath + Thy shadows old and oaken. + Shut out from her the bitter word, + And serpent hiss of scorning: + Nor let the storms of yesterday + Disturb her quiet morning. + + --_Whittier_. + +When the funeral ceremonies were over and the mourners were coming away +from the grave, Mr. Wynne turned to them and said: + +"Friends, I wish to have some conversation with Hannah Worth, if you +will excuse me." + +And the humble group, with the exception of Reuben Gray, took leave of +Hannah and dispersed to their several homes. Reuben waited outside for +the end of the parson's interview with his betrothed. + +"This is a great trial to you, my poor girl; may the Lord support you +under it!" said Mr. Wynne, as they entered the hut and sat down. + +Hannah sobbed. + +"I suppose it was the discovery of Mr. Brudenell's first marriage that +killed her?" + +"Yes, sir," sobbed Hannah. + +"Ah! I often read and speak of the depravity of human nature; but I +could not have believed Herman Brudenell capable of so black a crime," +said Mr. Wynne, with a shudder. + +"Sir," replied Hannah, resolved to do justice in spite of her bleeding +heart, "he isn't so guilty as you judge him to be. When he married Norah +he believed that his wife had been killed in a great railway crash, for +so it was reported in all the newspaper accounts of the accident; and he +never saw it contradicted." + +"His worst fault then appears to have been that of reckless haste in +consummating his second marriage," said Mr. Wynne. + +"Yes; and even for that he had some excuse. His first wife was an artful +widow, who entrapped him into a union and afterwards betrayed his +confidence and her own honor. When he heard she was dead, you see, no +doubt he was shocked; but he could not mourn for her as he could for a +true, good woman." + +"Humph! I hope, then, for the sake of human nature that he is not so bad +as I thought him. But now, Hannah, what do you intend to do?" + +"About what?" inquired the poor woman sadly. + +"About clearing the memory of your sister and the birth of her son from +unmerited shame," replied Mr. Wynne gravely. + +"Nothing," she answered sadly. + +"Nothing?" repeated the minister, in surprise. + +"Nothing," she reiterated. + +"What! will you leave the stigma of undeserved reproach upon your sister +in her grave and upon her child all his life, when a single revelation +from you, supported by my testimony, will clear them both?" asked the +minister, in almost indignant astonishment. + +"Not willingly, the Lord above knows. Oh, I would die to clear Nora from +blame!" cried Hannah, bursting into a flood of tears. + +"Well, then, do it, my poor woman! do it! You can do it," said the +clergyman, drawing his chair to her side and laying his hand kindly on +her shoulder. "Hannah, my girl, you have a duty to the dead and to the +living to perform. Do not be afraid to attempt it! Do not be afraid to +offend that wealthy and powerful family! I will sustain you, for it is +my duty as a Christian minister to do so, even though they--the +Brudenells--should afterwards turn all their great influence in the +parish against me. Yes, I will sustain you, Hannah! What do I say? I? A +mightier arm than that of any mortal shall hold you up!" + +"Oh, it is of no use! the case is quite past remedying," wept Hannah. + +"But it is not, I assure you! When I first heard the astounding news of +Brudenell's first marriage with the Countess of Hurstmonceaux, and his +wife's sudden arrival at the Hall, and recollected at the same time his +second marriage with Nora Worth, which I myself had solemnized, my +thoughts flew to his poor young victim, and I pondered what could be +done for her, and I searched the laws of the land bearing upon the +subject of marriage. And I found that by these same laws--when a man in +the lifetime of his wife marries another woman, the said woman being in +ignorance of the existence of the said wife, shall be held guiltless by +the law, and her child or children, if she have any by the said +marriage, shall be the legitimate offspring of the mother, legally +entitled to bear her name and inherit her estates. That fits precisely +Nora's case. Her son is legitimate. If she had in her own right an +estate worth a billion, that child would be her heir-at-law. She had +nothing but her good name! Her son has a right to inherit +that--unspotted, Hannah! mind, unspotted! Your proper way will be to +proceed against Herman Brudenell for bigamy, call me for a witness, +establish the fact of Nora's marriage, rescue her memory and her child's +birth from the slightest shadow of reproach, and let the consequences +fall where they should fall, upon the head of the man! They will not be +more serious than he deserves. If he can prove what he asserts--that he +himself was in equal ignorance with Nora of the existence of his first +wife, he will be honorably acquitted in the court, though of course +severely blamed by the community. Come, Hannah, shall we go to Baymouth +to-morrow about this business?" + +Hannah was sobbing as if her heart would break. + +"How glad I would be to clear Nora and her child from shame, no one but +the Searcher of Hearts can know! But I dare not! I am bound by a vow! a +solemn vow made to the dying! Poor girl! with her last breath she +besought me not to expose Mr. Brudenell, and not to breathe one word of +his marriage with her to any living soul!" she cried. + +"And you were mad enough to promise!" + +"I would rather have bitten my tongue off than have used it in such a +fatal way! But she was dying fast, and praying to me with her uplifted +eyes and clasped hands and failing breath to spare Herman Brudenell. I +had no power to refuse her--my heart was broken. So I bound my soul by a +vow to be silent. And I must keep my sacred promise made to the dying; I +must keep it though, till the Judgment Day that shall set all things +right, Nora Worth, if thought of it all, must be considered a fallen +girl and her son the child of sin!" cried Hannah, breaking into a +passion of tears and sobs. + +"The devotion of woman passes the comprehension of man," said the +minister reflectively. "But in sacrificing herself thus, had she no +thought of the effect upon the future of her child?" + +"She said he was a boy; his mother would soon be forgotten; he would be +my nephew, and I was respected," sobbed Hannah. + +"In a word, she was a special pleader in the interest of the man whose +reckless haste had destroyed her!" + +"Yes; that was it! that was it! Oh, my Nora! oh, my young sister! it was +hard to see you die! hard to see you covered up in the coffin! but it is +harder still to know that people will speak ill of you in your grave, +and I cannot convince them that they are wrong!" said Hannah, wringing +her hands in a frenzy of despair. + +For trouble like this the minister seemed to have no word of comfort. He +waited in silence until she had grown a little calmer, and then he said: + +"They say that the fellow has fled. At least he has not been seen at the +Hall since the arrival of his wife. Have you seen anything of him?" + +"He rushed in here like a madman the day she died, received her last +prayer for his welfare, and threw himself out of the house again, Heaven +only knows where!" + +"Did he make no provision for this child?" + +"I do not know; he said something about it, and he wrote something on a +paper; but indeed I do not think he knew what he was about. He was as +nearly stark mad as ever you saw a man; and, anyway, he went, off +without leaving anything but that bit of paper; and it is but right for +me to say, sir, that I would not have taken anything from him on behalf +of the child. If the poor boy cannot have his father's family name he +shall not have anything else from him with my consent! Those are my +principles, Mr. Wynne! I can work for Nora's orphan boy just as I worked +for my mother's orphan girl, which was Nora, herself, sir." + +"Perhaps you are right, Hannah. But where is that paper. I should much +like to see it," said the minister. + +"The paper he wrote and left, sir?" + +"Yes; show it to me." + +"Lord bless your soul, sir, it wasn't of no account; it was the least +little scrap, with about three lines wrote on it; I didn't take any care +of it. Heavens knows that I had other things to think of than that. But +I will try to find it if you wish to look at it," said Hannah, rising. + +Her search of course was vain, and after turning up everything in the +house to no purpose she came back to the parson, and said: + +"I dare say it is swept away or burnt up; but, anyway, it isn't worth +troubling one's self about it." + +"I think differently, Hannah; and I would advise you to search, and make +inquiry, and try your best to find it. And if you do so, just put it +away in a very safe place until you can show it to me. And now good-by, +my girl; trust in the Lord, and keep up your heart," said the minister, +taking his hat and stick to depart. + +When Mr. Wynne had gone Reuben Gray, who had been walking about behind +the cottage, came in and said: + +"Hannah, my dear, I have got something very particular to say to you; +but I feel as this is no time to say it exactly, so I only want to ask +you when I may come and have a talk with you, Hannah." + +"Any time, Reuben; next Sunday, if you like." + +"Very well, my dear; next Sunday it shall be! God bless you, Hannah; and +God bless the poor boy, too. I mean to adopt that child, Hannah, and +cowhide his father within an inch of his life, if ever I find him out!" + +"Talk of all this on Sunday when you come, Reuben; not now, oh, not +now!" + +"Sartinly not now, my dear; I see the impropriety of it. Good-by, my +dear. Now, shan't I send Nancy or Peggy over to stay with you?" + +"Upon no account, Reuben." + +"Just as you say, then. Good-by, my poor dear." + +And after another dozen affectionate adieus Reuben reluctantly dragged +himself from the hut. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +NORA'S SON. + + Look on this babe; and let thy pride take heed, + Thy pride of manhood, intellect or fame, + That thou despise him not; for he indeed, + And such as he in spirit and heart the same, + Are God's own children in that kingdom bright, + Where purity is praise, and where before + The Father's throne, triumphant evermore, + The ministering angels, sons of light, + Stand unreproved because they offer there, + Mixed with the Mediator's hallowing prayer, + The innocence of babes in Christ like this. + + --_M.F. Tupper_. + +Hannah was left alone with her sorrows and her mortifications. + +Never until now had she so intensely realized her bereavement and her +solitude. Nora was buried; and the few humble friends who had +sympathized with her were gone; and so she was alone with her great +troubles. She threw herself into a chair, and for the third or fourth +time that day broke into a storm of grief. And the afternoon had faded +nearly into night before she regained composure. Even then she sat like +one palsied by despair, until a cry of distress aroused her. It was the +wail of Nora's infant. She arose and took the child and laid it on her +lap to feed it. Even Hannah looked at it with a pity that was almost +allied to contempt. + +It was in fact the thinnest, palest, puniest little object that had ever +come into this world prematurely, uncalled for, and unwelcome. It did +not look at all likely to live. And as Hannah fed the ravenous little +skeleton she could not help mentally calculating the number of its hours +on earth, and wishing that she had thought to request Mr. Wynne, while +he was in the house, to baptize the wretched baby, so little likely to +live for another opportunity. Nor could Hannah desire that it should +live. It had brought sorrow, death, and disgrace into the hut, and it +had nothing but poverty, want, and shame for its portion in this world; +and so the sooner it followed its mother the better, thought +Hannah--short-sighted mortal. + +Had Hannah been a discerner of spirits to recognize the soul in that +miserable little baby-body! + +Or had she been a seeress to foresee the future of that child of sorrow! + +Reader, this boy is our hero; a real hero, too, who actually lived and +suffered and toiled and triumphed in this land! + +"Out of the depths" he came indeed! Out of the depths of poverty, +sorrow, and degradation he rose, by God's blessing on his aspirations, +to the very zenith of fame, honor, and glory! + +He made his name, the only name he was legally entitled to bear--his +poor wronged mother's maiden-name--illustrious in the annals of our +nation! + +But this is to anticipate. + +No vision of future glory, however, arose before the poor weaver's +imagination as she sat in that old hut holding the wee boy on her lap, +and for his sake as well as for her own begrudging him every hour of the +few days she supposed he had to live upon this earth. Yes! Hannah would +have felt relieved and satisfied if that child had been by his mother's +side in the coffin rather than been left on her lap. + +Only think of that, my readers; think of the utter, utter destitution of +a poor little sickly, helpless infant whose only relative would have +been glad to see him dead! Our Ishmael had neither father, mother, name, +nor place in the world. He had no legal right to be in it at all; no +legal right to the air he breathed, or to the sunshine that warmed him +into life; no right to love, or pity, or care; he had nothing--nothing +but the eye of the Almighty Father regarding him. But Hannah Worth was a +conscientious woman, and even while wishing the poor boy's death she did +everything in her power to keep him alive, hoping all would be in vain. + +Hannah, as you know, was very, very poor. And with this child upon her +hands she expected to be much poorer. She was a weaver of domestic +carpets and counterpanes and of those coarse cotton and woolen cloths of +which the common clothing of the plantation negroes are made, and the +most of her work came from Brudenell Hall. She used to have to go and +fetch the yarn, and then carry home the web. She had a piece of cloth +now ready to take home to Mrs. Brudenell's housekeeper; but she +abhorred the very idea of carrying it there, or of asking for more work. + +Nora had been ignominiously turned from the house, cruelly driven out +into the midnight storm; that had partly caused her death. And should +she, her sister, degrade her womanhood by going again to that house to +solicit work, or even to carry back what she had finished, to meet, +perhaps, the same insults that had maddened Nora? + +No, never; she would starve and see the child starve first. The web of +cloth should stay there until Jim Morris should come along, when she +would get him to take it to Brudenell Hall. And she would seek work from +other planters' wives. + +She had four dollars and a half in the house--the money, you know, that +old Mrs. Jones, with all her hardness, had yet refused to take from the +poor woman. And then Mrs. Brudenell owed her five and a half for the +weaving of this web of cloth. In all she had ten dollars, eight of which +she owed to the Professor of Odd Jobs for his services at Nora's +funeral. The remaining two she hoped would supply her simple wants until +she found work. And in the meantime she need not be idle; she would +employ her time in cutting up some of poor Nora's clothes to make an +outfit for the baby--for if the little object lived but a week it must +be clothed--now it was only wrapped up in a piece of flannel. + +While Hannah meditated upon these things the baby went to sleep on her +lap, and she took it up and laid it in Nora's vacated place in her bed. + +And soon after Hannah took her solitary cup of tea, and shut up the hut +and retired to bed. She had not had a good night's rest since that fatal +night of Nora's flight through the snow storm to Brudenell Hall, and her +subsequent illness and death. Now, therefore, Hannah slept the sleep of +utter mental and physical prostration. + +The babe did not disturb her repose. Indeed, it was a very patient +little sufferer, if such a term may be applied to so young a child. But +it was strange that an infant so pale, thin, and sickly, deprived of its +mother's nursing care besides, should have made so little plaint and +given so little trouble. Perhaps in the lack of human pity he had the +love of heavenly spirits, who watched over him, soothed his pains, and +stilled his cries. We cannot tell how that may have been, but it is +certain that Ishmael was an angel from his very birth. + +The next day, as Hannah was standing at the table, busy in cutting out +small garments, and the baby-boy was lying upon the bed equally busy in +sucking his thumb, the door was pushed open and the Professor of Odd +Jobs stood in the doorway, with a hand upon either post, and sadness on +his usually good-humored and festive countenance. + +"Ah, Jim, is that you? Come in, your money is all ready for you," said +Hannah on perceiving him. + +It is not the poor who "grind the faces of the poor." Jim Morris would +have scorned to have taken a dollar from Hannah Worth at this trying +crisis of her life. + +"Now, Miss Hannah," he answered, as he came in at her bidding, "please +don't you say one word to me 'bout de filthy lucre, 'less you means to +'sult me an' hurt my feelin's. I don't 'quire of no money for doin' of a +man's duty by a lone 'oman! Think Jim Morris is a man to 'pose upon a +lone 'oman? Hopes not, indeed! No, Miss Hannah! I aint a wolf, nor +likewise a bear! Our Heabenly Maker, he gib us our lives an' de earth +an' all as is on it, for ourselves free! And what have we to render him +in turn? Nothing! And what does he 'quire ob us? On'y lub him and lub +each oder, like human beings and 'mortal souls made in his own image to +live forever! and not to screw and 'press each oder, and devour an' prey +on each oder like de wild beastesses dat perish! And I considers, Miss +Hannah--" + +And here, in fact, the professor, having secured a patient hearer, +launched into an oration that, were I to report it word for word, would +take up more room than we can spare him. He brought his discourse round +in a circle, and ended where he had begun. + +"And so, Miss Hannah, say no more to me 'bout de money, 'less you want +to woun' my feelin's." + +"Well, I will not, Morris; but I feel so grateful to you that I would +like to repay you in something better than mere words," said Hannah. + +"And so you shall, honey, so you shall, soon as eber I has de need and +you has de power! But now don't you go and fall into de pop'lar error of +misparagin' o' words. Words! why words is de most powerfullist engine of +good or evil in dis worl'! Words is to idees what bodies is to souls! +Wid words you may save a human from dispair, or you may drive him to +perdition! Wid words you may confer happiness or misery! Wid words a +great captain may rally his discomforted troops, an' lead 'em on to +wictory! wid words a great congressman may change the laws of de land! +Wid words a great lawyer may 'suade a jury to hang an innocent man, or +to let a murderer go free. It's bery fashionable to misparage words, +callin' of 'em 'mere words.' Mere words! mere fire! mere life! mere +death! mere heaben! mere hell! as soon as mere words! What are all the +grand books in de worl' filled with? words! What is the one great Book +called? What is the Bible called? De Word!" said the professor, +spreading out his arms in triumph at this peroration. + +Hannah gazed in very sincere admiration upon this orator, and when he +had finished, said: + +"Oh, Morris, what a pity you had not been a white man, and been brought +up at a learned profession!" + +"Now aint it, though, Miss Hannah?" said Morris. + +"You would have made such a splendid lawyer or parson!" continued the +simple woman, in all sincerity. + +"Now wouldn't I, though?" complained the professor. "Now aint it a shame +I'm nyther one nor t'other? I have so many bright idees all of my own! I +might have lighted de 'ciety an' made my fortin at de same time! Well!" +he continued, with a sigh of resignation, "if I can't make my own fortin +I can still lighten de 'ciety if only dey'd let me; an' I'm willin' to +du it for nothin'! But people won't 'sent to be lighted by me; soon as +ever I begins to preach or to lecture in season, an' out'n season, de +white folks, dey shut up my mouf, short! It's trufe I'm a-tellin' of +you, Miss Hannah! Dey aint no ways, like you. Dey can't 'preciate +ge'nus. Now I mus' say as you can, in black or white! An' when I's so +happy as to meet long of a lady like you who can 'preciate me, I'm +willin' to do anything in the wide worl' for her! I'd make coffins an' +dig graves for her an' her friends from one year's end to de t'other +free, an' glad of de chance to do it!" concluded the professor, with +enthusiastic good-will. + +"I thank you very kindly, Jim Morris; but of course I would not like to +give you so much trouble," replied Hannah, in perfect innocence of +sarcasm. + +"La. It wouldn't be no trouble, Miss Hannah! But then, ma'am, I didn't +come over here to pass compliments, nor no sich! I come with a message +from old madam up yonder at Brudenell Hall." + +"Ah," said Hannah, in much surprise and more disgust, "what may have +been her message to me?" + +"Well, Miss Hannah, it may have been the words of comfort, such as would +become a Christian lady to send to a sorrowing fellow-creatur'; only it +wasn't," sighed Jim Morris. + +"I want no such hypocritical words from her!" said Hannah indignantly. + +"Well, honey, she didn't send none!" + +"What did she send?" + +"Well, chile, de madam, she 'quested of me to come over here an' hand +you dis five dollar an' a half, which she says she owes it to you. An' +also to ax you to send by the bearer, which is me, a certain piece of +cloth, which she says how you've done wove for her. An' likewise to tell +you as you needn't come to Brudenell Hall for more work, which there is +no more to give you. Dere, Miss Hannah, dere's de message jes' as de +madam give it to me, which I hopes you'll 'sider as I fotch it in de way +of my perfession, an' not take no 'fense at me who never meant any +towards you," said the professor deprecatingly. + +"Of course not, Morris. So far from being angry with you, I am very +thankful to you for coming. You have relieved me from a quandary. I +didn't know how to return the work or to get the pay. For after what has +happened, Morris, the cloth might have stayed here and the money there, +forever, before I would have gone near Brudenell Hall!" + +Morris slapped his knee with satisfaction, saying: + +"Just what I thought, Miss Hannah! which made me the more willing to +bring de message. So now if you'll jest take de money an' give me de +cloth, I'll be off. I has got some clocks and umberell's to mend +to-night. And dat minds me! if you'll give me dat broken coffee-mill o' +yourn I'll fix it at de same time," said the professor. + +Hannah complied with all his requests, and he took his departure. + +He had scarcely got out of sight when Hannah had another visitor, Reuben +Gray, who entered the hut with looks of deprecation and words of +apology. + +"Hannah, woman, I couldn't wait till Sunday! I couldn't rest! Knowing of +your situation, I felt as if I must come to you and say what I had on my +mind! Do you forgive me?" + +"For what?" asked Hannah in surprise. + +"For coming afore Sunday." + +"Sit down, Reuben, and don't be silly. As well have it over now as any +other time." + +"Very well, then, Hannah," said the man, drawing a chair to the table at +which she sat working, and seating himself. + +"Now, then, what have you to say, Reuben?" + +"Well, Hannah, my dear, you see I didn't want to make a disturbance +while the body of that poor girl lay unburied in the house; but now I +ask you right up and down who is the wretch as wronged Nora?" demanded +the man with a look of sternness Hannah had never seen on his patient +face before. + +"Why do you wish to know, Reuben?" she inquired in a low voice. + +"To kill him." + +"Reuben Gray!" + +"Well, what's the matter, girl?" + +"Would you do murder?" + +"Sartainly not, Hannah; but I will kill the villain as wronged Nora +wherever I find him, as I would a mad dog." + +"It would be the same thing! It would be murder!" + +"No, it wouldn't, Hannah. It would be honest killing. For when a cussed +villain hunts down and destroys an innocent girl, he ought to be counted +an outlaw that any man may slay who finds him. And if so be he don't get +his death from the first comer, he ought to be sure of getting it from +the girl's nearest male relation or next friend. And if every such +scoundrel knew he was sure to die for his crime, and the law would hold +his slayer guiltless, there would be a deal less sin and misery in this +world. As for me, Hannah, I feel it to be my solemn duty to Nora, to +womankind, and to the world, to seek out the wretch as wronged her and +kill him where I find him, just as I would a rattlesnake as had bit my +child." + +"They would hang you for it, Reuben!" shuddered Hannah. + +"Then they'd do very wrong! But they'd not hang me, Hannah! Thank +Heaven, in these here parts we all vally our women's innocence a deal +higher than we do our lives, or even our honor. And if a man is right to +kill another in defense of his own life, he is doubly right to do so in +defense of woman's honor. And judges and juries know it, too, and feel +it, as has been often proved. But anyways, whether or no," said Reuben +Gray, with the dogged persistence for which men of his class are often +noted, "I want to find that man to give him his dues." + +"And be hung for it," said Hannah curtly. + +"No, my dear, I don't want to be hung for the fellow. Indeed, to tell +the truth, I shouldn't like it at all; I know I shouldn't beforehand; +but at the same time I mustn't shrink from doing of my duty first, and +suffering for it afterwards, if necessary! So now for the rascal's name, +Hannah!" + +"Reuben Gray, I couldn't tell you if I would, and I wouldn't tell you if +I could! What! do you think that I, a Christian woman, am going to send +you in your blind, brutal vengeance to commit the greatest crime you +possibly could commit?" + +"Crime, Hannah! why, it is a holy duty!" + +"Duty, Reuben! Do you live in the middle of the nineteenth century, in a +Christian land, and have you been going to church all your life, and +hearing the gospel of peace preached to this end?" + +"Yes! For the Lord himself is a God of vengeance. He destroyed Sodom and +Gomorrah by fire, and once He destroyed the whole world by water!" + +"'The devil can quote Scripture for his purpose,' Reuben! and I think he +is prompting you now! What! do you, a mortal, take upon yourself the +divine right of punishing sin by death? Reuben, when from the dust of +the earth you can make a man, and breathe into his nostrils the breath +of life, then perhaps you may talk of punishing sin with death. You +cannot even make the smallest gnat or worm live! How then could you dare +to stop the sacred breath of life in a man!" said Hannah. + +"I don't consider the life of a wretch who has destroyed an innocent +girl sacred by any means," persisted Reuben. + +"The more sinful the man, the more sacred his life!" + +"Well, I'm blowed to thunder, Hannah, if that aint the rummest thing as +ever I heard said! the more sinful a man, the more sacred his life! What +will you tell me next!" + +"Why, this: that if it is a great crime to kill a good man, it is the +greatest of all crimes to kill a bad one!" + +To this startling theory Reuben could not even attempt a reply. He could +only stare at her in blank astonishment. His mental caliber could not be +compared with Hannah's in capacity. + +"Have patience, dear Reuben, and I will make it all clear to you! The +more sinful the man, the more sacred his life should be considered, +because in that lies the only chance of his repentance, redemption, and +salvation. And is a greater crime to kill a bad man than to kill a good +one, because if you kill a good man, you kill his body only; but if you +kill a bad man, you kill both his body and his soul! Can't you +understand that now, dear Reuben?" + +Reuben rubbed his forehead, and answered sullenly, like one about to be +convinced against his will: + +"Oh, I know what you mean, well enough, for that matter." + +"Then you must know, Reuben, why it is that the wicked are suffered to +live so long on this earth! People often wonder at the mysterious ways +of Providence, when they see a good man prematurely cut off and a wicked +man left alive! Why, it isn't mysterious at all to me! The good man was +ready to go, and the Lord took him; the bad man was left to his chance +of repentance. Reuben, the Lord, who is the most of all offended by sin, +spares the sinner a long time to afford him opportunity for repentance! +If he wanted to punish the sinner with death in this world, he could +strike the sinner dead! But he doesn't do it, and shall we dare to? No! +we must bow in humble submission to his awful words--' Vengeance is +mine!'" + +"Hannah, you may be right; I dare say you are; yes, I'll speak plain--I +know you are! but it's hard to put up with such! I feel baffled and +disappointed, and ready to cry! A man feels ashamed to set down quiet +under such mortification!" + +"Then I'll give you a cure for that! It is the remembrance of the Divine +Man and the dignified patience with which he bore the insults of the +rabble crowd upon his day of trial! You know what those insults were, +and how he bore them! Bow down before his majestic meekness, and pay him +the homage of obedience to his command of returning good for evil!" + +"You're right, Hannah!" said Gray, with a great struggle, in which he +conquered his own spirit. "You're altogether right, my girl! So you +needn't tell me the name of the wrong-doer! And, indeed, you'd better +not; for the temptation to punish him might be too great for my +strength, as soon as I am out of your sight and in his!" + +"Why, Reuben, my lad, I could not tell you if I were inclined to do so. +I am sworn to secrecy!" + +"Sworn to secrecy! that's queer too! Who swore you?" + +"Poor Nora, who died forgiving all her enemies and at peace with all the +world!" + +"With him too?" + +"With him most of all! And now, Reuben, I want you to listen to me. I +met your ideas of vengeance and argued them upon your own ground, for +the sake of convincing you that vengeance is wrong even under the +greatest possible provocation, such as you believed that we had all had. +But, Reuben, you are much mistaken! We have had no provocation!" said +Hannah gravely. + +"What, no provocation! not in the wrong done to Nora!" + +"There has been no intentional wrong done to Nora!" + +"What! no wrong in all that villainy?" + +"There has been no villainy, Reuben!" + +"Then if that wasn't villainy, there's none in the world; and never was +any in the world, that's all I have got to say!" + +"Reuben, Nora was married to the father of her child. He loved her +dearly, and meant her well. You must believe this, for it is as true as +Heaven!" said Hannah solemnly. + +Reuben pricked up his ears; perhaps he was not sorry to be entirely +relieved from the temptation of killing and the danger of hanging. + +And Hannah gave him as satisfactory an explanation of Nora's case as she +could give, without breaking her promise and betraying Herman Brudenell +as the partner of Nora's misfortunes. + +At the close of her narrative Reuben Gray took her hand, and holding it, +said gravely: + +"Well, my dear girl, I suppose the affair must rest where it is for the +present. But this makes one thing incumbent upon us." And having said +this, Reuben hesitated so long that Hannah took up the word and asked: + +"This makes what incumbent upon us, lad?" + +"To get married right away!" blurted out the man. + +"Pray, have you come into a fortune, Reuben?" inquired Hannah coolly. + +"No, child, but--" + +"Neither have I," interrupted Hannah. + +"I was going to say," continued the man, "that I have my hands to work +with--" + +"For your large family of sisters and brothers--" + +"And for you and that poor orphan boy as well! And I'm willing to do it +for you all! And we really must be married right away, Hannah! I must +have a lawful right to protect you against the slights as you'll be sure +to receive after what's happened, if you don't have a husband to take +care of you." + +He paused and waited for her reply; but as she did not speak, he began +again: + +"Come, Hannah, my dear, what do you say to our being married o' Sunday?" + +She did not answer, and he continued: + +"I think as we better had get tied together arter morning service! And +then, you know, I'll take you and the bit of a baby home long o' me, +Hannah. And I'll be a loving husband to you, my girl; and I'll be a +father to the little lad with as good a will as ever I was to my own +orphan brothers and sisters. And I'll break every bone in the skin of +any man that looks askance at him, too! Don't you fear for yourself or +the child. The country side knows me for a peaceable-disposed man; but +it had rather not provoke me for all that, because it knows when I have +a just cause of quarrel, I don't leave my work half done! Come, Hannah, +what do you say, my dear? Shall it be o' Sunday? You won't answer me? +What, crying, my girl, crying! what's that for?" + +The tears were streaming from Hannah's eyes. She took up her apron and +buried her face in its folds. + +"Now what's all that about?" continued Reuben, in distress; then +suddenly brightening up, he said: "Oh, I know now! You're thinking of +Nancy and Peggy! Don't be afeard, Hannah! They won't do, nor say, nor +even so much as look anything to hurt your feelings! and they had better +not, if they know which side their bread is buttered! I am the master of +my own house, I reckon, poor as it is! And my wife will be the mistress; +and my sisters must keep their proper places! Come, Hannah! come, my +darling, what do you say to me?"' he whispered, putting his arm over her +shoulders, while he tried to draw the apron from her face. + +She dropped her apron, lifted her face, looked at him through her +falling tears, and answered: + +"This is what I have to say to you, dear, dearest, best loved Reuben! I +feel your goodness in the very depths of my heart; I thank you with all +my soul; I will love you--you only--in silence and in solitude all my +life; I will pray for you daily and nightly; but--" She stopped and +sobbed. + +"But--" said Reuben breathlessly. + +"I will never carry myself and my dishonor under your honest roof." + +Reuben caught his suspended breath with a sharp gasp and gazed in blank +dismay upon the sobbing woman for a few minutes, and then he said: + +"Hannah--oh, my Lord! Hannah, you never mean to say that you won't marry +me?" + +"I mean just that, Reuben." + +"Oh, Hannah, what have I done to offend you? I never meant to do it! I +don't even know how I've done it! I'm such a blundering animal! But tell +me what it is, and I will beg your pardon!" + +"It is nothing, you good, true heart! nothing! But you have two +sisters--" + +"There, I knew it! It's Nancy and Peggy! They've been doing something to +hurt your feelings! Well, Hannah, they shall come here and ask your +forgiveness, or else they shall leave my home and go to earn their +living in somebody's kitchen! I've been a father to them gals; but I +won't suffer them to insult my own dear Hannah!" burst forth Reuben. + +"Dear Reuben, you are totally mistaken! Your sisters no more than +yourself have ever given me the least cause of offense. They could not, +dear Reuben! They must be good girls, being your sisters." + +"Well, if neither I nor my sisters have hurt your feelings, Hannah, what +in the name of sense did you mean by saying--I hate even to repeat the +words--that you won't marry me?" + +"Reuben, reproach has fallen upon my name--undeserved, indeed, but not +the less severe. You have young, unmarried sisters, with nothing but +their good names to take them through the world. For their sakes, dear, +you must not marry me and my reproach!" + +"Is that all you mean, Hannah?" + +"All." + +"Then I will marry you!" + +"Reuben, you must give me up." + +"I won't, I say! So there, now." + +"Dear Reuben, I value your affection more than I do anything in this +world except duty; but I cannot permit you to sacrifice yourself to me," +said Hannah, struggling hard to repress the sobs that were again rising +in her bosom. + +"Hannah, I begin to think you want to drive me crazy or break my heart! +What sacrifice would it be for me to marry you and adopt that poor +child? The only sacrifice I can think of would be to give you up! But I +won't do it! no! I won't for nyther man nor mortal! You promised to +marry me, Hannah, and I won't free your promise! but I will keep you to +it, and marry you, if I die for it!" grimly persisted Reuben Gray. + +And before she could reply they were interrupted by a knock at the door. + +"Come in!" said Hannah, expecting to see Mrs. Jones or some other humble +neighbor. + +The door was pushed gently open, and a woman of exceeding beauty stood +upon the threshold. + +Her slender but elegant form was clothed in the deepest mourning; her +pale, delicate face was shaded by the blackest ringlets; her large, dark +eyes were fixed with the saddest interest upon the face of Hannah Worth. + +Hannah arose in great surprise to meet her. + +"You are Miss Worth, I suppose?" said the young stranger. + +"Yes, miss; what is your will with me?" + +"I am the Countess of Hurstmonceux. Will you let me rest here a little +while?" she asked, with a sweet smile. + +Hannah gazed at the speaker in the utmost astonishment, forgetting to +answer her question, or offer a seat, or even to shut the door, through +which the wind was blowing fiercely. + +What! was this beautiful pale young creature the Countess of +Hurstmonceux, the rival of Nora, the wife of Herman Brudenell, the "bad, +artful woman" who had entrapped the young Oxonian into a discreditable +marriage? Impossible! + +While Hannah stood thus dumbfounded before the visitor, Reuben came +forward with rude courtesy, closed the door, placed a chair before the +fire, and invited the lady to be seated. + +The countess, with a gentle bow of thanks, passed on, sank into a chair, +and let her sable furs slip from her shoulders in a drift around her +feet. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE FORSAKEN WIFE. + + He prayeth best who loveth most + All things both great and small, + For the good God who loveth us, + He made and loveth all. + + --_Coleridge_. + +To account for the strange visit of the countess to Hannah Worth we must +change the scene to Brudenell Hall. + +From the time of her sudden arrival at her husband's house, every hour +had been fraught with suffering to Berenice. + +In the first instance, where she had expected to give a joyful surprise, +she had only given a painful shock; where she had looked for a cordial +welcome, she had received a cold repulse; finally, where she had hoped +her presence would confer happiness, it had brought misery! + +On the very evening of her arrival her husband, after meeting her with +reproaches, had fled from the house, leaving no clew to his destination, +and giving no reason for his strange proceeding. + +Berenice did not understand this. She cast her memory back through all +the days of her short married life spent with Herman Brudenell, and she +sought diligently for anything in her conduct that might have given him +offense. She could find nothing. Neither in all their intercourse had he +ever accused her of any wrong-doing. On the contrary, he had been +profuse in words of admiration, protestations of love and fidelity. Now +what had caused this fatal change in his feelings and conduct towards +her? Berenice could not tell. Her mind was as thoroughly perplexed as +her heart was deeply wounded. At first she did not know that he was gone +forever. She thought that he would return in an hour or two and openly +accuse her of some fault, or that he would in some manner betray the +cause of offense which he must suppose she had given him. And then, +feeling sure of her innocence, she knew she could exonerate herself from +every shadow of blame--except from that of loving him too well, if he +should consider that a fault. + +Therefore she waited patiently for his return; but when the night passed +and he had not come, she grew more and more uneasy, and when the next +day had passed without his making his appearance her uneasiness rose to +intolerable anxiety. + +The visit of poor Nora at night had aroused at once her suspicions, her +jealousy, and her compassion. She half believed that in this girl she +saw her rival in her husband's affections, the cause of her own +repudiation and--what was more bitter still to the childless Hebrew +wife--the mother of his children! This had been very terrible! But to +the Jewish woman the child of her husband, even if it is at the same +time the child of her rival, is as sacred as her own. Berenice was +loyal, conscientious, and compassionate. In the anguish of her own +deeply wounded and bleeding heart she had pitied and pleaded for poor +Nora--had even asserted her own authority as mistress of the house, for +the sake of protecting Nora: her husband's other wife, as in the +merciful construction of her gentle spirit she had termed the unhappy +girl! But then, my readers, you must remember that Berenice was a +Jewess. This poor unloved Leah would have sheltered the beloved Rachel. +We all know how her generous intentions were carried out. A second and a +third day passed, and still there came no news of Herman. + +Berenice, prostrated with the heart-wasting sickness of hope deferred, +kept her own room. Mrs. Brudenell was indignant at her son, not for his +neglect of his lovely young wife, but for his indifference to a wealthy +countess! She deferred her journey to Washington in consideration of her +noble daughter-in-law, and in the hope of her son's speedy reappearance +and reconciliation with his wife, when, she anticipated, they would all +go to Washington together, where the Countess of Hurstmonceux would +certainly be the lioness and the Misses Brudenell the belles of the +season. + +On the evening of the fourth day, while Berenice lay exhausted upon the +sofa of her bedroom, her maid entered the chamber saying: + +"Please, my lady, you remember the young woman that was here on Friday +evening?" + +"Yes!" Berenice was up on her elbow in an instant, looking eagerly into +the girl's face. + +"Your ladyship ordered me to make inquiries about her, but I could get +no news except from the old man who took her home out of the snowstorm +and who came back and said she was ill." + +"I know! I know! You told me that before. But you have heard something +else. What is it?" + +"My lady, the old woman Dinah, who went to nurse her, never came back +till to-day; that is the reason I couldn't hear any more news until +to-night." + +"Well, well, well? Your news! Out with it, girl!" + +"My lady, she is dead and buried!" + +"Who?" + +"The young woman, my lady. She died on Saturday. She was buried to-day." + +Berenice sank back on the sofa and covered her face with her hands. So! +her dangerous rival was gone; the poor unhappy girl was dead! Berenice +was jealous, but pitiful. And she experienced in the same moment a sense +of infinite relief and a feeling of the deepest compassion. + +Neither mistress nor maid spoke for several minutes. The latter was the +first to break silence. + +"My lady!" + +"Well, Phoebe!" + +"There was something else I had to tell you." + +"What was it?" + +"The young woman left a child, my lady." + +"A child!" Again Berenice was up on her elbow, her eyes fixed upon the +speaker and blazing with eager interest. + +"It is a boy, my lady; but they don't think it will live!" + +"A boy! He shall live! He is mine--my son! I will have him. Since his +mother is dead, it is I who have the best right to him!" exclaimed the +countess vehemently, rising to her feet. + +The maid recoiled--she thought her mistress had suddenly gone mad. + +"Phoebe," said the countess eagerly, "what is the hour?" + +"Nearly eleven, my lady." + +"Has it cleared off?" + +"No, my lady; it has come on to rain hard; it is pouring." + +The countess went to the windows of her room, but they were too closely +shut and warmly curtained to give her any information as to the state of +the weather without. Then she hurried impatiently into the passage where +the one end window remained with its shutters still unclosed, and she +looked out. The rain was lashing the glass with fury. She turned away +and sought her own room again--complaining: + +"Oh, I can never go to-night! It is too late and too stormy! Mrs. +Brudenell would think me crazy, and the woman at the hut would never let +me have my son. Yet, oh! what would I not give to have him on my bosom +to-night," said Berenice, pacing feverishly about the room. + +"My lady," said the maid uneasily, "I don't think you are well at all +this evening. Won't you let me give you some salvolatile?" + +"No, I don't want any!" replied the countess, without stopping in her +restless walk. + +"But, my lady, indeed you are not well!" persisted the affectionate +creature. + +"No, I am not well, Phoebe! My heart is sore, sore, Phoebe! But +that child would be a balm to it! If I could press my son to my bosom, +Phoebe, he would draw out all the fire and pain!" + +"But, my lady, he is not your son!" said the maid, with tears of alarm +starting in her eyes. + +"He is, girl! Now that his mother is dead he is mine! Who has a better +right to him than I, I wonder? His mother is gone! his father--" Here +the countess suddenly recollected herself, and as she looked into her +maid's astonished face she felt how far apart were the ideas of the +Jewish matron and the Christian maiden. She controlled her emotion, took +her seat, and said: + +"Don't be alarmed, Phoebe. I am only a little nervous to-night, my +girl. And I want something more satisfactory than a little dog to pet." + +"I don't think, my lady, you could get anything in the world more +grateful, or more faithful, or more easy to manage, than a little dog. +Certainly not a baby. Babies is awful, my lady. They aint got a bit of +gratitude or faithfulness in them; and after you have toted them about +all day, you may tote them about all night. And then they are bawling +from the first day of January until the thirty-first day of December. +Take my advice, my lady, and stick to the little dogs, and let babies +alone, if you love your peace." + +The countess smiled faintly and kept silence. But--she kept her +resolution also. + +The last words that night spoken after she was in bed, and when she was +about to dismiss her maid, were these: + +"Phoebe, mind that you are not to say one word to any human being of +the subject of our conversation to-night. But you are to call me at +eight o'clock, have my breakfast brought to me here at half-past eight, +and the carriage at the door at nine. Do you hear?" + +"Yes, my lady," answered the girl, who immediately went to the small +room adjoining her mistress' chamber, where she usually sat by day and +slept by night. + +The countess could only sleep in perfect darkness; so when Phoebe had +put out all the lights she took advantage of that darkness to leave her +door open, so that she could listen if her mistress was restless or +wakeful. The maid soon discovered that her mistress was wakeful and +restless. + +The countess could not sleep for contemplating her project of the +morning. According to her Jewish ideas, the motherless son of her +husband was as much hers as though she had brought him into the world. +And thus she, poor, unloved and childless wife, was delighted with the +son that she thought had dropped from heaven into her arms. + +That anyone should venture to raise the slightest objection to her +taking possession of her own son never entered the mind of Berenice. She +imagined that even Mrs. Brudenell, who had treated the mother with the +utmost scorn and contumely, must turn to the son with satisfaction and +desire. + +In cautioning Phoebe to secrecy she had not done so in dread of +opposition from any quarter, but with the design of giving Mrs. +Brudenell a pleasant surprise. + +She intended to go out in the morning as if for a drive, to go to the +hut, take possession of the boy, bring him home and lay him in his +grandmother's lap. And she anticipated for her reward her child's +affection, her husband's love, and her mother's cordial approval. + +Full of excitement from these thoughts, Berenice could not sleep; but +tossed from side to side in her bed like one suffering from pain or +fever. + +Her faithful attendant, who had loved her mistress well enough to leave +home and country and follow her across the seas to the Western World, +lay awake anxiously listening to her restless motions until near +morning, when, overcome by watching, she fell asleep. + +The maid, who had been the first to close her eyes, was the first to +open them. Remembering her mistress' order to be called at eight +o'clock, she sprang out of bed and looked at her watch. To her +consternation she found that it was half-past nine. + +She flew to her mistress' room and threw open the blinds, letting in a +flood of morning light. + +And then she went to the bedside and drew back the curtains and looked +upon the face of the sleeper. Such a pale, sad, worn-looking face! with +the full lips closed, the long black lashes lying on the waxen cheeks, +the slender black brows slightly contracted, and the long purplish black +hair flowing down each side and resting upon the swelling bosom; her +arms were thrown up over the pillow, and her hands clasped over her +head. This attitude added to the utter sadness and weariness of her +aspect. + +Phoebe slowly shook her head, murmuring: + +"I can't think why a lady having beauty and wealth and rank should break +her heart about any scamp of a man! Why couldn't she have purchased an +estate with her money and settled down in Old England? And if she must +have married, why didn't she marry the marquis? Lack-a-daisy-me! I wish +she had never seen this young scamp! She didn't sleep the whole night! I +know it was after four o'clock in the morning that I dropped off, and +the last thing I knew was trying to keep awake and listen to her +tossing! Well, whatever her appointment was this morning, she has missed +it by a good hour and a half; that she has, and I'm glad of it. Sleep is +the best part of life, and there isn't anything in this world worth +waking up for, as I've found out yet! Let her sleep on; she's dead for +it, anyway. So let her sleep on, and I'll take the blame." + +And with this the judicious Phoebe carefully drew the bed curtains +again, closed the window shutters, and withdrew to her own room to +complete her toilet. + +After a little while Phoebe went below to get her breakfast, which she +always took in the housekeeper's room. + +Mrs. Spicer had breakfasted long before, and so she met the girl with a +sharp rebuke for keeping late hours. + +"Pray," she inquired mockingly, "is it the fashion in the country you +came from for servants to be abed until ten o'clock in the morning?" + +"That depends on circumstances," answered Phoebe, with assumed +gravity; "the servants of noble families like the Countess of +Hurstmonceux's lie late; but the servants of common folks like yours +have to get up early." + +"Like ours, you impudent minx! I'll have you to know that our +family--the Brudenells--are as good as any other family in the world! +But it is not the custom here for the maids to lie in bed until all +hours of the morning, and that you'll find!" cried Mrs. Spicer in a +passion. + +"You'll find yourself discharged if you go on in this way! You seem to +forget that my lady is the mistress of this house," said Phoebe, +seating herself at the table, which was covered with the litter of the +housekeeper's breakfast. + +Before the housekeeper had time to reply, or the lady's maid had time to +pour out her cold coffee, the drawing-room bell rang. And soon after +Jovial entered to say that Mrs. Brudenell required the attendance of +Phoebe. The girl rose at once and went up to the drawing room. + +"How is the countess this morning?" was the first question of Mrs. +Brudenell. + +"My lady is sleeping; she has had a bad night; I thought it best not to +awake her," answered Phoebe. + +"You did right. Let me know when she is awake and ready to receive me. +You may go now." + +Phoebe returned to her cold and comfortless breakfast, and had but +just finished it when a second bell rang. This time it was her mistress, +and she hurried to answer it. + +The countess was already in her dressing-gown and slippers, seated +before her toilet-table, and holding a watch in her hand. + +"Oh, Phoebe," she exclaimed, "how could you have disobeyed me so! It +is after ten o'clock!" + +"My lady, I will tell you the truth. You were so restless last night +that you could not sleep, and I was so anxious for fear you were going +to be ill, that indeed I could not. And so I lay awake listening at you +till after four o'clock this morning, when I dropped off out of sheer +exhaustion, and so I overslept myself until half-past nine; and then my +lady, I thought, as you had had such a bad night, and as it was too late +for you to keep your appointment with yourself, and as you were sleeping +so finely, I had better not wake you. I beg your pardon, my lady, if I +did wrong, and I hope no harm has been done." + +"Not much harm, Phoebe; but something that should have been finished +by this time is yet to begin--that is all. In future, Phoebe, try to +obey me." + +"Indeed I will, my lady." + +"And now do my hair as quickly as possible." + +Phoebe's nimble fingers soon accomplished their task. + +"And now go order the carriage to come round directly; and then bring me +a cup of coffee," said the lady, rising to adjust her own dress. + +Phoebe hurried off to obey, and soon returned, bringing a delicate +little breakfast served on a tray. + +By the time the countess had drunk the coffee and tasted the rice +waffles and broiled partridge, the carriage was announced. + +Mrs. Brudenell met her in the lower hall. + +"Ah, Berenice, my dear, I am glad to see that you are going for an +airing at last. The morning is beautiful after the storm," she said. + +"Yes, mamma," replied the countess, rather avoiding the interview. + +"Which way will you drive, my dear?" + +"I think through the valley; it is sheltered from the wind there. +Good-morning!" + +And the lady entered the carriage and gave her order. + +The carriage road through the valley was necessarily much longer and +more circuitous than the footpath with which we are so familiar. The +footpath, we know, went straight down the steep precipice of Brudenell +hill, across the bottom, and then straight up the equally steep ascent +of Hut hill. Of course this route was impracticable for any wheeled +vehicle. The carriage therefore turned off to the left into a road that +wound gradually down the hillside and as gradually ascended the opposite +heights. The carriage drew up at a short distance from the hut, and the +countess alighted and walked to the door. We have seen what a surprise +her arrival caused, and now we must return to the interview between the +wife of Herman and the sister of Nora. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE COUNTESS AND THE CHILD. + + With no misgiving thought or doubt + Her fond arms clasped his child about + In the full mantle of her love; + For who so loves the darling flowers + Must love the bloom of human bowers, + The types of brightest things above. + One day--one sunny winter day-- + She pressed it to her tender breast; + The sunshine of its head there lay + As pillowed on its native rest. + + --_Thomas Buchanan Reed_. + +Lady Hurstmonceux and Hannah Worth sat opposite each other in silence. +The lady with her eyes fixed thoughtfully on the floor--Hannah waiting +for the visitor to disclose the object of her visit. + +Reuben Gray had retired to the farthest end of the room, in delicate +respect to the lady; but finding that she continued silent, it at last +dawned upon his mind that his absence was desirable. So he came forward +with awkward courtesy, saying: + +"Hannah, I think the lady would like to be alone with you; so I will bid +you good-day, and come again to-morrow." + +"Very well, Reuben," was all that the woman could answer in the presence +of a third person. + +And after shaking Hannah's hand, and pulling his forelock to the +visitor, the man went away. + +As soon as he was clearly gone the countess turned to the weaver and +said: + +"Hannah--your name is Hannah, I think?" + +"Yes, madam." + +"Well, Hannah, I have come to thank you for your tender care of my son, +and to relieve you of him!" said the countess. + +"Madam!" exclaimed the amazed woman, staring point-blank at the visitor. + +"Why, what is the matter, girl? What have I said that you should glare +at me in that way?" petulantly demanded the lady. + +"Madam, you astonish me! Your son is not here. I know nothing about your +son; not even that you had a son," replied Hannah. + +"Oh, I see," said the lady, with a faint smile; "you are angry because I +have left him on your hands so many days. That is pardonable in you. +But, you see, my girl, it was not my fault. I never even heard of the +little fellow's existence until late last night. I could not sleep for +thinking of him. And I came here as soon as I had had my breakfast." + +"Madam, can a lady have a son and not know it?" exclaimed Hannah, her +amazement fast rising to alarm, for she was beginning to suppose her +visitor a maniac escaped from Bedlam. + +"Nonsense, Hannah; do not be so hard to propitiate, my good woman! I +have explained to you how it happened! I came as soon as I could! I am +willing to reward you liberally for all the trouble you have had with +him. So now show me my son, there's a good soul." + +"Poor thing! poor, poor thing! so young and so perfectly crazy!" +muttered Hannah, looking at the countess with blended pity and fear. + +"Come, Hannah, show me my son, and have done with this!" said the +visitor, rising. + +"Don't, my lady; don't go on in this way; you know you have no son; be +good, now, and tell me if you really are the Countess of Hurstmonceux; +or if not, tell me who you are, and where you live, and let me take you +back to your friends," pleaded Hannah, taking her visitor by the hands. + +"Oh, there he is now!" exclaimed the countess, shaking Hannah off, and +going towards the bed where she saw the babe lying. + +Hannah sprang after her, clasped her around the waist, and holding her +tightly, cried out in terror: + +"Don't, my lady! for Heaven's sake, don't hurt the child! He is such a +poor little mite; he cannot live many days; he must die, and it will be +a great blessing that he does; but still, for all that, I mustn't see +him killed before my very face. No, you shan't, my lady! you shan't go +anigh him! You shan't, indeed!" exclaimed Hannah, as the countess +struggled once to free herself. + +"How dare you hold me?" exclaimed Berenice. + +"Because I am strong enough to do so, my lady, without your leave! And +because you are not yourself, my lady, and you might kill the child," +said Hannah resolutely enough, though, to tell the truth, she was +frightened almost out of her senses. + +"Not myself? Are you crazy, woman?" indignantly demanded Berenice. + +"No, my lady, but you are! Oh, do try to compose your mind, or you may +do yourself a mischief!" pleaded Hannah. + +Berenice suddenly ceased to struggle, and became perfectly quiet. Hannah +was resolved not to be deceived, and held her firmly as ever. + +"Hannah," said the countess, "I begin to see how it is that you think me +mad. You, a Christian maid, and I, a Jewish matron, do not understand +each other. We think, and look, and speak from different points of view. +You think I mean to say that the child upon the bed is the son of my own +bosom!" + +"You said so, my lady." + +"No, I said he was my son--I meant my son by marriage and by adoption." + +"I do not understand you, madam." + +"Well, I fear you don't. I will try to explain. He is"--the lady's voice +faltered and broke down--"he is my husband's son, and so, his mother +being dead, he becomes mine," breathed Berenice, in a faint voice. + +"Madam!" exclaimed Hannah, drawing back and reddening to the very edge +of her hair. + +"He is the son of Herman Brudenell, and so--" + +"My lady! how dare you say such a thing as that?" fiercely interrupted +Hannah. + +"Because, oh, Heaven! it is true," moaned Berenice; "it is true, Hannah! +Would to the Lord it were not!" + +"Lady Hurstmonceux--" + +"Stop! listen to me first, Hannah! I do not blame your poor sister. +Heaven knows I pitied her very much, and did all I could to protect her +the night she came to Brudenell Hall." + +"I know you did, madam," said Hannah, her heart softening at the +recollection of what she had heard of the countess' share in the scene +between Nora and Mrs. Brudenell. + +"She knew nothing of me when she met my husband, and she could not help +loving him any more than I could--any more than I could," she repeated +lowly to herself; "and so, though it wrings my heart to think of it, I +cannot blame her, Hannah--" + +"My lady, you have no right to blame her," interrupted Nora's sister. + +"I know it," meekly replied the wronged wife. + +"You have no right to blame her, because she was perfectly blameless in +the sight of Heaven." + +Berenice looked up in surprise, sighed and continued: + +"However that may be, Hannah, I am not her judge, and do not presume to +arraign her. May she rest in peace! But her child! Herman's child! my +child! It is of him I wish to speak! Oh, Hannah, give him to me! I want +him so much! I long for him so intensely! My heart warms to him so +ardently! He will be such a comfort, such a blessing, such a salvation +to me, Hannah! I will love him so well, and rear him so carefully, and +make him so happy! I will educate him, provide for all his wants, and +give him a profession. And if I am never reconciled to my husband--" +Here again her voice faltered and broke down; but after a dry sob, she +resumed: "If I am never reconciled to my husband, I will make his son my +heir; for I hold all my large property in my own right, Hannah! Say, +will you give me my husband's son?" + +"But, my lady--" + +"Ah, do not refuse me!" interrupted the countess. "I am so unhappy! I am +alone in the world, with no one for me to love, and no one to love me!" + +"You have many blessings, madam." + +"I have rank and wealth and good looks, if you mean them. But, ah! do +you think they make a woman happy?" + +"No, madam." + +"Listen, Hannah! My poor father was an apostate to his faith. My nation +cast me off for being his daughter and for marrying a Christian. My +parents are dead. My people are estranged. My husband alienated. But +still I have one comfort and one hope! My comfort is--the--the simple +existence of my husband! Yes, Hannah! alienated as he is, it is a +comfort to me to know that he lives. If it were not for that, I myself +should die! Oh, Hannah! it is common enough to talk of being willing to +die for one we love! It is easy to die--much easier sometimes than to +live: the last is often very hard! I will do more than die for my love: +I will live for him! live through long years of dreary loneliness, +taking my consolation in rearing his son, if you will give me the boy, +and hoping in some distant future for his return, when I can present his +boy to him, and say to him: 'If you cannot love me for my own sake, try +to love me a little for his!' Oh, Hannah! do not dash this last hope +from me! give me the boy!" + +Hannah bent her head in painful thought. To grant Lady Hurstmonceux's +prayer would be to break her vow, by virtually acknowledging the +parentage of Ishmael and betraying Herman Brudenell--and without +effecting any real good to the lady or the child, since in all human +probability the child's hours were already numbered. + +"Hannah! will you speak to me?" pleaded Berenice. + +"Yes, my lady. I was wishing to speak to you all along; but you would +not give me a chance. If you had, my lady, you would not have been +compelled to talk so much. I wished to ask you then what I wish to ask +you now: What reason have you for thinking and speaking so ill of my +sister as you do?" + +"I do not blame her; I told you so." + +"You cover her errors with a veil of charity; that is what you mean, my +lady! She needs no such veil! My sister is as innocent as an angel. And +you, my lady, are mistaken." + +"Mistaken? as to--to--Oh, Hannah! how am I mistaken?" asked the +countess, with sudden eagerness, perhaps with sudden hope. + +"If you will compose yourself, my lady, and come and sit down, I will +tell you the truth, as I have told it to everybody." + +Lady Hurstmonceux went and dropped into her chair, and gazed at Hannah +with breathless interest. + +Hannah drew another forward and sat down opposite to the countess. + +"Now then," said Berenice eagerly. + +"My lady, what I have to tell is soon said. My sister was buried in her +wedding-ring. Her son was born in wedlock." + +The Countess of Hurstmonceux started to her feet, clasped her hands and +gazed into Hannah's very soul! The light of an infinite joy irradiated +her face. + +"Is this true?" she exclaimed. + +"It is true." + +"Then I have been mistaken! Oh, how widely mistaken! Thank Heaven! Oh, +thank Heaven!" + +And the Countess of Hurstmonceux sank back in her chair, covered her +face with her hands, and burst into tears. + +Hannah felt very uncomfortable; her conscience reproached her; she was +self-implicated in a deception; and this to one of her integrity of +character was very painful. Literally, she had spoken the truth; but the +countess had drawn false inferences and deceived herself; and she could +not undeceive her without breaking her oath to Nora and betraying Herman +Brudenell. + +Then she pitied that beautiful, pale woman who was weeping so violently. +And she arose and poured out the last of poor Nora's bottle of wine and +brought it to her, saying: + +"Drink this, my lady, and try and compose yourself." + +Berenice drank the wine and thanked the woman, and then said: + +"I was very wrong to take up such fancies as I did; but then, you do not +know how strong the circumstances were that led me to such fancies. I am +glad and sorry and ashamed, all at once, Hannah! Glad to find my own and +my mother-in-law's suspicions all unfounded; sorry that I ever +entertained them against my dear husband; and ashamed--oh, how much +ashamed--that I ever betrayed them to anyone." + +"You were seeking to do him a service, my lady, when you did so," said +Hannah remorsefully and compassionately. + +"Yes, indeed I was! And then I was not quite myself! Oh, I have suffered +so much in my short life, Hannah! And I met such a cruel disappointment +on my arrival here! But there! I am talking too much again! Hannah, I +entreat you to forget all that I have said to you. And if you cannot +forget it, I implore you most earnestly never to repeat it to anyone." + +"I will not indeed, madam." + +The Countess of Hurstmonceux arose and walked to the bed, turned down +the shawl that covered the sleeping child, and gazed pitifully upon him. +Hannah did not now seek to prevent her. + +"Oh, poor little fellow, how feeble he looks! Hannah, it seems such a +pity that all the plans I formed for his future welfare should be lost +because he is not what I supposed him to be; it seems hard that the +revelation which has made me happy should make him unfortunate; or, +rather, that it should prevent his good fortune! And it shall not do so +entirely. It is true, I cannot now adopt him,--the child of a +stranger,--and take him home and rear him as my own, as I should have +done had he been what I fancied him to be. Because it might not be +right, you know, and my husband might not approve it. And, oh, Hannah, I +have grown so timid lately that I dread, I dread more than you can +imagine, to do anything that he might not like. Not that he is a +domestic tyrant either. You have lived on his estate long enough to know +that Herman Brudenell is all that is good and kind. But then you see I +am all wrong--and always was so. Everything I do is ill done--and always +so. It is all my own fault, and I must try to amend it, if ever I am to +hope for happiness. So I must not do anything unless I am sure that it +will not displease him, therefore I must not take this child of a +stranger home, and rear him as my own. But I will do all that I can for +him here. At present his little wants are all physical. Take this purse, +dear woman, and make him as comfortable as you can. I think he ought to +have medical attendance; procure it for him; get everything he needs; +and when the purse is empty bring it to me to be replenished. So much +for the present. If he lives I will pay for his schooling, and see that +he is apprenticed to some good master to learn a trade." + +And with these words the countess held out a well-filled purse to +Hannah. + +With a deep blush Hannah shook her head and put the offered bounty back, +saying: + +"No, my lady, no. Nora's child must not become the object of your +charity. It will not do. My nephew's wants are few, and will not be felt +long; I can supply them all while he lives, I thank you all the same, +madam." + +Berenice looked seriously disappointed. Again she pressed her bounty +upon Hannah, saying: + +"I do not really think you are right to refuse assistance that is +proffered to this poor child." + +But Hannah was firm as she replied: + +"I know that I am right, madam. And so long as I am able and willing to +supply all his wants myself, and so long as I do supply them, I do him +no injury in refusing for him the help of others." + +"But do you have to supply all his wants? I suppose that his father must +be a poor man, but is he so poor as not to be able to render you some +assistance?" + +Hannah paused a moment in thought before answering this question, then +she said: + +"His father is dead, my lady." (Dead to him was her mental reservation.) + +"Poor orphan," sighed the countess, with the tears springing to her +eyes; "and you will not let me do anything for him?" + +"I prefer to take care of him myself, madam, for the short time that he +will need care," replied Hannah. + +"Well, then," sighed the lady, as she restored her purse to her pocket, +"remember this--if from any circumstances whatever you should change +your mind, and be willing to accept my protection for this child, come +to me frankly, and you will find that I have not changed my mind. I +shall always be glad to do anything in my power for this poor babe." + +"I thank you, my lady; I thank you very much," said Hannah, without +committing herself to any promise. + +What instinct was it that impelled the countess to stoop and kiss the +brow of the sleeping babe, and then to catch him up and press him fondly +to her heart? Who can tell? + +The action awoke the infant, who opened his large blue eyes to the gaze +of the lady. + +"Hannah, you need not think this boy is going to die. He is only a +skeleton; but in his strong, bright eyes there is no sign of death--but +certainty of life! Take the word of one who has the blood of a Hebrew +prophetess in her veins for that!" said Berenice, with solemnity. + +"It will be as the Lord wills, my lady," Hannah reverently replied. + +The countess laid the infant back upon the bed and then drew her sable +cloak around her shoulders, shook hands with Hannah, and departed. + +Hannah Worth stood looking after the lady for some little space of time. +Hannah was an accurate reader of character, and she had seen at the +first glance that this pale, sad, but most beautiful woman could not be +the bad, artful, deceitful creature that her husband had been led to +believe and to represent her. And she wondered what mistake it could +possibly have been that had estranged Herman Brudenell from his lovely +wife and left his heart vacant for the reception of another and a most +fatal passion. + +"Whatever it may have been, I have nothing to do with it. I pity the +gentle lady, but I cannot accept her bounty for Nora's child," said +Hannah, dismissing the subject from her thoughts and returning to her +work. + +In this manner, from one plausible motive or another, was all help +rejected for the orphan boy. + +It seemed as if Providence were resolved to cast the infant helpless +upon life, to show the world what a poor boy might make of himself, by +God's blessing on his own unaided efforts! + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +BERENICE. + + Her cheeks grew pale and dim her eye, + Her voice was low, her mirth was stay'd; + Upon her heart there seemed to lie + The darkness of a nameless shade; + She paced the house from room to room, + Her form became a walking gloom. + + --_Read_. + +It was yet early in the afternoon when Berenice reached Brudenell Hall. + +Before going to her own apartments she looked into the drawing room, and +seeing Mrs. Brudenell, inquired: + +"Any news of Herman yet, mamma, dear?" + +"No, love, not yet. You've had a pleasant drive, Berenice?" + +"Very pleasant." + +"I thought so; you have more color than when you went. You should go out +every morning, my dear." + +"Yes, mamma," said the young lady, hurrying away. + +Mrs. Brudenell recalled her. + +"Come in here, if you please, my love; I want to have a little +conversation with you." + +Berenice threw her bonnet, cloak, and muff upon the hall table and +entered the drawing room. + +Mrs. Brudenell was alone; her daughters had not yet come down; she +beckoned her son's wife to take the seat on the sofa by her side. + +And when Berenice had complied she said: + +"It is of yourself and Herman that I wish to speak to you, my dear." + +"Yes, mamma." + +The lady hesitated, and then suddenly said: + +"It is now nearly a week since my son disappeared; he left his home +abruptly, without explanation, in the dead of night, at the very hour of +your arrival! That was very strange." + +"Very strange," echoed the unloved wife. + +"What was the meaning of it, Berenice?" + +"Indeed, mamma, I do not know." + +"What, then, is the cause of his absence?" + +"Indeed, indeed, I do not know." + +"Berenice! he fled from your presence. There is evidently some +misunderstanding or estrangement between yourself and your husband. I +cannot ask him for an explanation. Hitherto I have forborne to ask you. +But now that a week has passed without any tidings of my son, I have a +right to demand the explanation. Give it to me." + +"Mamma, I cannot; for I know no more than yourself," answered Berenice, +in a tone of distress. + +"You do not know; but you must suspect. Now what do you suspect to be +the cause of his going?" + +"I do not even suspect, mamma." + +"What do you conjecture, then?" persisted the lady. + +"I cannot conjecture; I am all lost in amazement, mamma; but I feel--I +feel--that it must be some fault in myself," faltered Berenice. + +"What fault?" + +"Ah, there again I am lost in perplexity; faults I have enough, Heaven +knows; but what particular one is strong enough to estrange my husband I +do not know, I cannot guess." + +"Has he never accused you?" + +"Never, mamma." + +"Nor quarreled with you?" + +"Never!" + +"Nor complained of you at all?" + +"No, mamma! The first intimation that I had of his displeasure was given +me the night of my arrival, when he betrayed some annoyance at my coming +upon him suddenly without having previously written. I gave him what I +supposed to be sufficient reasons for my act--the same reasons that I +afterwards gave you." + +"They were perfectly satisfactory. And even if they had not been so, it +was no just cause for his behavior. Did he find fault with any part of +your conduct previous to your arrival?" + +"No, mamma; certainly not. I have told you so before." + +"And this is true?" + +"As true as Heaven, mamma." + +"Then it is easy to fix upon the cause of his bad conduct. That girl. It +is a good thing she is dead," hissed the elder lady between her teeth. + +She spoke in a tone too low to reach the ears of Berenice, who sat with +her weeping face buried in her handkerchief. + +There was silence for a little while between the ladies. Berenice was +the first to break it, by asking: + +"Mamma, can you imagine where he is?" + +"No, my love! And if I do not feel so anxious about him as you feel, it +is because I know him better than you do. And I know that it is some +unjustifiable caprice that is keeping him from his home. When he comes +to his senses he will return. In the meanwhile, we must not, by any show +of anxiety, give the servants or the neighbors any cause to gossip of +his disappearance. And I must not have my plans upset by his whims. I +have already delayed my departure for Washington longer than I like; and +my daughters have missed the great ball of the season. I am not willing +to remain here any longer at all. And I think, also, that we shall be +more likely to meet Herman by going to town than by staying here. +Washington is the great center of attraction at this season of the year. +Everyone goes there. I have a pleasant furnished house on Lafayette +Square. It has been quite ready for our reception for the last +fortnight. Some of our servants have already gone up. So, my love, I +have fixed our departure for Saturday morning, if you think you can be +ready by that time. If not, I can wait a day or two." + +"I thank you, mamma; I thank you very much; but pray do not +inconvenience yourself on my account. I cannot go to town. I must stay +here and wait my husband's return--if he ever returns," murmured +Berenice to herself. + +"But suppose he is in Washington?" + +"Still, mamma, as he has not invited me to follow him, I prefer to stay +here." + +"But surely, child, you need no invitation to follow your husband, +wherever he may be." + +"Indeed I do, mamma. I came to him from Europe here, and my doing so +displeased him and drove him away from his home. And I myself would +return to my native country, only, now that I am in my husband's house, +I feel that to leave it would be to abandon my post of duty and expose +myself to just censure. But I cannot follow him farther, mamma. I +cannot! I must not obtrude myself upon his presence. I must remain here +and pray and hope for his return," sighed the poor young wife. + +"Berenice, this is all wrong; you are morbid; not fit, in your present +state of mind, to guide yourself. Be guided by me. Come with me to +Washington. You will really enjoy yourself there--you cannot help it. +Your beauty will make you the reigning belle; your taste will make you +the leader of fashion; and your title will constitute you the lioness of +the season; for, mark you, Berenice, there is nothing, not even the +'almighty dollar,' that our consistent republicans fall down and worship +with a sincerer homage than a title! All your combined attractions will +make you whatever you please to be." + +"Except the beloved of my husband," murmured Berenice, in a low voice. + +"That also! for, believe me, my dear, many men admire and love through +other men's eyes. My son is one of the many. Nothing in this world would +bring him to your side so quickly as to see you the center of attraction +in the first circles of the capital." + +"Ah, madam, the situation would lack the charm of novelty to him; he has +been accustomed to seeing me fill similar ones in London and in Paris," +said the countess, with a proud though mournful smile. + +Mrs. Brudenell's face flushed as she became conscious of having made a +blunder--a thing she abhorred, so she hastened to say: + +"Oh, of course, my dear, I know, after the European courts, our +republican capital must seem an anti-climax! Still, it is the best thing +I can offer you, and I counsel you to accept it." + +"I feel deeply grateful for your kindness, mamma; but you know I could +not enter society, except under the auspices of my husband," replied +Berenice. + +"You can enter society under the auspices of your husband's mother, the +very best chaperone you could possibly have," said the lady coldly. + +"I know that, mamma." + +"Then you will come with us?" + +"Excuse me, madam; indeed I am not thankless of your thought of me. But +I cannot go; for even if I had the spirits to sustain the role of a +woman of fashion in the gay capital this winter, I feel that in doing so +I should still further displease and alienate my husband. No, I must +remain here in retirement, doing what good I can, and hoping and praying +for his return," sighed Berenice. + +Mrs. Brudenell hastily rose from her seat. She was not accustomed to +opposition; she was too proud to plead further; and she was very much +displeased with Berenice for disappointing her cherished plan of +introducing her daughter, the Countess of Hurstmonceux, to the circles +of Washington. + +"The first dinner bell has rung some time ago, my dear. I will not +detain you longer. Myself and daughters leave for town on Saturday." + +Berenice bowed gently, and went upstairs to change her dress for dinner. + +On Saturday, according to programme, Mrs. Brudenell and her daughters +went to town, traveling in their capacious family carriage, and Berenice +was left alone. Yes, she was left alone to a solitude of heart and home +difficult to be understood by beloved and happy wives and mothers. The +strange, wild country, the large, empty house, the grotesque black +servants, were enough in themselves to depress the spirits and sadden +the heart of the young English lady. Added to these were the deep wounds +her affections had received by the contemptuous desertion of her +husband; there was uncertainty of his fate, and keen anxiety for his +safety; and the slow, wasting soul-sickness of that fruitless hope which +is worse than despair. + +Every morning, on rising from her restless bed, she would say to +herself: + +"Herman will return or I shall get a letter from him to-day." + +Every night, on sinking upon her sleepless pillow, she would sigh: + +"Another dreary day has gone and no news of Herman!" + +Thus in feverish expectation the days crept into weeks. And with the +extension of time hope grew more strained, tense, and painful. + +On Monday morning she would murmur: + +"This week I shall surely hear from Herman, if I do not see him." + +And every Saturday night she would groan: + +"Another miserable week, and no tidings of my husband." + +And thus the weeks slowly crept into months. + +Mrs. Brudenell wrote occasionally to say that Herman was not in +Washington, and to ask if he was at Brudenell. That was all. The answer +was always, "Not yet." + +Berenice could not go out among the poor, as she had designed; for in +that wilderness of hill and valley, wood and water, the roads even in +the best weather were bad enough--but in mid-winter they were nearly +impassable except by the hardiest pedestrians, the roughest horses, and +the strongest wagons. Very early in January there came a deep snow, +followed by a sharp frost, and then by a warm rain and thaw, that +converted the hills into seamed and guttered precipices; the valleys +into pools and quagmires; and the roads into ravines and rivers--quite +impracticable for ordinary passengers. + +Berenice could not get out to do her deeds of charity among the +suffering poor; nor could the landed gentry of the neighborhood make +calls upon the young stranger. And thus the unloved wife had nothing to +divert her thoughts from the one all-absorbing subject of her husband's +unexplained abandonment. The fire, that was consuming her life--the fire +of "restless, unsatisfied longing"--burned fiercely in her cavernous +dark eyes and the hollow crimson cheeks, lending wildness to the beauty +of that face which it was slowly burning away. + +As spring advanced the ground improved. The hills dried first. And every +day the poor young stranger would wander up the narrow footpath that led +over the summit of the hill at the back of the house and down to a stile +at a point on the turnpike that commanded a wide sweep of the road. And +there, leaning on the rotary cross, she would watch morbidly for the +form of him who never came back. + +Gossip was busy with her name, asking, Who this strange wife of Mr. +Brudenell really was? Why he had abandoned her? And why Mrs. Brudenell +had left the house for good, taking her daughters with her? There were +some uneducated women among the wives and daughters of the wealthy +planters, and these wished to know, if the strange young woman was +really the wife of Herman Brudenell, why she was called Lady +Hurstmonceux? and they thought that looked very black indeed; until +they were laughed at and enlightened by their better informed friends, +who instructed them that a woman once a peeress is always by courtesy a +peeress, and retains her own title even though married to a commoner. + +Upon the whole the planters' wives decided to call upon the countess, +once at least, to satisfy their curiosity. Afterwards they could visit +or drop her as might seem expedient. + +Thus, as soon as the roads became passable, scarcely a day went by in +which a large, lumbering family coach, driven by a negro coachman and +attended by a negro groom on horseback, did not arrive at Brudenell. + +To one and all of these callers the same answer was returned: + +"The Countess of Hurstmonceux is engaged, and cannot receive visitors." + +The tables were turned. The country ladies, who had been debating with +themselves whether to "take up" or "drop" this very questionable +stranger, received their congee from the countess herself from the +threshold of her own door. The planters' wives were stunned! Each was a +native queen, in her own little domain, over her own black subjects, and +to meet with a repulse from a foreign countess was an incomprehensible +thing! + +The reverence for titled foreigners, for which we republicans have been +justly laughed at, is confined exclusively to those large cities +corrupted by European intercourse. It does not exist in the interior of +the country. For instance, in Maryland and Virginia the owner of a large +plantation had a domain greater in territorial extent, and a power over +his subjects more absolute, than that of any reigning grand-duke or +sovereign prince in Germany or Italy. The planter was an absolute +monarch, his wife was his queen-consort; they saw no equals and knew no +contradiction in their own realm. Their neighbors were as powerful as +themselves. When they met, they met as peers on equal terms, the only +precedence being that given by courtesy. How, then, could the planter's +wife appreciate the dignity of a countess, who, on state occasions, must +walk behind a marchioness, who must walk behind a duchess, who must walk +behind a queen? Thus you see how it was that the sovereign ladies of +Maryland thought they were doing a very condescending thing in calling +upon the young stranger whose husband had deserted her, and whose +mother and sisters-in-law had left her alone; and that her ladyship had +committed a great act of ill-breeding and impertinence in declining +their visits. + +At the close of the Washington season Mrs. Brudenell and her daughters +returned to the Hall. She told her friends that her son was traveling in +Europe; but she told her daughter-in-law that she only hoped he was +doing so; that she really had not heard a word from him, and did not +know anything whatever of his whereabouts. + +Mrs. Brudenell and her daughters received and paid visits; gave and +attended parties, and made the house and the neighborhood very gay in +the pleasant summer time. + +Berenice did not enter into any of these amusements. She never accepted +an invitation to go out. And even when company was entertained at the +house she kept her own suite of rooms and had her meals brought to her +there. Mrs. Brudenell was excessively displeased at a course of conduct +in her daughter-in-law that would naturally give rise to a great deal of +conjecture. She expostulated with Lady Hurstmonceux; but to no good +purpose: for Berenice shrunk from company, replying to all arguments +that could be urged upon her: + +"I cannot--I cannot see visitors, mamma! It is quite--quite impossible." + +And then Mrs. Brudenell made a resolution, which she also kept--never to +come to Brudenell Hall for another summer until Herman should return to +his home and Berenice to her senses. And having so decided, she abridged +her stay and went away with her daughters to spend the remainder of the +summer at some pleasant watering-place in the North. + +And Berenice was once more left to solitude. + +Now, Lady Hurstmonceux was not naturally cold, or proud, or unsocial; +but as surely as brains can turn, and hearts break, and women die of +grief, she was crazy, heart-broken, and dying. + +She turned sick at the sight of every human face, because the one dear +face she loved and longed for was not near. The pastor of the parish, +with the benevolent perseverence of a true Christian, continued to call +at the Hall long after every other human creature had ceased to visit +the place. But Lady Hurstmonceux steadily refused to receive him. + +She never went to church. Her cherished sorrow grew morbid; her hopeless +hope became a monomania; her life narrowed down to one mournful +routine. She went nowhere but to the turnstile on the turnpike, where +she leaned upon the rotary cross, and watched the road. + +Even to this day the pale, despairing, but most beautiful face of that +young watcher is remembered in that neighborhood. + +Only very recently a lady who had lived in that vicinity said to me, in +speaking of this young forsaken wife--this stranger in our land: + +"Yes, every day she walked slowly up that narrow path to the turnstile, +and stood leaning on the cross and gazing up the road, to watch for +him--every day, rain or shine; in all weathers and seasons; for months +and years." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +NOBODY'S SON. + + Not blest? not saved? Who dares to doubt all well + With holy innocence? We scorn the creed + And tell thee truer than the bigots tell,-- + That infants all are Jesu's lambs indeed. + + --_Martin F. Tupper_. + + But thou wilt burst this transient sleep, + And thou wilt wake my babe to weep; + The tenant of a frail abode, + Thy tears must flow as mine have flowed: + And thou may'st live perchance to prove + The pang of unrequited love. + + --_Byron_. + +Ishmael lived. Poor, thin, pale, sick; sent too soon into the world; +deprived of all that could nurture healthy infant life; fed on +uncongenial food; exposed in that bleak hut to the piercing cold of that +severe winter; tended only by a poor old maid who honestly wished his +death as the best good that could happen to him--Ishmael lived. + +One day it occurred to Hannah that he was created to live. This being +so, and Hannah being a good churchwoman, she thought she would have him +baptized. He had no legal name; but that was no reason why he should not +receive a Christian one. The cruel human law discarded him as nobody's +child; the merciful Christian law claimed him as one "of the kingdom of +Heaven." The human law denied him a name; the Christian law offered him +one. + +The next time the pastor in going his charitable rounds among his poor +parishioners, called at the hut, the weaver mentioned the subject and +begged him to baptize the boy then and there. + +But the reverend gentleman, who was a high churchman, replied: + +"I will cheerfully administer the rites of baptism to the child; but you +must bring him to the altar to receive them. Nothing but imminent danger +of death can justify the performance of those sacred rites at any other +place. Bring the boy to church next Sabbath afternoon." + +"What! bring this child to church!--before all the congregation! I +should die of mortification!" said Hannah. + +"Why? Are you to blame for what has happened? Or is he? Even if the boy +were what he is supposed to be,--the child of sin,--it would not be his +fault. Do you think in all the congregation there is a soul whiter than +that of this child? Has not the Saviour said, 'Suffer little children to +come unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of Heaven?' +Bring the boy to church, Hannah! bring the boy to church," said the +pastor, as he took up his hat and departed. + +Accordingly the next Sabbath afternoon Hannah Worth took Ishmael to the +church, which was, as usual, well filled. + +Poor Hannah! Poor, gentle-hearted, pure-spirited old maid! She sat there +in a remote corner pew, hiding her child under her shawl and hushing him +with gentle caresses during the whole of the afternoon service. And when +after the last lesson had been read the minister came down to the font +and said: "Any persons present having children to offer for baptism will +now bring them forward," Hannah felt as if she would faint. But +summoning all her resolution, she arose and came out of her pew, +carrying the child. Every eye in the church turned full upon her. There +was no harm meant in this; people will gaze at every such a little +spectacle; a baby going to be baptized, if nothing else is to be had. +But to Hannah's humbled spirit and sinking heart, to carry that child up +that aisle under the fire of those eyes seemed like running a blockade +of righteous indignation that appeared to surround the altar. But she +did it. With downcast looks and hesitating steps she approached and +stood at the font--alone--the target of every pair of eyes in the +congregation. Only a moment she stood thus, when a countryman, with a +start, left one of the side benches and came and stood by her side. + +It was Reuben Gray, who, standing by her, whispered: + +"Hannah, woman, why didn't you let me know? I would have come and sat in +the pew with you and carried the child." + +"Oh, Reuben, why will you mix yourself up with me and my miseries?" +sighed Hannah. + +"'Cause we are one, my dear woman, and so I can't help it," murmured the +man. + +There was no time for more words. The minister began the services. +Reuben Gray offered himself as sponsor with Hannah, who had no right to +refuse this sort of copartnership. + +The child was christened Ishmael Worth, thus receiving both given and +surname at the altar. + +When the afternoon worship was concluded and they left the church, +Reuben Gray walked beside Hannah, begging for the privilege of carrying +the child--a privilege Hannah grimly refused. + +Reuben, undismayed, walked by her side all the way from Baymouth church +to the hut on the hill, a distance of three miles. And taking advantage +of that long walk, he pleaded with Hannah to reconsider her refusal and +to become his wife. + +"After a bit, we can go away and take the boy with us and bring him up +as our'n. And nobody need to know any better," he pleaded. + +But this also Hannah grimly refused. + +When they reached the hut she turned upon him and said: + +"Reuben Gray, I will bear my miseries and reproaches myself! I will bear +them alone! Your duty is to your sisters. Go to them and forget me." And +so saying she actually shut the door in his face! + +Reuben went away crestfallen. + +But Hannah! poor Hannah! she never anticipated the full amount of misery +and reproach she would have to bear alone! + +A few weeks passed and the money she had saved was all spent. No more +work was brought to her to do. A miserable consciousness of lost caste +prevented her from going to seek it. She did not dream of the extent of +her misfortune; she did not know that even if she had sought work from +her old employers, it would have been refused her. + +One day when the Professor of Odd Jobs happened to be making a +professional tour in her way, and called at the hut to see if his +services might be required there, she gave him a commission to seek work +for her among the neighboring farmers and planters--a duty that the +professor cheerfully undertook. + +But when she saw him again, about ten days after, and inquired about his +success in procuring employment for her, he shook his head, saying: + +"There's a plenty of weaving waiting to be done everywhere, Miss +Hannah--which it stands to reason there would be at this season of the +year. There's all the cotton cloth for the negroes' summer clothes to be +wove; but, Miss Hannah, to tell you the truth, the ladies as I've +mentioned it to refuses to give the work to you." + +"But why?" inquired the poor woman, in alarm. + +"Well, Miss Hannah, because of what has happened, you know. The world is +very unjust, Miss Hannah! And women are more unjust than men. If 'man's +inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn,' I'm sure women's +cruelty to women makes angels weep!" And here the professor, having +lighted upon a high-toned subject and a helpless hearer, launched into a +long oration I have not space to report. He ended by saying: + +"And now, Miss Hannah, if I were you I would not expose myself to +affronts by going to seek work." + +"But what can I do, Morris? Must I starve, and let the child starve?" +asked the weaver, in despair. + +"Well, no, Miss Hannah; me and my ole 'oman must see what we can do for +you. She aint as young as she used to be, and she mustn't work so hard. +She must part with some of her own spinning and weaving to you. And I +must work a little harder to pay for it. Which I am very willing to do; +for I say, Hannah, when an able-bodied man is not willing to shift the +burden off his wife's shoulders on to his own, he is unworthy to be--" + +Here the professor launched into a second oration, longer than the +first. In conclusion, he said: + +"And so, Miss Hannah, we will give you what work we have to put out. And +you must try and knock along and do as well as you can this season. And +before the next the poor child will die, and the people will forget all +about it, and employ you again." + +"But the child is not a-going to die!" burst forth Hannah, in +exasperation. "If he was the son of rich parents, whose hearts lay in +him, and who piled comforts and luxuries and elegances upon him, and +fell down and worshiped him, and had a big fortune and a great name to +leave him, and so did everything they possibly could to keep him alive, +he'd die! But being what he is, a misery and shame to himself and all +connected with him, he'll live! Yes, half-perished as he is with cold +and famine, he'll live! Look at him now!" + +The professor did turn and look at the little, thin, wizen-faced boy who +lay upon the bed, contentedly sucking his skinny thumb, and regarding +the speaker with big, bright, knowing eyes, that seemed to say: + +"Yes, I mean to suck my thumb and live!" + +"To tell you the truth, I think so, too," said the professor, scarcely +certain whether he was replying to the words of Hannah or to the looks +of the child. + +It is certain that the dread of death and the desire of life is the very +earliest instinct of every animate creature. Perhaps this child was +endowed with excessive vitality. Certainly, the babe's persistence in +living on "under difficulties" might have been the germ of that enormous +strength and power of will for which the man was afterwards so noted. + +The professor kept his word with Hannah, and brought her some work. But +the little that he could afford to pay for it was not sufficient to +supply one-fourth of Hannah's necessities. + +At last came a day when her provisions were all gone. And Hannah locked +the child up alone in the hut and set off to walk to Baymouth, to try to +get some meal and bacon on credit from the country shop where she had +dealt all her life. + +Baymouth was a small port, at the mouth of a small bay making up from +the Chesapeake. It had one church, in charge of the Episcopal minister +who had baptized Nora's child. And it had one large, country store, kept +by a general dealer named Nutt, who had for sale everything to eat, +drink, wear, or wield, from sugar and tea to meat and fish; from linen +cambric to linsey-woolsey; from bonnets and hats to boots and shoes; +from new milk to old whisky; from fresh eggs to stale cheese; and from +needles and thimbles to plows and harrows. + +Hannah, as I said, had been in the habit of dealing at this shop all her +life, and paying cash for everything she got. So now, indeed, she might +reasonably ask for a little credit, a little indulgence until she could +procure work. Yet, for all that, she blushed and hesitated at having to +ask the unusual favor. She entered the store and found the dealer alone. +She was glad of that, as she rather shrank from preferring her humble +request before witnesses. Mr. Nutt hurried forward to wait on her. +Hannah explained her wants, and then added: + +"If you will please credit me for the things, Mr. Nutt, I will be sure +to pay you the first of the month." + +The dealer looked at the customer and then looked down at the counter, +but made no reply. + +Hannah, seeing his hesitation, hastened to say that she had been out of +work all the winter and spring, but that she hoped soon to get some +more, when she would be sure to pay her creditor. + +"Yes, I know you have lost your employment, poor girl, and I fear that +you will not get it again," said the dealer, with a look of compassion. + +"But why, oh! why should I not be allowed to work, when I do my work so +willingly and so well?" exclaimed Hannah, in, despair. + +"Well, my dear girl, if you do not know the reason, I cannot be the man +to tell you." + +"But if I cannot get work, what shall I do? Oh! what shall I do? I +cannot starve! And I cannot see the child starve!" exclaimed Hannah, +clasping her hands and raising her eyes in earnest appeal to the +judgment of the man who had known her from infancy: who was old enough +to be her father, and who had a wife and grown daughter of his own: + +"What shall I do? Oh! what shall I do?" she repeated. + +Mr. Nutt still seemed to hesitate and reflect, stealing furtive glances +at the anxious face of the woman. At last he bent across the counter, +took her hand, and, bending his head close to her face, whispered: + +"I'll tell you what, Hannah. I will let you have the articles you have +asked for, and anything else in my store that you want, and I will never +charge you anything for them--" + +"Oh, sir, I couldn't think of imposing on your goodness so: The Lord +reward you, sir! but I only want a little credit for a short time," +broke out Hannah, in the warmth of her gratitude. + +"But stop, hear me out, my dear girl! I was about to say you might come +to my store and get whatever you want, at any time, without payment, if +you will let me drop in and see you sometimes of evenings," whispered +the dealer. + +"Sir!" said Hannah, looking up in innocent perplexity. + +The man repeated his proposal with a look that taught even Hannah's +simplicity that she had received the deepest insult a woman could +suffer. Hannah was a rude, honest, high-spirited old maid. And she +immediately obeyed her natural impulses, which were to raise her strong +hands and soundly box the villain's ears right and left, until he saw +more stars in the firmament than had ever been created. And before he +could recover from the shock of the assault she picked up her basket and +strode from the shop. Indignation lent her strength and speed, and she +walked home in double-quick time. But once in the shelter of her own hut +she sat down, threw her apron over her head, and burst into passionate +tears and sobs, crying: + +"It's all along of poor Nora and that child, as I'm thought ill on by +the women and insulted by the men! Yes, it is, you miserable little +wretch!" she added, speaking to the baby, who had opened his big eyes to +see the cause of the uproar. "It's all on her account and yourn, as I'm +treated so! Why do you keep on living, you poor little shrimp? Why don't +you die? Why can't both of us die? Many people die who want to live! Why +should we live who want to die? Tell me that, little miserable!" But the +baby defiantly sucked his thumb, as if it held the elixir of life, and +looked indestructible vitality from his great, bright eyes. + +Hannah never ventured to ask another favor from mortal man, except the +very few in whom she could place entire confidence, such as the pastor +of the parish, the Professor of Odd Jobs, and old Jovial. Especially she +shunned Nutt's shop as she would have shunned a pesthouse; although this +course obliged her to go two miles farther to another village to procure +necessaries whenever she had money to pay for them. + +Nutt, on his part, did not think it prudent to prosecute Hannah for +assault. But he did a base thing more fatal to her reputation. He told +his wife how that worthless creature, whose sister turned out so badly, +had come running after him, wanting to get goods from his shop, and +teasing him to come to see her; but that he had promptly ordered her out +of the shop and threatened her with a constable if ever she dared to +show her face there again. + +False, absurd, and cruel as this story was, Mrs. Nutt believed it, and +told all her acquaintances what an abandoned wretch that woman was. And +thus poor Hannah Worth lost all that she possessed in the world--her +good name. She had been very poor. But it would be too dreadful now to +tell in detail of the depths of destitution and misery into which she +and the child fell, and in which they suffered and struggled to keep +soul and body together for years and years. + +It is wonderful how long life may be sustained under the severest +privations. Ishmael suffered the extremes of hunger and cold; yet he did +not starve or freeze to death; he lived and grew in that mountain hut as +pertinaciously as if he had been the pampered pet of some royal nursery. + +At first Hannah did not love him. Ah, you know, such unwelcome children +are seldom loved, even by their parents. But this child was so patient +and affectionate, that it must have been an unnatural heart that would +not have been won by his artless efforts to please. He bore hunger and +cold and weariness with baby heroism. And if you doubt whether there is +any such a thing in the world as "baby heroism", just visit the nursery +hospitals of New York, and look at the cheerfulness of infant sufferers +from disease. + +Ishmael was content to sit upon the floor all day long, with his big +eyes watching Hannah knit, sew, spin, or weave, as the case might be. +And if she happened to drop her thimble, scissors, spool of cotton, or +ball of yarn, Ishmael would crawl after it as fast as his feeble little +limbs would take him, and bring it back and hold it up to her with a +smile of pleasure, or, if the feat had been a fine one, a little laugh +of triumph. Thus, even before he could walk, he tried to make himself +useful. It was his occupation to love Hannah, and watch her, and crawl +after anything she dropped and restore it to her. Was this such a small +service? No; for it saved the poor woman the trouble of getting up and +deranging her work to chase rolling balls of yarn around the room. Or +was it a small pleasure to the lonely old maid to see the child smile +lovingly up in her face as he tendered her these baby services? I think +not. Hannah grew to love little Ishmael. Who, indeed, could have +received all his innocent overtures of affection and not loved him a +little in return? Not honest Hannah Worth. It was thus, you see, by his +own artless efforts that he won his grim aunt's heart. This was our +boy's first success. And the truth may as well be told of him now, that +in the whole course of his eventful life he gained no earthly good which +he did not earn by his own merits. But I must hurry over this part of my +story. + +When Ishmael was about four years old he began to take pleasure in the +quaint pictures of the old family Bible, that I have mentioned as the +only book and sole literary possession of Hannah Worth. A rare old copy +it was, bearing the date of London, 1720, and containing the strangest +of all old old-fashioned engravings. But to the keenly appreciating mind +of the child these pictures were a gallery of art. And on Sunday +afternoons, when Hannah had leisure to exhibit them, Ishmael never +wearied of standing by her side, and gazing at the illustrations of +"Cain and Abel," "Joseph Sold by his Brethren," "Moses in the +Bulrushes," "Samuel Called by the Lord," "John the Baptist and the +Infant Jesus," "Christ and the Doctors in the Temple," and so forth. + +"Read me about it," he would say of each picture. + +And Hannah would have to read these beautiful Bible stories. One day, +when he was about five years old, he astonished his aunt by saying: + +"And now I want to read about them for myself!" + +But Hannah found no leisure to teach him. And besides she thought it +would be time enough some years to come for Ishmael to learn to read. So +thought not our boy, however, as a few days proved. + +One night Hannah had taken home a dress to one of the plantation +negroes, who were now her only customers, and it was late when she +returned to the hut. When she opened the door a strange sight met her +eyes. The Professor of Odd Jobs occupied the seat of honor in the arm +chair in the chimney corner. On his knees lay the open Bible; while by +his side stood little Ishmael, holding an end of candle in his hand, and +diligently conning the large letters on the title page. The little +fellow looked up with his face full of triumph, exclaiming: + +"Oh, aunty, I know all the letters on this page now! And the professor +is going to teach me to read! And I am going to help him gather his +herbs and roots every day to pay him for his trouble!" + +The professor looked up and smiled apologetically, saying: + +"I just happened in, Miss Hannah, to see if there was anything wanting +to be done, and I found this boy lying on the floor with the Bible open +before him trying to puzzle out the letters for himself. And as soon as +he saw me he up and struck a bargain with me to teach him to read. And +I'll tell you what, Miss Hannah, he's going to make a man one of these +days! You know I've been a colored schoolmaster, among my other +professions, and I tell you I never came across such a quick little +fellow as he is, bless his big head! There now, my little man, that's +learning enough for one sitting. And besides the candle is going out," +concluded the professor, as he arose and closed the book and departed. + +But again Ishmael held a different opinion from his elders; and lying +down before the fire-lit hearth, with the book open before him, he went +over and over his lesson, grafting it firmly in his memory lest it +should escape him. In this way our boy took his first step in knowledge. +Two or three times in the course of the week the professor would come to +give him another lesson. And Ishmael paid for his tuition by doing the +least of the little odd jobs for the professor of that useful art. + +"You see I can feel for the boy like a father, Miss Hannah," said the +professor, after giving his lesson one evening; "because, you know, I am +in a manner self-educated myself. I had to pick up reading, writing, and +'rithmetick any way I could from the white children. So I can feel for +this boy as I once felt for myself. All my children are girls; but if I +had a son I couldn't feel more pride in him than I do in this boy. And I +tell you again, he is going to make a man one of these days." + +Ishmael thought so too. He had previsions of future success, as every +very intelligent lad must have; but at present his ambition took no very +lofty flights. The greatest man of his acquaintance was the Professor of +Odd Jobs. And to attain the glorious eminence occupied by the learned +and eloquent dignitary was the highest aspiration of our boy's early +genius. + +"Aunty," he said one day, after remaining in deep thought for a long +time, "do you think if I was to study very hard indeed, night and day, +for years and years, I should ever be able to get as much knowledge and +make as fine speeches as the professor?" + +"How do I know, Ishmael? You ask such stupid questions. All I can say +is, if it aint in you it will never come out of you," answered the +unappreciating aunt. + +"Oh, if that's all, it is in me; there's a deal more in me than I can +talk about; and so I believe I shall be able to make fine speeches like +the professor some day." + +Morris certainly took great pains with his pupil; and Ishmael repaid his +teacher's zeal by the utmost devotion to his service. + +By the time our boy had attained his seventh year he could read +fluently, write legibly, and work the first four rules in arithmetic. +Besides this, he had glided into a sort of apprenticeship to the odd-job +line of business, and was very useful to his principal. The manner in +which he helped his master was something like this: If the odd job on +hand happened to be in the tinkering line, Ishmael could heat the irons +and prepare the solder; if it were in the carpentering and joining +branch, he could melt the glue; if in the brick-laying, he could mix the +mortar; if in the painting and glazing, he could roll the putty. + +When he was eight years old he commenced the study of grammar, +geography, and history, from old books lent him by his patron; and he +also took a higher degree in his art, and began to assist his master by +doing the duties of clerk and making the responses, whenever the +professor assumed the office of parson and conducted the church services +to a barn full of colored brethren; by performing the part of mourner +whenever the professor undertook to superintend a funeral; and by +playing the tambourine in accompaniment to the professor's violin +whenever the latter became master of ceremonies for a colored ball! + +In this manner he not only paid for his own tuition, but earned a very +small stipend, which it was his pride to carry to Hannah, promising her +that some day soon he should be able to earn enough to support her in +comfort. + +Thus our boy was rapidly progressing in the art of odd jobs and bidding +fair to emulate the fame and usefulness of the eminent professor +himself, when an event occurred in the neighborhood that was destined to +change the direction of his genius. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +NEWS FROM HERMAN. + + But that which keepeth us apart is not + Distance, nor depth of wave, nor space of earth, + But the distractions of a various lot, + As various as the climates of our birth. + + My blood is all meridian--were it not + I had not left my clime, nor should I be, + In spite of tortures, ne'er to be forgot, + A slave again of love, at least of thee! + + --_Byron_. + +The life of Berenice was lonely enough. She had perseveringly rejected +the visits of her neighbors, until at length they had taken her at her +word and kept away from her house. + +She had persistently declined the invitations of Mrs. Brudenell to join +the family circle at Washington every winter, until at last that lady +had ceased to repeat them and had also discontinued her visits to +Brudenell Hall. + +Berenice passed her time in hoping and praying for her husband's return, +and in preparing and adorning her home for his reception; in training +and improving the negroes; in visiting and relieving the poor; and in +walking to the turnstile and watching the high-road. + +Surely a more harmless and beneficent life could not be led by woman; +yet the poisonous alchemy of detraction turned all her good deeds into +evil ones. + +Poor Berenice--poor in love, was rich in gold, and she lavished it with +an unsparing hand on the improvement of Brudenell. She did not feel at +liberty to pull down and build up, else had the time-worn old mansion +house disappeared from sight and a new and elegant villa had reared its +walls upon Brudenell Heights. But she did everything else she could to +enhance the beauty and value of the estate. + +The house was thoroughly repaired, refurnished, and decorated with great +luxury, richness, and splendor. The grounds were laid out, planted, and +adorned with all the beauty that taste, wealth, and skill could produce. +Orchards and vineyards were set out. Conservatories and pineries were +erected. The negroes' squalid log-huts were replaced with neat stone +cottages, and the shabby wooden fences by substantial stone walls. + +And all this was done, not for herself, but for her husband, and her +constant mental inquiry was: + +"After all, will Herman be pleased?" + +Yet when the neighbors saw this general renovation, of the estate, which +could not have been accomplished without considerable expenditure of +time, money, and labor, they shook their heads in strong disapprobation, +and predicted that that woman's extravagance would bring Herman +Brudenell to beggary yet. + +She sought to raise the condition of the negroes, not only by giving +them neat cottages, but by comfortably furnishing their rooms, and +encouraging them to keep their little houses and gardens in order, +rewarding them for neatness and industry, and established a school for +their children to learn to read and write. But the negroes--hereditary +servants of the Brudenells--looked upon this stranger with jealous +distrust, as an interloping foreigner who had, by some means or other, +managed to dispossess and drive away the rightful family from the old +place. And so they regarded all her favors as a species of bribery, and +thanked her for none of them. And this was really not ingratitude, but +fidelity. The neighbors denounced these well-meant efforts of the +mistress as dangerous innovations, incendiarisms, and so forth, and +thanked Heaven that the Brudenell negroes were too faithful to be led +away by her! + +She went out among the poor of her neighborhood and relieved their wants +with such indiscriminate and munificent generosity as to draw down upon +herself the rebuke of the clergy for encouraging habits of improvidence +and dependence in the laboring classes. As for the subjects of her +benevolence, they received her bounty with the most extravagant +expressions of gratitude and the most fulsome flattery. This was so +distasteful to Berenice that she oftened turned her face away, blushing +with embarrassment at having listened to it. Yet such was the gentleness +of her spirit, that she never wounded their feelings by letting them see +that she distrusted the sincerity of these hyperbolical phrases. + +"Poor souls," she said to herself, "it is the best they have to offer +me, and I will take it as if it were genuine." + +Berenice was right in her estimate of their flattery. Astonished at her +lavish generosity, and ignorant of her great wealth, which made +alms-giving easy, her poor neighbors put their old heads together to +find out the solution of the problem. And they came to the conclusion +that this lady must have been a great sinner, whose husband had +abandoned her for some very good reason, and who was now endeavoring to +atone for her sins by a life of self-denial and benevolence. This +conclusion seemed too probable to be questioned. This verdict was +brought to the knowledge of Berenice in a curious way. Among the +recipients of her bounty was Mrs. Jones, the ladies' nurse. The old +woman had fallen into a long illness, and consequently into extreme +want. Her case came to the knowledge of Berenice, who hastened to +relieve her. When the lady had made the invalid comfortable and was +about to take leave, the latter said: + +"Ah, 'charity covers a multitude of sins,' ma'am! Let us hope that all +yours may be so covered." + +Berenice stared in surprise. It was not the words so much as the manner +that shocked her. And Phoebe, who had attended her mistress, scarcely +got well out of the house before her indignation burst forth in the +expletives: + +"Old brute! Whatever did she mean by her insolence? My lady, I hope you +will do nothing more for the old wretch." + +Berenice walked on in silence until they reached the spot where they had +left their carriage, and when they had re-entered it, she said: + +"Something like this has vaguely met me before; but never so plainly and +bluntly as to-day; it is unpleasant; but I must not punish one poor old +woman for a misapprehension shared by the whole community." + +So calmly and dispassionately had the countess answered her attendant's +indignant exclamation. But as soon as Berenice reached her own chamber +she dismissed her maid, locked her door, and gave herself up to a +passion of grief. + +It was but a trifle--that coarse speech of a thoughtless old woman--a +mere trifle; but it overwhelmed her, coming, as it did, after all that +had gone before. It was but the last feather, you know, only a single +feather laid on the pack that broke the camel's back. It was but a drop +of water, a single drop, that made the full cup overflow! + +Added to bereavement, desertion, loneliness, slander, ingratitude, had +come this little bit of insolence to overthrow the firmness that had +stood all the rest. And Berenice wept. + +She had left home, friends, and country for one who repaid the sacrifice +by leaving her. She had lavished her wealth upon those who received her +bounty with suspicion and repaid her kindness with ingratitude. She had +lived a life as blameless and as beneficent as that of any old time +saint or martyr, and had won by it nothing but detraction and calumny. +Her parents were dead, her husband gone, her native land far away, her +hopes were crushed. No wonder she wept. And then the countess was out of +her sphere; as much out of her sphere in the woods of Maryland as Hans +Christian Andersen's cygnet was in the barnyard full of fowls. She was a +swan, and they took her for a deformed duck. And at last she herself +began to be vaguely conscious of this. + +"Why do I remain here?" she moaned; "what strange magnetic power is it +that holds my very will, fettered here, against my reason and judgment? +That has so held me for long years? Yes, for long, weary years have I +been bound to this cross, and I am not dead yet! Heavenly Powers! what +are my nerves and brain and heart made of that I am not dead, or mad, or +criminal before this? Steel, and rock, and gutta percha, I think! Not +mere flesh and blood and bone like other women's? Oh, why do I stay +here? Why do I not go home? I have lost everything else; but I have +still a home and country left! Oh, that I could break loose! Oh, that I +could free myself! Oh, that I had the wings of a dove, for then I would +fly away and be at rest!'" she exclaimed, breaking into the pathetic +language of the Psalmist. + +A voice softly stole upon her ear, a low, plaintive voice singing a +homely Scotch song: + + "'Oh, it's hame, hame, hame, + Hame fain would I be; + But the wearie never win back + To their ain countrie.'" + +Tears sprang again to the eyes of the countess as she caught up and +murmured the last two lines: + + "'But the wearie never win back + To their ain countrie.'" + +Phoebe, for it was she who was singing, hushed her song as she reached +her lady's door, and knocked softly. The countess unlocked the door to +admit her. + +"It is only the mail bag, my lady, that old Jovial has just brought from +the post office," said the girl. + +Lady Hurstmonceux listlessly looked over its contents. Several years of +disappointment had worn out all expectation of hearing from the only one +of whom she cared to receive news. There were home and foreign +newspapers that she threw carelessly out. And there was one letter at +the bottom of all the rest that she lifted up and looked at with languid +curiosity. But as soon as her eyes fell upon the handwriting of the +superscription the letter dropped from her hand and she sank back in her +chair and quietly fainted away. + +Phoebe hastened to apply restoratives, and after a few minutes the +lady recovered consciousness and rallied her faculties. + +"The letter! the letter, girl! give me the letter!" she gasped in eager +tones. + +Phoebe picked it up from the carpet, upon which it had fallen, and +handed it to her mistress. + +Berenice, with trembling fingers, broke the seal and read the letter. It +was from Herman Brudenell, and ran as follows: + + "London, December 1, 18-- + + "Lady Hurstmonceux: If there is one element of saving comfort in + my lost, unhappy life, it is the reflection that, though in an evil + hour I made you my wife, you are not called by my name; but that + the courtesy of custom continues to you the title won by your first + marriage with the late Earl of Hurstmonceux; and that you cannot + therefore so deeply dishonor my family. + + "Madam, it would give me great pain to write to any other woman, + however guilty, as I am forced to write to you; because on any + woman I should feel that I was inflicting suffering, which you know + too well I have not--never had the nerve to do; but you, I know, + cannot be hurt; you are callous. If your early youth had not shown + you to be so, the last few years of your life would have proved it. + If you had not been so insensible to shame as you are to remorse, + how could you, after your great crime, take possession of my house + and, by so doing, turn my mother and sisters from their home and + banish me from my country? For well you know that, while you live + at Brudenell Hall, my family cannot re-enter its walls! Nay, + more--while you choose to reside in America, I must remain an exile + in Europe. The same hemisphere is not broad enough to contain the + Countess of Hurstmonceux and Herman Brudenell. + + "I have given you a long time to come to your senses and leave my + house. Now my patience is exhausted, and I require you to depart. + You are not embarrassed for a home or a support: if you were I + should afford you both, on condition of your departure from + America. But my whole patrimony would be but a mite added to your + treasures. + + "You have country-seats in England, Scotland, and Ireland, as well + as a town house in London, a marine villa at Boulougne, and a Swiss + cottage on Lake Leman. All these are your own; and you shall never + be molested by me in your exclusive possession of them. Choose your + residence from among them, and leave me in peaceable possession of + the one modest countryhouse I have inherited in my native land. I + wish to sell it. + + "But you doubtless have informed yourself before this time, that by + the laws of the State in which my property is situated, a man + cannot sell his homestead without the consent of his wife. Your + co-operation is therefore necessary in the sale of Brudenell Hall. + I wish you to put yourself in immediate communication with my + solicitors, Messrs. Kage & Kage, Monument Street, Baltimore, who + are in possession of my instructions. Do this promptly, and win + from me the only return you have left it in my power to make + you--oblivion of your crimes and of yourself. + + "Herman Brudenell." + +With the calmness of despair Berenice read this cruel letter through to +the end, and dropped it on her lap, and sat staring at it in silence. +Then, as if incredulous of its contents, or doubtful of its meaning, she +took it up and read it again, and again let it fall. And yet a third +time--after rapidly passing her hand to and fro across her forehead, as +if that action would clear her vision--she raised, re-perused, and laid +aside the letter. Then she firmly set her teeth, and slowly nodded her +head, while for an instant a startling light gleamed from her deep black +eyes. + +Her faithful attendant, while seeming to be busy arranging the flasks on +the dressing-table, furtively and anxiously watched her mistress, who at +last spoke: + +"Phoebe!" + +"Yes, my lady." + +"Bring me a glass of wine." + +The girl brought the required stimulant, and in handing it to her +mistress noticed how deadly white her face had become. And as the +countess took the glass from the little silver waiter her hand came in +contact with that of Phoebe, and the girl felt as if an icicle had +touched her, so cold it was. + +"Now wheel my writing-desk forward," said the countess, as she sipped +her wine. + +The order was obeyed. + +"And now," continued the lady, as she replaced the glass and opened her +desk, "pack up my wardrobe and jewels, and your own clothes. Order the +carriage to be at the door at eight o'clock, to take us to Baymouth. We +leave Baymouth for New York to-morrow morning, and New York for +Liverpool next Saturday." + +"Now, glory be to Heaven for that, my lady; and I wish it had been years +ago instead of to-day!" joyfully exclaimed the girl, as she went about +her business. + +"And so do I! And so do I, with all my heart and soul!" thought +Berenice, as she arranged her papers and took up a pen to write. In an +instant she laid it down again, and arose and walked restlessly up and +down the floor, wringing her hands, and muttering to herself: + +"And this is the man for whose sake I sacrificed home, friends, country, +and the most splendid prospects that ever dazzled the imagination of +woman! This is the man whom I have loved and watched and prayed for, all +these long years, hoping against hope, and believing against knowledge. +If he had ceased to love me, grown tired of me, and wished to be rid of +me, could he not have told me so, frankly, from the first? It would have +been less cruel than to have inflicted on me this long anguish of +suspense! less cowardly than to have attempted to justify his desertion +of me by a charge of crime! What crime--he knows no more than I do! Oh, +Herman! Herman! how could you fall so low? But I will not reproach you +even in my thoughts. But I must, I must forget you!" + +She returned to her desk, sat down and took up her pen; but again she +dropped it, bowed her head upon her desk, and wept: + +"Oh, Herman! Herman! must I never hope to meet you again? never look +into your dark eyes, never clasp your hand, or hear your voice again? +never more? never more! Must mine be the hand that writes our sentence +of separation? I cannot! oh! I cannot do it, Herman! And yet!--it is you +who require it!" + +After a few minutes she took up his letter and read it over for the +fourth time. Its ruthless implacability seemed to give her the strength +necessary to obey its behests. As if fearing another failure of her +resolution, she wrote at once: + + "Brudenell Hall, December 30, 18-- + + "Mr. Brudenell: Your letter has relieved me from an embarrassing + position. I beg your pardon for having been for so long a period an + unconscious usurper of your premises. I had mistaken this place for + my husband's house and my proper home. My mistake, however, has not + extended to the appropriation of the revenues of the estate. You + will find every dollar of those placed to your credit in the + Planters' Bank of Baymouth. My mistake has been limited to the + occupancy of the house. For that wrong I shall make what reparation + remains in my power. I shall leave this place this Friday evening; + see your solicitors on Monday; place in their hands a sum + equivalent to the full value of Brudenell Hall, as a compensation + to you for my long use of the house; and then sign whatever + documents may be necessary to renounce all claim upon yourself and + your estate, and to free you forever from + + "Berenice, Countess of Hurstmonceux." + + +She finished the letter and threw down the pen. What it had cost her to +write thus, only her own loving and outraged woman's heart knew. + +By the time she had sealed her letter Phoebe entered to say that the +dinner was served--that solitary meal at which she had sat down, +heart-broken, for so many weary years. + +She answered, "Very well," but never stirred from her seat. + +Phoebe fidgeted about the room for a while, and then, with the freedom +of a favorite attendant, she came to the side of the countess and, +smiling archly, said: + +"My lady." + +"Well, Phoebe?" + +"People needn't starve, need they, because they are going back to their +'ain countrie'?" + +Lady Hurstmonceux smiled faintly, roused herself, and went down to +dinner. + +On her return to her room she found her maid locking the last trunks. + +"Is everything packed, Phoebe?" + +"Except the dress you have on, my lady; and I can lay that on the top of +this trunk after you put on your traveling dress." + +"And you are glad we are going home, my girl?" + +"Oh, my lady, I feel as if I could just spread out my arms and fly for +joy." + +"Then I am, also, for your sake. What time is it now?" + +"Five o'clock, my lady." + +"Three hours yet. Tell Mrs. Spicer to come here." + +Phoebe locked the trunk she had under her hand and went out to obey. +When Mrs. Spicer came in she was startled by the intelligence that her +lady was going away immediately, and that the house was to be shut up +until the arrival of Mr. Brudenell or his agents, who would arrange for +its future disposition. + +When Lady Hurstmonceux had finished these instructions she placed a +liberal sum of money in the housekeeper's hands, with orders to divide +it among the house-servants. + +Next she sent for Grainger, the overseer, and having given him the same +information, and put a similar sum of money in his hands for +distribution among the negroes, she dismissed both the housekeeper and +the overseer. Then she enclosed a note for a large amount in a letter +addressed to the pastor of the parish, with a request that he would +appropriate it for the relief of the suffering poor in that +neighborhood. Finally, having completed all her preparations, she took a +cup of tea, bade farewell to her dependents, and, attended by Phoebe, +entered the carriage and was driven to Baymouth, where she posted her +two letters in time for the evening mail, and where the next morning she +took the boat for Baltimore, en route for the North. She stopped in +Baltimore only long enough to arrange business with Mr. Brudenell's +solicitors, and then proceeded to New York, whence, at the end of the +same week, she sailed for Liverpool. Thus the beautiful young English +Jewess, who had dropped for a while like some rich exotic flower +transplanted to our wild Maryland woods, returned to her native land, +where, let us hope, she found in an appreciating circle of friends some +consolation for the loss of that domestic happiness that had been so +cruelly torn from her. + +We shall meet with Berenice, Countess of Hurstmonceux, again; but it +will be in another sphere, and under other circumstances. + +It was in the spring succeeding her departure that the house-agents and +attorneys came down to appraise and sell Brudenell Hall. Since the +improvements bestowed upon the estate by Lady Hurstmonceux, the property +had increased its value, so that a purchaser could not at once be found. +When this fact was communicated to Mr. Brudenell, in London, he wrote +and authorized his agent to let the property to a responsible tenant, +and if possible to hire the plantation negroes to the same party who +should take the house. + +All this after a while was successfully accomplished. A gentleman from a +neighboring State took the house, all furnished as it was, and hired all +the servants of the premises. + +He came early in June, but who or what he was, or whence he came, none +of the neighbors knew. The arrival of any stranger in a remote country +district is always the occasion of much curiosity, speculation, and +gossip. But when such a one brings the purse of Fortunatus in his +pocket, and takes possession of the finest establishment in the +country--house, furniture, servants, carriages, horses, stock and all, +he becomes the subject of the wildest conjecture. + +It does not require long to get comfortably to housekeeping in a +ready-made home; so it was soon understood in the neighborhood that the +strangers were settled in their new residence, and might be supposed to +be ready to receive calls. + +But the neighbors, though tormented with curiosity, cautiously held +aloof, and waited until the Sabbath, when they might expect to see the +newcomers, and judge of their appearance and hear their pastor's opinion +of them. + +So, on the first Sunday after the stranger's settlement at Brudenell +Hall the Baymouth Church was crowded to excess. But those of the +congregation who went there with other motives than to worship their +Creator were sadly disappointed. The crimson-lined Brudenell pew +remained vacant, as it had remained for several years. + +"Humph! not church-going people, perhaps! We had an English Jewess +before, perhaps we shall have a Turkish Mohammedan next!" was the +speculation of one of the disappointed. + +The conjecture proved false. + +The next Sunday the Brudenell pew was filled. There was a gentleman and +lady, and half-a-dozen girls and boys, all dressed in half-mourning, +except one little lady of about ten years old, whose form was enveloped +in black bombazine and crape, and whose face, what could be seen of it, +was drowned in tears. It needed no seer to tell that she was just left +motherless, and placed in charge of her relations. + +After undergoing the scrutiny of the congregation, this family was +unanimously, though silently, voted to be perfectly respectable. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +ISHMAEL'S ADVENTURE. + + I almost fancy that the more + He was cast out from men, + Nature had made him of her store + A worthier denizen; + As if it pleased her to caress + A plant grown up so wild, + As if his being parentless + Had made him more _her_ child. + + --_Monckton Milnes_. + +At twelve years of age Ishmael was a tall, thin, delicate-looking lad, +with regular features, pale complexion, fair hair, and blue eyes. His +great, broad forehead and wasted cheeks gave his face almost a +triangular shape. The truth is, that up to this age the boy had never +had enough food to nourish the healthy growth of the body. And that he +lived at all was probably due to some great original vital force in his +organization, and also to the purity of his native air, of which at +least he got a plenty. + +He had learned all the professor could teach him; had read all the books +that Morris could lend him; and was now hungering and thirsting for more +knowledge. At this time a book had such a fascination for Ishmael that +when he happened to be at Baymouth he would stand gazing, spellbound, at +the volumes exposed for sale in the shop windows, just as other boys +gaze at toys and sweetmeats. + +But little time had the poor lad for such peeps into Paradise, for he +was now earning about a dollar a week, as Assistant-Professor of Odd +Jobs to Jem Morris, and his professional duties kept him very busy. + +Baymouth had progressed in all these years, and now actually boasted a +fine new shop, with this sign over the door: + +BOOK, STATIONERY, AND FANCY BAZAAR. + +And this to Ishmael seemed a very fairy palace. It attracted him with an +irresistible glamour. + +It happened one burning Saturday afternoon in August that the boy, +having a half-holiday, resolved to make the most of it and enjoy himself +by walking to Baymouth and standing before that shop to gaze at his +leisure upon the marvels of literature displayed in its windows. + +The unshaded village street was hot and dusty, and the unclouded August +sun was blazing down upon it; but Ishmael did not mind that, as he stood +devouring with his eyes the unattainable books. + +While he was thus occupied, a small, open, one-horse carriage drove up +and stopped before the shop door. The gentleman who had driven it +alighted and handed out a lady and a little girl in deep mourning. The +lady and the little girl passed immediately into the shop. And oh! how +Ishmael envied them! They were perhaps going to buy some of those +beautiful books! + +The gentleman paused with the reins in his hands, and looked up and down +the bare street, as if in search of some person. At last, in withdrawing +his eyes, they fell upon Ishmael, and he called him. + +The boy hastened to his side. + +"My lad, do you think you can hold my horse?" + +"Oh, yes, sir." + +"Well, and can you lead him out of the road to that stream there under +the trees, and let him drink and rest?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Very well, go on, then, and mind and watch the carriage well, while we +are in the shop; because, you see, there are tempting parcels in it." + +"Yes, sir," again said the boy. + +The gentleman gave him the reins and followed the ladies into the shop. +And Ishmael led the horse off to the grove stream, a place much +frequented by visitors at Baymouth to rest and water their horses. + +The thirsty horse had drank his fill, and the kind boy was engaged in +rubbing him down with cool, fresh dock leaves, when a voice near the +carriage attracted Ishmael's attention. + +"Oh, cricky, Ben! if here isn't old Middy's pony-chaise standing all +alone, and full of good nuggs he's been a buying for that tea-party! +Come, let's have our share beforehand." + +Ishmael who was partly concealed by his stooping position behind the +horse, now raised his head, and saw two young gentlemen of about twelve +and fourteen years of age, whom he recognized as the sons of Commodore +Burghe, by having seen them often at church in the commodore's pew. + +"Oh, I say, Ben, here's a hamper chock full of oranges and figs and nuts +and raisins and things! let's get at them," said the elder boy, who had +climbed upon one wheel and was looking into the carriage. + +"Oh, no, Alf! don't meddle with them! Mr. Middleton would be mad," +replied the younger. + +"Who cares if he is? Who's afraid? Not I!" exclaimed Alf, tearing off +the top of the hamper and helping himself. + +All this passed in the instant that Ishmael was rising up. + +"You must not touch those things, young gentlemen! You must not, indeed! +Put those figs back again, Master Alfred," he said. + +"Who the blazes are you, pray?" inquired Master Alfred contemptously, as +he coolly proceeded to fill his pockets. + +"I am Ishmael Worth, and I am set here to watch this horse and carriage, +and I mean to do it! Put those figs back again, Master Alfred." + +"Oh! you are Ishmael Worth, are you? The wearer woman's boy and Jem +Morris's 'prentice! Happy to know you, sir!" said the lad sarcastically, +as he deliberately spread his handkerchief on the ground and began to +fill it with English walnuts. + +"Return those things to the hamper, Master Alfred, while times are +good," said Ishmael slowly and distinctly. + +"Oh, I say, Ben, isn't he a nice one to make acquaintance with? Let's +ask him to dinner!" jeered the boy, helping himself to more walnuts. + +"You had better return those things before worse comes of it," said +Ishmael, slowly pulling off his little jacket and carefully folding it +up and laying it on the ground. + +"I say, Ben! Jem Morris's apprentice is going to fight! Ar'n't you +scared?" sneered Master Alfred, tying up his handkerchief full of nuts. + +"Will you return those things or not?" exclaimed Ishmael, unbuttoning +his little shirt collar and rolling up his sleeves. + +"Will you tell me who was your father?" mocked Master Alfred. + +That question was answered by a blow dashed full in the mouth of the +questioner, followed instantly by another blow into his right eye and a +third into his left. Then Ishmael seized him by the collar and, twisting +it, choked and shook him until he dropped his plunder. But it was only +the suddenness of the assault that had given Ishmael a moment's +advantage. The contest was too unequal. As soon as Master Alfred had +dropped his plunder he seized his assailant. Ben also rushed to the +rescue. It was unfair, two boys upon one. They soon threw Ishmael down +upon the ground and beat his breath nearly out of his body. They were so +absorbed in their cowardly work that they were unconscious of the +approach of the party from the shop, until the gentleman left the ladies +and hurried to the scene of action, exclaiming: + +"What's this? What's this? What's all this, young gentlemen? Let that +poor lad alone! Shame on you both!" + +The two culprits ceased their blows and started up panic-stricken. But +only for a moment. The ready and reckless falsehood sprang to Alfred's +lips. + +"Why, sir, you see, we were walking along and saw your carriage standing +here and saw that boy stealing the fruit and nuts from it. And we +ordered him to stop and he wouldn't, and we pitched into him and beat +him. Didn't we, Ben" + +"Yes, we beat him," said Ben evasively. + +"Humph! And he stole the very articles that he was put here to guard! +Sad! sad! but the fault was mine! He is but a child! a poor child, and +was most likely hungry. I should not have left the fruit right under his +keen young nose to tempt him! Boys, you did very wrong to beat him so! +You, who are pampered so much, know little of the severe privations and +great temptations of the poor. And we cannot expect children to resist +their natural appetites," said the gentleman gently, as he stooped to +examine the condition of the fallen boy. + +Ishmael was half stunned, exhausted, and bleeding; but his confused +senses had gathered the meaning of the false accusation made against +him. And, through the blood bursting from his mouth, he gurgled forth +the words: + +"I didn't, sir! The Lord above, he knows I didn't!" + +"He did! he did! Didn't he, Ben?" cried Master Alfred. + +Ben was silent. + +"And we beat him! Didn't we, Ben?" questioned the young villain, who +well understood his weak younger brother. + +"Yes," replied Ben, who was always willing to oblige his elder brother +if he could do so without telling an out and out falsehood; "we did beat +him." + +The gentleman raised the battered boy to his feet, took a look at him +and murmured to himself: + +"Well! if this lad is a thief and a liar, there is no truth in +phrenology or physiognomy either." + +Then, speaking aloud, he said: + +"My boy! I am very sorry for what has just happened! You were placed +here to guard my property. You betrayed your trust! You, yourself, stole +it! And you have told a falsehood to conceal your theft. No! do not +attempt to deny it! Here are two young gentlemen of position who are +witnesses against you!" + +Ishmael attempted to gurgle some denial, but his voice was drowned in +the blood that still filled his mouth. + +"My poor boy," continued the gentleman--"for I see you are poor, if you +had simply eaten the fruit and nuts, that would have been wrong +certainly, being a breach of trust; but it would have been almost +excusable, for you might have been hungry and been tempted by the smell +of the fruit and by the opportunity of tasting it. And if you had +confessed it frankly, I should as frankly have forgiven you. But I am +sorry to say that you have attempted to conceal your fault by falsehood. +And do you know what that falsehood has done? It has converted the act, +that I should have construed as mere trespass, into a theft!" + +Ishmael stooped down and bathed his bloody face in the stream and then +wiped it clean with his coarse pocket handkerchief. And then he raised +his head with a childish dignity most wonderful to see, and said: + +"Listen to me, sir, if you please. I did not take the fruit or the nuts, +or anything that was yours. It is true, sir, as you said, that I am +poor. And I was hungry, very hungry indeed, because I have had nothing +to eat since six o'clock this morning. And the oranges and figs did +smell nice, and I did want them very much. But I did not touch them, +sir! I could better bear hunger than I could bear shame! And I should +have suffered shame if I had taken your things! Yes, even though you +might have never found out the loss of them. Because--I should have +known myself to be a thief, and I could not have borne that, sir! I did +not take your property, sir, I hope you will believe me." + +"He did! he did! he did! didn't he now, Ben?" cried Alfred. + +Ben was silent. + +"And we beat him for it, didn't we, Ben?" + +"Yes," said Ben. + +"There now you see, my boy! I would be glad to believe you; but here are +two witnesses against you! two young gentlemen of rank, who would not +stoop to falsehood!" said the gentleman sadly. + +"Sir," replied Ishmael calmly, "be pleased to listen to me, while I tell +you what really happened. When you left me in charge of this horse I led +him to this stream and gave him water, and I was rubbing him down with a +handful of fresh dock-leaves when these two young gentlemen came up. And +the elder one proposed to help himself to the contents of the hamper. +But the younger one would not agree to the plan. And I, for my part, +told him to let the things alone. But he wouldn't mind me. I insisted, +but he laughed at me and helped himself to the oranges, figs, walnuts, +and raisins. I told him to put them back directly; but he wouldn't. And +then I struck him and collared him, sir; for I thought it was my duty to +fight for the property that had been left in my care. But he was bigger +than I was, and his brother came to help him, and they were too many for +me, and between them they threw me down. And then you came up. And that +is the whole truth, sir." + +"It isn't! it isn't! He stole the things, and now he wants to lay it on +us! that is the worst of all! But we can prove that he did it, because +we are two witnesses against one!" said Master Alfred excitedly. + +"Yes; that is the worst of all, my boy; it was bad to take the things, +but you were tempted by hunger; it was worse to deny the act, but you +were tempted by fear; it is the worst of all to try to lay your fault +upon the shoulders of others. I fear I shall be obliged to punish you," +said the gentleman. + +"Sir, punish me for the loss of the fruit if you please; but believe me; +for I speak the truth," said Ishmael firmly. + +At that moment he felt a little soft hand steal into his own, and heard +a gentle voice whisper in his ear: + +"I believe you, poor boy, if they don't." + +He turned, and saw at his side the little orphan girl in deep mourning. +She was a stately little lady, with black eyes and black ringlets, and +with the air of a little princess. + +"Come, Claudia! Come away, my love," said the lady, who had just arrived +at the spot. + +"No, aunt, if you please; I am going to stand by this poor boy here! He +has got no friend! He is telling the truth, and nobody will believe +him!" said the little girl, tossing her head, and shaking back her black +ringlets haughtily. + +It was easy to see that this little lady had had her own royal will, +ever since she was one day old, and cried for a light until it was +brought. + +"Claudia, Claudia, you are very naughty to disobey your aunt," said the +gentleman gravely. + +The little lady lifted her jetty eyebrows in simple surprise. + +"'Naughty,' uncle! How can you say such things to me? Mamma never did; +and papa never does! Pray do not say such things again to me, uncle! I +have not been used to hear them." + +The gentleman shrugged his shoulders, and turned to Ishmael, saying: + +"I am more grieved than angry, my boy, to see you stand convicted of +theft and falsehood." + +"I was never guilty of either in my life, sir," said Ishmael. + +"He was! he was! He stole the things, and then told stories about it, +and tried to lay it on us! But we can prove it was himself! We are two +witnesses against one! two genteel witnesses against one low one! We are +gentleman's sons; and who is he? He's a thief! He stole the things, +didn't he, Ben?" questioned Master Alfred. + +Ben turned away. + +"And we thrashed him well for it, didn't we, Ben?" + +"Yes," said Ben. + +"So you see, sir, it is true! there are two witnesses against you; do +not therefore make your case quite hopeless by a persistence in +falsehood," said the gentleman, speaking sternly for the first time. + +Ishmael dropped his head, and the Burghe boys laughed. + +Little Claudia's eyes blazed. + +"Shame on you, Alfred Burghe! and you too, Ben! I know that you have +told stories yourselves, for I see it in both your faces, just as I see +that this poor boy has told the truth by his face!" she exclaimed. Then +putting her arm around Ishmael's neck in the tender, motherly way that +such little women will use to boys in distress, she said: + +"There! hold up your head, and look them in the face. It is true, they +are all against you; but, then, what of that, when I am on your side. It +is a great thing, let me tell you, to have me on your side. I am Miss +Merlin, my father's heiress; and he is the Chief Justice of the Supreme +Court. And I am not sure but that I might make my papa have these two +bad boys hanged if I insisted upon it! And I stand by you because I know +you are telling the truth, and because my mamma always told me it would +be my duty, as the first lady in the country, to protect the poor and +the persecuted! So hold up your head, and look them in the face, and +answer them!" said the young lady, throwing up her own head and shaking +back her rich ringlets. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +ISHMAEL GAINS HIS FIRST VERDICT. + + Honor and shame from no condition rise; + Act well your part, there all the honor lies. + Worth makes the man, and want of it the fellow, + The rest is all but leather and prunella. + + --_Pope_. + +So conjured, Ishmael lifted his face and confronted his accusers. It was +truth and intellect encountering falsehood and stupidity. Who could +doubt the issue? + +"Sir," said the boy, "if you will look into the pockets of that young +gentleman, Master Alfred, you will find the stolen fruit upon him." + +Alfred Burghe started and turned to run. But the gentleman was too quick +to let him escape, and caught him by the arm. + +"What, sir! Mr. Middleton, would you search me at his bidding? Search +the son of Commodore Burghe at the bidding of--nobody's son?" exclaimed +the youth, struggling to free himself, while the blood seemed ready to +burst from his red and swollen face. + +"For your vindication, young sir! For your vindication," replied Mr. +Middleton, proceeding to turn out the young gentleman's pockets, when +lo! oranges, figs, and nuts rolled upon the ground. + +"It is infamous--so it is!" exclaimed Master Alfred, mad with shame and +rage. + +"Yes, it is infamous," sternly replied Mr. Middleton. + +"I mean it is infamous to treat a commodore's son in this way!" + +"And I mean it is infamous in anybody's son to behave as you have, sir!" + +"I bought the things at Nutt's shop! I bought them with my own money! +They are mine! I never touched your things. That fellow did! He took +them, and then told falsehoods about it." + +"Sir," said Ishmael, "if you will examine that bundle, lying under that +bush, you will find something there to prove which of us two speaks the +truth." + +Master Alfred made a dash for the bundle; but again Mr. Middleton was +too quick for him, and caught it up. It was a red bandanna silk +handkerchief stuffed full of parcels and tied at the corners. The +handkerchief had the name of Alfred Burghe on one corner; the small +parcel of nuts and raisins it contained were at once recognized by Mr. +Middleton as his own. + +"Oh, sir, sir!" began that gentleman severely, turning upon the detected +culprit; but the young villain was at bay! + +"Well?" he growled in defiance; "what now? what's all the muss about? +Those parcels were what I took off his person when he was running away +with them. Didn't I, Ben?" + +Ben grumbled some inaudible answer, which Alfred assumed to be assent, +for he immediately added: + +"And I tied them up in my handkerchief to give them back to you. Didn't +I, Ben?" + +Ben mumbled something or other. + +"And then I beat him for stealing. Didn't I, Ben?" + +"Yes, you beat him," sulkily answered the younger brother. + +Mr. Middleton gazed at the two boys in amazement; not that he +entertained the slightest doubt of the innocence of Ishmael and the +guilt of Alfred, but that he was simply struck with consternation at +this instance of hardened juvenile depravity. + +"Sir," continued the relentless young prosecutor, "if you will please to +question Master Ben, I think he will tell you the truth. He has not told +a downright story yet." + +"What! why he has been corroborating his brother's testimony all along!" +said Mr. Middleton. + +"Only as to the assault, sir; not as to the theft. Please question him, +sir, to finish this business." + +"I will! Ben, who stole the fruit and nuts from my carriage?" + +Ben dug his hands into his pockets and turned sullenly away. + +"Did this poor boy steal them? For if I find he did, I will send him to +prison. And I know you wouldn't like to see an innocent boy sent to +prison. So tell me the truth. Did he, or did he not, steal the articles +in question?" + +"He did not; not so much as one of them," replied the younger Burghe. + +"Did Alfred take them?" + +Ben was sullenly silent. + +"Did Alfred take them?" repeated Mr. Middleton. + +"I won't tell you! So there now! I told you that fellow didn't! but I +won't tell you who did! It is real hard of you to want me to tell on my +own brother!" exclaimed Master Ben, walking off indignantly. + +"That is enough; indeed the finding of the articles upon Alfred's person +was enough," said Mr. Middleton. + +"I think this poor boy's word ought to have been enough!" said Claudia. + +"And now, sir!" continued Mr. Middleton, turning to Master Burghe; "you +have been convicted of theft, falsehood, and cowardice--yes, and of the +meanest falsehood and the basest cowardice I ever heard of. Under these +circumstances, I cannot permit your future attendance upon my school. +You are no longer a proper companion for my pupils. To-morrow I shall +call upon your father, to tell him what has happened and advise him to +send you to sea, under some strict captain, for a three or five years' +cruise!" + +"If you blow me to the governor, I'll be shot to death if I don't knife +you, old fellow!" roared the young reprobate. + +"Begone, sir!" was the answer of Mr. Middleton. + +"Oh, I can go! But you look out! You're all a set of radicals, anyhow! +making equals of all the rag, tag, and bobtail about. Look at Claudia +there! What would Judge Merlin say if he was to see his daughter with +her arm around that boy's neck!" + +Claudia's eyes kindled dangerously, and she made one step towards the +offender, saying: + +"Hark you, Master Alfred Burghe. Don't you dare to take my name between +your lips again! and don't you dare to come near me as long as you live, +or even to say to anybody that you were ever acquainted with me! If you +do I will make my papa have you hanged! For I do not choose to know a +thief, liar, and coward!" + +"Claudia! Claudia! Claudia! You shock me beyond all measure, my dear!" +exclaimed the lady in a tone of real pain; and then lowering her voice +she whispered--"'Thief, liar, coward!' what shocking words to issue from +a young lady's lips." + +"I know they are not nice words, Aunt Middleton, and if you will only +teach me nicer ones I will use them instead. But are there any pretty +words for ugly tricks?" + +As this question was a "poser" that Mrs. Middleton did not attempt to +answer, the little lady continued very demurely: + +"I will look in 'Webster' when I get home and see if there are." + +"My boy," said Mr. Middleton, approaching our lad, "I have accused you +wrongfully. I am sorry for it and beg your pardon." + +Ishmael looked up in surprise and with an "Oh, sir, please don't," +blushed and hung his head. It seemed really dreadful to this poor boy +that this grave and dignified gentleman should ask his pardon! And yet +Mr. Middleton lost no dignity in this simple act, because it was right; +he had wronged the poor lad, and owed an apology just as much as if he +had wronged the greatest man in the country. + +"And now, my boy," continued the gentleman, "be always as honest, as +truthful, and as fearless as you have shown yourself to-day, and though +your lot in life may be very humble--aye, of the very humblest--yet you +will be respected in your lowly sphere." Here the speaker opened his +portmonnaie and took from it a silver dollar, saying, "Take this, my +boy, not as a reward for your integrity,--that, understand, is a matter +of more worth than to be rewarded with money,--but simply as payment for +your time and trouble in defending my property." + +"Oh, sir, please don't. I really don't want the money," said Ishmael, +shrinking from the offered coin. + +"Oh, nonsense, my boy! You must be paid, you know," said Mr. Middleton, +urging the dollar upon him. + +"But I do not want pay for a mere act of civility," persisted Ishmael, +drawing back. + +"But your time and trouble, child; they are money to lads in your line +of life." + +"If you please, sir, it was a holiday, and I had nothing else to do." + +"But take this to oblige me." + +"Indeed, sir, I don't want it. The professor is very freehearted and +pays me well for my work." + +"The professor? What professor, my boy? I thought I had the honor to be +the only professor in the neighborhood," said the gentleman, smiling. + +"I mean Professor Jim Morris, sir," replied Ishmael, in perfect good +faith. + +"Oh! yes, exactly; I have heard of that ingenious and useful individual, +who seems to have served his time at all trades, and taken degrees in +all arts and sciences; but I did not know he was called a professor. So +you are a student in his college!" smiled Mr. Middleton. + +"I help him, sir, and he pays me," answered the boy. + +"And what is your name, my good little fellow?" + +"Ishmael Worth, sir." + +"Oh, yes, exactly; you are the son of the little weaver up on Hut Hill, +just across the valley from Brudenell Heights?" + +"I am her nephew, sir." + +"Are your parents living?" + +"No, sir; I have been an orphan from my birth." + +"Poor boy! And you are depending on your aunt for a home, and on your +own labor for a support?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Well, Ishmael, as you very rightly take pay from my brother professor, +I do not know why you should refuse it from me." + +Ishmael perhaps could not answer that question to his own satisfaction. +At all events, he hesitated a moment before he replied: + +"Why, you see, sir, what I do for the other professor is all in the line +of my business; but the small service I have done for you is only a +little bit of civility that I am always so glad to show to any +gentleman--I mean to anybody at all, sir; even a poor wagoner, I often +hold horses for them, sir! And, bless you, they couldn't pay me a +penny." + +"But I can, my boy! and besides you not only held my horse, and watered +him, and rubbed him down, and watched my carriage, but you fought a +stout battle in defense of my goods, and got yourself badly bruised by +the thieves, and unjustly accused by me. Certainly, it is a poor +offering I make in return for your services and sufferings in my +interests. Here, my lad, I have thought better of it; here is a half +eagle. Take it and buy something for yourself." + +"Indeed, indeed, sir, I cannot. Please don't keep on asking me," +persisted Ishmael, drawing back with a look of distress and almost of +reproach on his fine face. + +Now, why could not the little fellow take the money that was pressed +upon him? He wanted it badly enough, Heaven knows! His best clothes were +all patches, and this five dollar gold piece would have bought him a new +suit. And besides there was an "Illustrated History of the United +States" in that book-shop, that really and truly Ishmael would have been +willing to give a finger off either of his hands to possess; and its +price was just three dollars. Now, why didn't the little wretch take the +money and buy the beautiful book with which his whole soul was enamored? +The poor child did not know himself. But you and I know, reader, don't +we? We know that he could not take the money, with the arm of that +black-eyed little lady around his neck! + +Yes, the arm of Claudia was still most tenderly and protectingly +encircling his neck, and every few minutes she would draw down his rough +head caressingly to her own damask cheek. + +Shocking, wasn't it? And you wonder how her aunt and uncle could have +stood by and permitted it. Because they couldn't help it. Miss Claudia +was a little lady, angel born, who had never been contradicted in her +life. Her father was a crochety old fellow, with a "theory," one result +of which was that he let his trees and his daughter grow up unpruned as +they liked. + +But do not mistake Miss Claudia, or think her any better or any worse +than she really was. Her caresses of the peasant boy looked as if she +was republican in her principles and "fast" in her manners. She was +neither the one nor the other. So far from being republican, she was +just the most ingrained little aristocrat that ever lived! She was an +aristocrat from the crown of her little, black, ringletted head to the +sole of her tiny, gaitered foot; from her heart's core to her +scarf-skin; so perfect an aristocrat that she was quite unconscious of +being so. For instance, she looked upon herself as very little lower +than the angels; and upon the working classes as very little higher than +the brutes; if in her heart she acknowledged that all in the human shape +were human, that was about the utmost extent of her liberalism. She and +they were both clay, to be sure, but she was of the finest porcelain +clay and they of the coarsest potter's earth. This theory had not been +taught her, it was born in her, and so entirely natural and sincere that +she was almost unconscious of its existence; certainly unsuspicious of +its fallacy. + +Thus, you see, she caressed Ishmael just exactly as she would have +caressed her own Newfoundland dog; she defended his truth and honesty +from false accusation just as she would have defended Fido's from a +similar charge; she praised his fidelity and courage just as she would +have praised Fido's; for, in very truth, she rated the peasant boy not +one whit higher than the dog! Had she been a degree less proud, had she +looked upon Ishmael as a human being with like passions and emotions as +her own, she might have been more reserved in her manner. But being as +proud as she was, she caressed and protected the noble peasant boy as a +kind-hearted little lady would have caressed and protected a noble +specimen of the canine race! Therefore, what might have been considered +very forward and lowering in another little lady, was perfectly graceful +and dignified in Miss Merlin. + +But, meanwhile, the poor, earnest, enthusiastic boy! He didn't know that +she rated him as low as any four-footed pet! He thought she appreciated +him, very highly, too highly, as a human being! And his great little +heart burned and glowed with joy and gratitude! And he would no more +have taken pay for doing her uncle a service than he would have picked a +pocket or robbed a henroost! He just adored her lovely clemency, and he +was even turning over in his mind the problem how he, a poor, poor boy, +hardly able to afford himself a halfpenny candle to read by, after dark, +could repay her kindness--what could he find, invent, or achieve to +please her! + +Of all this Miss Claudia only understood his gratitude; and it pleased +her as the gratitude of Fido might have done. + +And she left his side for a moment, and raised herself on tiptoe and +whispered to her uncle: + +"Uncle, he is a noble fellow--isn't he, now? But he loves me better than +he does you. So let me give him something." + +Mr. Middleton placed the five dollar piece in her hand. + +"No, no, no--not that! Don't you see it hurts his feelings to offer him +that?" + +"Well--but what then?" + +"I'll tell you: When we drove up to Hamlin's I saw him standing before +the shop, with his hands in his pockets, staring at the books in the +windows, just as I have seen hungry children stare at the tarts and +cakes in a pastry cook's. And I know he is hungry for a book! Now uncle, +let me give him a book." + +"Yes; but had not I better give it to him, Claudia?" + +"Oh, if you like, and he'll take it from you! But, you know, there's +Fido now, who sometimes gets contrary, and won't take anything from your +hand, but no matter how contrary he is, will always take anything from +mine. But you may try, uncle--you may try!" + +This conversation was carried on in a whisper. When it was ended Mr. +Middleton turned to Ishmael and said: + +"Very well, my boy; I can but respect your scruples. Follow us back to +Hamlin's." + +And so saying, he helped his wife and his niece into the pony chaise, +got in himself, and took the reins to drive on. + +Miss Claudia looked back and watched Ishmael as he limped slowly and +painfully after them. The distance was very short, and they soon reached +the shop. + +"Which is the window he was looking in, Claudia?" inquired Mr. +Middleton. + +"This one on the left hand, uncle." + +"Ah! Come here, my boy; look into this window now, and tell me which of +these books you would advise me to buy for a present to a young friend +of mine?" + +The poor fellow looked up with so much perplexity in his face at the +idea of this grave, middle-aged gentleman asking advice of him, that Mr. +Middleton hastened to say: + +"The reason I ask you, Ishmael, is because, you being a boy would be a +better judge of another boy's tastes than an old man like me could be. +So now judge by yourself, and tell me which book you think would please +my young friend best. Look at them all, and take time." + +"Oh, yes, sir. But I don't want time! Anybody could tell in a minute +which book a boy would like!" + +"Which, then?" + +"Oh, this, this, this! 'History of the United States,' all full of +pictures!" + +"But here is 'Robinson Crusoe,' and here is the 'Arabian Nights'; why +not choose one of them?" + +"Oh, no, sir--don't! They are about people that never lived, and things +that aren't true; and though they are very interesting, I know, there is +no solid satisfaction in them like there is in this--" + +"Well, now 'this.' What is the great attraction of this to a boy? Why, +it's nothing but dry history," said Mr. Middleton, with an amused smile, +while he tried to "pump" the poor lad. + +"Oh, sir, but there's so much in it! There's Captain John Smith, and Sir +Walter Raleigh, and Jamestown, and Plymouth, and the Pilgrim Fathers, +and John Hancock, and Patrick Henry, and George Washington, and the +Declaration of Independence, and Bunker's Hill, and Yorktown! Oh!" cried +Ishmael with an ardent burst of enthusiasm. + +"You seem to know already a deal more of the history of our country than +some of my first-class young gentlemen have taken the trouble to learn," +said Mr. Middleton, in surprise. + +"Oh, no, I don't, sir. I know no more than what I have read in a little +thin book, no bigger than your hand, sir, that was lent to me by the +professor; but I know by that how much good there must be in this, sir." + +"Ah! a taste of the dish has made you long for a feast." + +"Sir?" + +"Nothing, my boy, but that I shall follow your advice in the selection +of a book," said the gentleman, as he entered the shop. The lady and the +little girl remained in the carriage, and Ishmael stood feasting his +hungry eyes upon the books in the window. + +Presently the volume he admired so much disappeared. + +"There! I shall never see it any more!" said Ishmael, with a sigh; "but +I'm glad some boy is going to get it! Oh, won't he be happy to-night, +though! Wish it was I! No, I don't neither; it's a sin to covet!" + +And a few minutes after the gentleman emerged from the shop with an +oblong packet in his hand. + +"It was the last copy he had left, my boy, and I have secured it! Now do +you really think my young friend will like it?" asked Mr. Middleton. + +"Oh, sir, won't he though, neither!" exclaimed Ishmael, in sincere +hearty sympathy with the prospective happiness of another. + +"Well, then, my little friend must take it," said Mr. Middleton, +offering the packet to Ishmael. + +"Sir!" exclaimed the latter. + +"It is for you, my boy." + +"Oh, sir, I couldn't take it, indeed! It is only another way of paying +me for a common civility," said Ishmael, shrinking from the gift, yet +longing for the book. + +"It is not; it is a testimonial of my regard for you, my boy! Receive it +as such." + +"I do not deserve such a testimonial, and cannot receive it, sir," +persisted Ishmael. + +"There, uncle, I told you so!" exclaimed Claudia, springing from the +carriage and taking the book from the hand of Mr. Middleton. + +She went to the side of Ishmael, put her arm around his neck, drew his +head down against hers, leaned her bright cheek against his, and said: + +"Come, now, take the book; I know you want it; take it like a good boy; +take it for my sake," + +Still Ishmael hesitated a little. + +Then she raised the parcel and pressed it to her lips and handed it to +him again, saying: + +"There, now, you see I've kissed it. Fido would take anything I kissed; +won't you?" + +Ishmael now held out his hands eagerly for the prize, took it and +pressed it to his jacket, exclaiming awkwardly but earnestly: + +"Thank you, miss! Oh, thank you a thousand, thousand times, miss! You +don't know how much I wanted this book, and how glad I am!" + +"Oh, yes, I do. I'm a witch, and know people's secret thoughts. But why +didn't you take the book when uncle offered it?" + +"If you are a witch, miss, you can tell." + +"So I can; it was because you don't love uncle as well as you love me! +Well, Fido doesn't either. But uncle is a nice man for all that." + +"I wonder who 'Fido' is," thought the poor boy. "I do wonder who he is; +her brother, I suppose." + +"Come, Claudia, my love, get into the carriage; we must go home," said +Mr. Middleton, as he assisted his niece to her seat. + +"I thank you very much, sir, for this very beautiful book," said +Ishmael, going up to Mr. Middleton and taking off his hat. + +"You are very welcome, my boy; so run home now and enjoy it," replied +the gentleman, as he sprang into the carriage and took the reins. + +"'Run home?' how can he run home, uncle? If he lives at the weaver's, it +is four miles off! How can he run it, or even walk it? Don't you see how +badly hurt he is? Why, he could scarcely limp from the pond to the shop! +I think it would be only kind, uncle, to take him up beside you. We pass +close to the hut, you know, in going home, and we could set him down." + +"Come along, then, my little fellow! The young princess says you are to +ride home with us, and her highness' wishes are not to be disobeyed!" +laughed Mr. Middleton, holding out his hand to help the boy into the +carriage. + +Ishmael made no objection to this proposal: but eagerly clambered up to +the offered seat beside the gentleman. + +The reins were moved, and they set off at a spanking pace, and were soon +bowling along the turnpike road that made a circuit through the forest +toward Brudenell Heights. + +The sun had set, a fresh breeze had sprung up, and, as they were driving +rapidly in the eye of the wind, there was scarcely opportunity for +conversation. In little more than an hour they reached a point in the +road within a few hundred yards of the weaver's hut. + +"Here we are, my boy! Now, do you think you can get home without help?" +inquired Mr. Middleton, as he stopped the carriage. + +"Oh, yes, sir, thank you!" replied Ishmael, as he clambered down to the +ground. He took off his hat beside the carriage, and making his best +Sabbath-school bow, said: + +"Good-evening, sir; good-evening, madam and miss, and thank you very +much." + +"Good-evening, my little man; there get along home with you out of the +night air," said Mr. Middleton. + +Mrs. Middleton and the little lady nodded and smiled their adieus. + +And Ishmael struck into the narrow and half hidden footpath that led +from the highway to the hut. + +The carriage started on its way. + +"A rather remarkable boy, that," said Mr. Middleton, as they drove along +the forest road encircling the crest of the hills towards Brudenell +Heights, that moonlit, dewy evening; "a rather remarkable boy! He has an +uncommonly fine head! I should really like to examine it! The intellect +and moral organs seem wonderfully developed! I really should like to +examine it carefully at my leisure." + +"He has a fine face, if it were not so pale and thin," said Mrs. +Middleton. + +"Poor, poor fellow," said Claudia, in a tone of deep pity, "he is thin +and pale, isn't he? And Fido is so fat and sleek! I'm afraid he doesn't +get enough to eat, uncle!" + +"Who, Fido?" + +"No, the other one, the boy! I say I'm afraid he don't get enough to +eat. Do you think he does?" + +"I--I'm afraid not, my dear!" + +"Then I think it is a shame, uncle! Rich people ought not to let the +poor, who depend upon them, starve! Papa says that I am to come into my +mamma's fortune as soon as I am eighteen. When I do, nobody in this +world shall want. Everybody shall have as much as ever they can eat +three times a day. Won't that be nice?" + +"Magnificent, my little princess, if you can only carry out your ideas," +replied her uncle. + +"Oh! but I will! I will, if it takes every dollar of my income! My mamma +told me that when I grew up I must be the mother of the poor! And +doesn't a mother feed her children?" + +Middleton laughed. + +"And as for that poor boy on the hill, he shall have tarts and cheese +cakes, and plum pudding, and roast turkey, and new books every day; +because I like him; I like him so much; I like him better than I do +anything in the world except Fido!" + +"Well, my dear," said Mr. Middleton, seizing this opportunity of +administering an admonition, "like him as well as Fido, if you please; +but do not pet him quite as freely as you pet Fido." + +"But I will, if I choose to! Why shouldn't I?" inquired the young lady, +erecting her haughty little head. + +"Because he is not a dog!" dryly answered her uncle. + +"Oh! but he likes petting just as much as Fido! He does indeed, uncle; I +assure you! Oh, I noticed that." + +"Nevertheless, Miss Claudia, I must object in future to your making a +pet of the poor boy, whether you or he like it or not." + +"But I will, if I choose!" persisted the little princess, throwing back +her head and shaking all her ringlets. + +Mr. Middleton sighed, shook his head, and turned to his wife, +whispering, in a low tone: + +"What are we to do with this self-willed elf? To carry out her father's +ideas, and let her nature have unrestrained freedom to develop itself, +will be the ruin of her! Unless she is controlled and guided she is just +the girl to grow up wild and eccentric, and end in running away with her +own footman." + +These words were not intended for Miss Claudia's ears; but +notwithstanding, or rather because of, that, she heard every syllable, +and immediately fired up, exclaiming: + +"Who are you talking of marrying a footman? Me! me! me! Do you think +that I would ever marry anyone beneath me?' No, indeed! I will live to +be an old maid, before I will marry anybody but a lord! that I am +determined upon!" + +"You will never reach that consummation of your hopes, my dear, by +petting a peasant boy, even though you do look upon him as little better +than a dog," said Mr. Middleton, as he drew up before the gates of +Brudenell. + +A servant was in attendance to open them. And as the party were now at +home, the conversation ceased for the present. + +Claudia ran in to exhibit her purchases. + +Her favorite, Fido, ran to meet her, barking with delight. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +ISHMAEL'S PROGRESS. + + Athwart his face when blushes pass + To be so poor and weak, + He falls into the dewy grass, + To cool his fevered cheek; + And hears a music strangely made, + That you have never heard, + A sprite in every rustling blade, + That sings like any bird! + + --_Monckton Milnes_. + +Meanwhile on that fresh, dewy, moonlight summer evening, along the +narrow path leading through the wood behind the hut, Ishmael limped--the +happiest little fellow, despite his wounds and bruises, that ever lived. +He was so happy that he half suspected his delight to be all unreal, and +feared to wake up presently and find it was but a dream, and see the +little black-eyed girl, the ride in the carriage, and, above all, the +new "Illustrated History of the United States" vanish into the land of +shades. + +In this dazed frame of mind he reached the hut and opened the door. + +The room was lighted only by the blazing logs of a wood fire, which the +freshness of the late August evening on the hills made not quite +unwelcome. + +The room was in no respect changed in the last twelve years. The +well-cared-for though humble furniture was still in its old position. + +Hannah, as of old, was seated at her loom, driving the shuttle back and +forth with a deafening clatter. Hannah's face was a little more sallow +and wrinkled, and her hair a little more freely streaked with gray than +of yore: that was all the change visible in her personal appearance. But +long continued solitude had rendered her as taciturn and unobservant as +if she had been born deaf and blind. + +She had not seen Reuben Gray since that Sunday when Ishmael was +christened and Reuben insisted on bringing the child home, and when, in +the bitterness of her woe and her shame, she had slammed the door in his +face. Gray had left the neighborhood, and it was reported that he had +been promoted to the management of a rich farm in the forest of Prince +George's. + +"There is your supper on the hearth, child," she said, without ceasing +her work or turning her head as Ishmael entered. + +Hannah was a good aunt; but she was not his mother; if she had been, she +would at least have turned around to look at the boy, and then she would +have seen he was hurt, and would have asked an explanation. As it was +she saw nothing. + +And Ishmael was very glad of it. He did not wish to be pitied or +praised; he wished to be left to himself and his own devices, for this +evening at least, when he had such a distinguished guest as his grand +new book to entertain! + +Ishmael took up his bowl of mush and milk, sat down, and with a large +spoon shoveled his food down his throat with more dispatch than +delicacy--just as he would have shoveled coal into a cellar. The sharp +cries of a hungry stomach must be appeased, he knew; but with as little +loss of time as possible, particularly when there was a hungry brain +waiting to set to work upon a rich feast already prepared for it! + +So in three minutes he put away his bowl and spoon, drew his +three-legged stool to the corner of the fireplace, where he could see to +read, seated himself, opened his packet, and displayed his treasure. It +was a large, thick, octavo volume, bound in stout leather, and filled +with portraits and pictured battle scenes. And on the fly-leaf was +written: + + "Presented to Ishmael Worth, as a reward of merit, by his friend + James Middleton." + +Ishmael read that with a new accession of pleasure. Then he turned the +leaves to peep at the hidden jewels in this intellectual casket. Then he +closed the book and laid it on his knees and shut his eyes and held his +breath for joy. + +He had been enamored of this beauty for months and months. He had fallen +in love with it at first sight, when he had seen its pages open, with a +portrait of George Washington on the right and a picture of the Battle +of Yorktown on the left, all displayed in the show window of Hainlin's +book shop. He had loved it and longed for it with a passionate ardor +ever since. He had spent all his half holidays in going to Baymouth and +standing before Hamlin's window and staring at the book, and asking the +price of it, and wondering if he should ever be able to save money +enough to buy it. Now, to be in love with an unattainable woman is bad +enough, the dear knows! But to be in love with an unattainable book--Oh, +my gracious! Lover-like, he had thought of this book all day, and +dreamt of it all night; but never hoped to possess it! + +And now he really owned it! He had won it as a reward for courage, +truth, and honesty! It was lying there on his knees. It was all his own! +His intense satisfaction can only be compared to that of a youthful +bridegroom who has got his beloved all to himself at last! It might have +been said of the one, as it is often said of the other, "It was the +happiest day of his life!" + +Oh, doubtless in after years the future statesman enjoyed many a +hard-won victory. Sweet is the breath of fame! Sweet the praise of +nations! But I question whether, in all the vicissitudes, successes, +failures, trials, and triumphs of his future life, Ishmael Worth ever +tasted such keen joy as he did this night in the possession of this +book. + +He enjoyed it more than wealthy men enjoy their great libraries. To him, +this was the book of books, because it was the history of his own +country. + +There were thousands and thousands of young men, sons of gentlemen, in +schools and colleges, reading this glorious history of the young +republic as a task, with indifference or disgust, while this poor boy, +in the hill-top hut, pored over its pages with all the enthusiasm of +reverence and love! And why--what caused this difference? Because they +were of the commonplace, while he was one in a million. This was the +history of the rise and progress of the United States; Ishmael Worth was +an ardent lover and worshiper of his country, as well as of all that was +great and good! He had the brain to comprehend and the heart to +reverence the divine idea embodied in the Federal Union. He possessed +these, not by inheritance, not by education, but by the direct +inspiration of Heaven, who, passing over the wealthy and the prosperous, +ordained this poor outcast boy, this despised, illegitimate son of a +country weaver, to become a great power among the people! a great pillar +of the State. + +No one could guess this now. Not even the boy himself. He did not know +that he was any richer in heart or brain than other boys of his age. No, +most probably, by analogy, he thought himself in this respect as well as +in all others, poorer than his neighbors. He covered his book carefully, +and studied it perseveringly; studied it not only while it was a +novelty, but after he had grown familiar with its incidents. + +I have dwelt so long upon this subject because the possession of this +book at this time had a signal effect in forming Ishmael Worth's +character and directing the current of the boy's whole future life. It +was one of the first media of his inspiration. Its heroes, its warriors, +and its statesmen were his idols, his models, and his exemplars. By +studying them he became himself high-toned, chivalrous, and devoted. +Through the whole autumn he worked hard all day, upheld with the +prospect of returning home at night to--his poor hut and his silent +aunt?--oh, no, but to the grand stage upon which the Revolutionary +struggle was exhibited and to the company of its heroes--Washington, +Putnam, Marion, Jefferson, Hancock, and Henry! He saw no more for some +time of his friends at Brudenell Hall. He knew that Mr. Middleton had a +first-class school at his house, and he envied the privileged young +gentlemen who had the happiness to attend it: little knowing how +unenviable a privilege the said young gentlemen considered that +attendance and how a small portion of happiness they derived from it. + +The winter set in early and severely. Hannah took a violent cold and was +confined to her bed with inflammatory rheumatism. For many weeks she was +unable to do a stroke of work. During this time of trial Ishmael worked +for both--rising very early in the morning to get the frugal breakfast +and set the house in order before going out to his daily occupation of +"jobbing" with the professor--and coming home late at night to get the +supper and to split the wood and to bring the water for the next day's +supply. Thus, as long as his work lasted, he was the provider as well as +the nurse of his poor aunt. + +But at last there came one of the heaviest falls of snow ever known in +that region. It lay upon the ground for many weeks, quite blocking up +the roads, interrupting travel, and of course putting a stop to the +professor's jobbing and to Ishmael's income. Provisions were soon +exhausted, and there was no way of getting more. Hannah and Ishmael +suffered hunger. Ishmael bore this with great fortitude. Hannah also +bore it patiently as long as the tea lasted. But when that woman's +consolation failed she broke down and complained bitterly. + +The Baymouth turnpike was about the only passable road in the +neighborhood. By it Ishmael walked on to the village, one bitter cold +morning, to try to get credit for a quarter of a pound of tea. + +But Nutt would see him hanged first. + +Disappointed and sorrowful, Ishmael turned his steps from the town. He +had come about a mile on his homeward road, when something glowing like +a coal of fire on the glistening whiteness of the snow caught his eye. + +It was a red morocco pocketbook lying in the middle of the road. There +was not a human creature except Ishmael himself on the road or anywhere +in sight. Neither had he passed anyone on his way from the village. +Therefore it was quite in vain that he looked up and down and all around +for the owner of the pocketbook as he raised it from the ground. No +possible claimant was to be seen. He opened it and examined its +contents. It contained a little gold and silver, not quite ten dollars +in all; but a fortune for Ishmael, in his present needy condition. There +was no name on the pocketbook and not a scrap of paper in it by which +the owner might be discovered. There was nothing in it but the +untraceable silver and gold. It seemed to have dropped from heaven for +Ishmael's own benefit! This was his thought as he turned with the +impulse to fly directly back to the village and invest a portion of the +money in necessaries for Hannah. + +What was it that suddenly arrested his steps? The recollection that the +money was not his own! that to use it even for the best purpose in the +world would be an act of dishonesty. + +He paused and reflected. The devil took that opportunity to tempt +him--whispering: + +"You found the pocketbook and you cannot find the owner; therefore it is +your own, you know." + +"You know it isn't," murmured Ishmael's conscience. + +"Well, even so, it is no harm to borrow a dollar or two to get your poor +sick aunt a little tea and sugar. You could pay it back again before the +pocketbook is claimed, even if it is ever claimed," mildly insinuated +the devil. + +"It would be borrowing without leave," replied conscience. + +"But for your poor, sick, suffering aunt! think of her, and make her +happy this evening with a consoling cup of tea! Take only half a dollar +for that good purpose. Nobody could blame you for that," whimpered the +devil, who was losing ground. + +"I would like to make dear Aunt Hannah happy to-night. But I am sure +George Washington would not approve of my taking what don't belong to me +for that or any other purpose. And neither would Patrick Henry, nor +John Hancock. And so I won't do it," said Ishmael, resolutely putting +the pocketbook in his vest pocket and buttoning his coat tight over it, +and starting at brisk pace homeward. + +You see his heroes had come to his aid and saved him in the first +temptation of his life. + +Ah, you may be sure that in after days the rising politician met and +resisted many a temptation to sell his vote, his party, or his soul for +a "consideration"; but none more serious to the man than this one was to +the boy. + +When Ishmael had trudged another mile of his homeward road, it suddenly +occurred to him that he might possibly meet or overtake the owner of the +pocketbook, who would know his property in a moment if he should see it. +And with this thought he took it from his pocket and carried it +conspicuously in his hand until he reached home, without having met a +human being. + +It was about twelve meridian when he lifted the latch and entered. +Hannah was in bed; but she turned her hungry eyes anxiously on him--as +she eagerly inquired: + +"Did you bring the tea, Ishmael?" + +"No, Aunt Hannah; Mr. Nutt wouldn't trust me," replied the boy sadly, +sinking down in a chair; for he was very weak from insufficient food, +and the long walk had exhausted him. + +Hannah began to complain piteously. Do not blame her, reader. You would +fret, too, if you were sick in bed, and longing for a cup of tea, +without having the means of procuring it. + +To divert her thoughts Ishmael went and showed the pocketbook, and told +her the history of his finding it. + +Hannah seized it with the greedy grasp with which the starving catch at +money. She opened it, and counted the gold and silver. + +"Where did you say you found it, Ishmael?" + +"I told you a mile out of the village." + +"Only that little way! Why didn't you go back and buy my tea?" she +inquired, with an injured look. + +"Oh, aunt! the money wasn't mine, you know!" said Iahmael. + +"Well, I don't say it was. But you might have borrowed a dollar from it, +and the owner would have never minded, for I dare say he'd be willing to +give two dollars as a reward for finding the pocketbook. You might have +bought my tea if you had eared for me! But nobody cares for me now! No +one ever did but Reuben--poor fellow!" + +"Indeed, Aunt Hannah, I do care for you a great deal! I love you dearly; +and I did want to take some of the money and buy your tea." + +"Why didn't you do it, then?" + +"Oh, Aunt Hannah, the Lord has commanded, 'Thou shalt not steal.'" + +"It wouldn't have been stealing; it would have been borrowing." + +"But I know Patrick Henry and John Hancock wouldn't have borrowed what +didn't belong to them!" + +"Plague take Patrick Hancock and John Henry, I say! I believe they are +turning your head! What have them dead and buried old people to do with +folks that are alive and starving?" + +"Oh, Aunt Hannah! scold me as much as you please, but don't speak so of +the great men!" said Ishmael, to whom all this was sheer blasphemy and +nothing less. + +"Great fiddlesticks' ends! No tea yesterday, and no tea for breakfast +this morning, and no tea for supper to-night! And I laying helpless with +the rheumatism, and feeling as faint as if I should sink and die; and my +head aching ready to burst! And I would give anything in the world for a +cup of tea, because I know it would do me so much good, and I can't get +it! And you have money in your pocket and won't buy it for me! No, not +if I die for the want of it! You, that I have been a mother to! That's +the way you pay me, is it, for all my care?" + +"Oh, Aunt Hannah, dear, I do love you, and I would do anything in the +world for you; but, indeed, I am sure Patrick Henry--" + +"Hang Patrick Henry! If you mention his name to me again I'll box your +ears!" + +Ishmael dropped his eyes to the ground and sighed deeply. + +"After all I have done for you, ever since you were left a helpless +infant on my hands, for you to let me lie here and die, yes, actually +die, for the want of a cup of tea, before you will spend one quarter of +a dollar to get it for me! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oo-oo-oo!" + +And Hannah put her hands to her face, and cried like a baby. + +You see Hannah was honest; but she was not heroic; her nerves were very +weak, and her spirits very low. Inflammatory rheumatism is often more or +less complicated with heart disease. And the latter is a great +demoralizer of mind as well as body. And that was Hannah's case. We must +make every excuse for the weakness of the poor, over-tasked, all +enduring, long-suffering woman, broken down at last. + +But not a thought of blaming her entered Ishmael's mind. Full of love, +he bent over her, saying: + +"Oh, Aunt Hannah, don't, don't cry! You shall have your tea this very +evening; indeed you shall!" And he stooped and kissed her tenderly. + +Then he put on his cap and went and took his only treasure, his beloved +"History," from its place of honor on the top of the bureau; and cold, +hungry, and tired as he was, he set off again to walk the four long +miles to the village, to try to sell his book for half price to the +trader. + +Reader! I am not fooling you with a fictitious character here. Do you +not love this boy? And will you not forgive me if I have already +lingered too long over the trials and triumphs of his friendless but +heroic boyhood! He who in his feeble childhood resists small +temptations, and makes small sacrifices, is very apt in his strong +manhood to conquer great difficulties and achieve great successes. + +Ishmael, with his book under his arm, went as fast as his exhausted +frame would permit him on the road towards Baymouth. But as he was +obliged to walk slowly and pause to rest frequently, he made but little +progress, so that it was three o'clock in the afternoon before he +reached Hamlin's book shop. + +There was a customer present, and Ishmael had to wait until the man was +served and had departed, before he could mention his own humble errand. +This short interview Ishmael spent in taking the brown paper cover off +his book, and looking fondly at the cherished volume. It was like taking +a last leave of it. Do not blame this as a weakness. He was so poor, so +very poor; this book was his only treasure and his only joy in life. The +tears arose to his eyes, but he kept them from falling. + +When the customer was gone, and the bookseller was at leisure, Ishmael +approached and laid the volume on the counter, saying: + +"Have you another copy of this work in the shop, Mr. Hamlin?" + +"No; I wish I had half-a-dozen; for I could sell them all; but I intend +to order some from Baltimore to-day." + +"Then maybe you would buy this one back from me at half price? I have +taken such care of it, that it is as good as new, you see. Look at it +for yourself." + +"Yes, I see it looks perfectly fresh; but here is some writing on the +fly leaf; that would have to be torn out, you know; so that the book +could never be sold as a new one again; I should have to sell it as a +second hand one, at half price; that would be a dollar and a half, so +that you see I would only give you a dollar for it." + +"Sir?" questioned Ishmael, in sad amazement. + +"Yes; because you know, I must have my own little profit on it." + +"Oh, I see; yes, to be sure," assented Ishmael, with a sigh. + +But to part with his treasure and get no more than that! It was like +Esau selling his birthright for a mess of pottage. + +However, the poor cannot argue with the prosperous. The bargain was soon +struck. The book was sold and the boy received his dollar. And then the +dealer, feeling a twinge of conscience, gave him a dime in addition. + +"Thank you, sir; I will take this out in paper and wafers, if you +please. I want some particularly," said Ishmael. + +Having received a half dozen sheets of paper and a small box of wafers, +the lad asked the loan of pen and ink; and then, standing at the +counter, he wrote a dozen circulars as follows: + + FOUND, A POCKET-BOOK. + + On the Baymouth Turnpike Road, on Friday morning, I picked up a + pocketbook, which the owner can have by coming to me at the Hill + Hut and proving his property. + + Ishmael Worth. + +Having finished these, he thanked the bookseller and left the shop, +saying to himself: + +"I won't keep that about me much longer to be a constant temptation and +cross." + +He first went and bought a quarter of a pound of tea, a pound of sugar, +and a bag of meal from Nutt's general shop for Hannah; and leaving them +there until he should have got through his work, he went around the +village and wafered up his twelve posters at various conspicuous points +on fences, walls, pumps, trees, etc. + +Then he called for his provisions, and set out on his long walk home. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +CLAUDIA TO THE RESCUE. + + Let me not now ungenerously condemn + My few good deeds on impulse--half unwise + And scarce approved by reason's colder eyes; + I will not blame, nor weakly blush for them; + The feelings and the actions then stood right; + And if regret, for half a moment sighs + That worldly wisdom in its keener sight + Had ordered matters so and so, my heart, + Still, in its fervor loves a warmer part + Than Prudence wots of; while my faithful mind, + Heart's consort, also praises her for this; + And on our conscience little load I find + If sometimes we have helped another's bliss, + At some small cost of selfish loss behind. + + --_M.F. Tupper_. + +As Ishmael left the village by the eastern arm of the road a gay +sleighing party dashed into it from the western one. Horses prancing, +bells ringing, veils flying, and voices chattering, they drew up before +Hamlin's shop. The party consisted of Mr. Middleton, his wife, and his +niece. + +Mr. Middleton gave the reins to his wife and got out and went into the +shop to make a few purchases. + +When his parcels had been made up and paid for, he turned to leave the +shop; but then, as if suddenly recollecting something, he looked back +and inquired: + +"By the way, Hamlin, have those Histories come yet?" + +"No, sir; but I shall write for them again by this evening's mail; I +cannot think what has delayed them. However, sir, there is one copy that +I can let you have, if that will be of any service." + +"Certainly, certainly; it is better than nothing; let me look at it," +said Mr. Middleton, coming back from the counter and taking the book +from Hamlin's hands. + +In turning over the leaves he came to the presentation page, on which he +recognized his own handwriting in the lines: + + "Presented to Ishmael Worth, as a reward of merit, by his friend + James Middleton." + +"Why, this is the very copy I gave to that poor little fellow on the +hill, last August! How did you come by it again?" asked Mr. Middleton, +in astonishment. + +"He brought it here to sell about an hour ago, sir, and as it was a +perfectly fresh copy, and I knew you were in a hurry for some of them, I +bought it of him," replied the dealer. + +"But why should the lad have sold his book?" + +"Why, law, sir, you cannot expect boys of his class to appreciate books. +I dare say he wanted his money to spend in tops or marbles, or some such +traps!" replied the dealer. + +"Very like, very like! though I am sorry to think so of that little +fellow. I had hoped better things of him," assented Mr. Middleton. + +"Law, sir, boys will be boys." + +"Certainly; well, put the book in paper for me, and say what you are +going to ask for it." + +"Well, sir, it is as good as new, and the work is much called for just +about now in this neighborhood. So I s'pose I shall have to ask you +about three dollars." + +"That is the full price. Did you give the boy that?" inquired the +gentleman. + +"Well, no, sir; but you know I must have my own little profit," replied +the dealer, reddening. + +"Certainly," assented Mr. Middleton, taking out his purse--a delicate, +effeminate-looking article, that seemed to have been borrowed from his +wife, paying Hamlin and carrying off the book. + +As he got into the sleigh and took the reins with one hand, hugging up +his parcels and his purse loosely to his breast with the other, Mrs. +Middleton said: + +"Now, James, don't go and plant my purse on the road, as you did your +pocketbook this morning!" + +"My dear, pray don't harp on that loss forever! It was not ruinous! +There was only nine dollars in it." + +"And if there had been nine hundred, it would have been the same thing!" +said the lady. + +Her husband laughed, put away his purse, stowed away his parcels, and +then, having both hands at liberty, took the reins and set off for home. + +As he dashed along the street a poster caught his attention. He drew up, +threw the reins to Mrs. Middleton, jumped out, pulled down the poster, +and returned to his seat in the sleigh. + +"Here we are, my dear, all right; the pocketbook is found," he smiled, +as he again took possession of the reins. + +"Found?" she echoed. + +"Yes, by that boy, Worth, you know, who behaved so well in that affair +with the Burghes." + +"Oh, yes! and he found the pocketbook?" + +"Yes, and advertised it in this way, poor little fellow!" + +And Mr. Middleton drove slowly while he read the circular to his wife. + +"Well, we can call by the hut as we go home, and you can get out and get +it, and you will not forget to reward the poor boy for his honesty. He +might have kept it, you know; for there was nothing in it that could be +traced." + +"Very well; I will do as you recommend; but I have a quarrel with the +young fellow, for all that," said Mr. Middleton. + +"Upon what ground?" inquired his wife. + +"Why, upon the ground of his just having sold the book I gave him last +August as a reward of merit." + +"What did he do that for?" + +"To get money to buy tops and marbles." + +"It is false!" burst out Claudia, speaking for the first time. + +"Claudia! Claudia! Claudia! How dare you charge your uncle with +falsehood?" exclaimed Mrs. Middleton, horrified. + +"I don't accuse him, aunt. He don't know anything about it! Somebody has +told him falsehoods about poor Ishmael, and he believes it just as he +did before," exclaimed the little lady with flashing eyes. + +"Well, then, what did he sell it for, Claudia?" inquired her uncle, +smiling. + +"I don't believe he sold it at all!" said Miss Claudia. + +Her uncle quietly untied the packet, and placed the book before her, +open at the fly-leaf, upon which the names of the donor and the receiver +were written. + +"Well, then, I believe he must have sold it to get something to eat," +said Ishmael's obstinate little advocate; "for I heard Mr. Rutherford +say that there was a great deal of suffering among the frozen-out +working classes this winter." + +"It may be as you say, my dear. I do not know." + +"Well, uncle, you ought to know, then! It is the duty of the prosperous +to find out the condition of the poor! When I come into my fortune--" + +"Yes, I know; we have heard all that before; the millennium will be +brought about, of course. But, if I am not mistaken, there is your +little protege on the road before us!" said Mr. Middleton, slacking his +horse's speed, as he caught sight of Ishmael. + +"Yes, it is he! And look at him! does he look like a boy who is +thinking of playing marbles and spinning tops?" inquired Miss Claudia. + +Indeed, no! no one who saw the child could have connected childish +sports with him. He was creeping wearily along, bent under the burden of +the bag of meal he carried on his back, and looking from behind more +like a little old man than a boy. + +Mr. Middleton drove slowly as he approached him. + +Ishmael drew aside to let the sleigh pass. + +But Mr. Middleton drew up to examine the boy more at his leisure. + +The stooping gait, the pale, broad forehead, the hollow eyes, the wasted +cheeks and haggard countenance, so sad to see in so young a lad, spoke +more eloquently than words could express the famine, the cold, the +weariness, and illness he suffered. + +"Oh, uncle, if you haven't got a stone in your bosom instead of a heart, +you will call the poor fellow here and give him a seat with us! He is +hardly able to stand! And it is so bitter cold!" said Miss Claudia, +drawing her own warm, sable cloak around her. + +"But--he is such an object! His clothes are all over patches," said Mr. +Middleton, who liked sometimes to try the spirit of his niece. + +"But, uncle, he is so clean! just as clean as you are, or even as I am," +said Miss Claudia. + +"And he has got a great bag on his back!" + +"Well, uncle, that makes it so much harder for him to walk this long, +long road, and is so much the more reason for you to take him in. You +can put the bag down under your feet. And now if you don't call him here +in one minute, I will--so there now! Ishmael! Ishmael, I say! Here, sir! +here!" cried the little lady, standing up in the sleigh. + +"Ishmael! come here, my boy," called Mr. Middleton. + +Our boy came as fast as his weakness and his burden would permit him. + +"Get in here, my boy, and take this seat beside me. We are going the +same way that you are walking, and we can give you a ride without +inconveniencing ourselves. And besides I want to talk with you," said +Mr. Middleton, as Ishmael came up to the side of the sleigh and took off +his hat to the party. He bowed and took the seat indicated, and Mr. +Middleton started his horses, driving slowly as he talked. + +"Ishmael, did you ever have a sleigh-ride before?" inquired Claudia, +bending forward and laying her little gloved hand upon his shoulder, as +he sat immediately before her. + +"No, miss." + +"Oh, then, how you'll enjoy it! It is so grand! But only wait until +uncle is done talking and we are going fast! It is like flying! You'll +see! But what do you think, Ishmael! Do you think somebody--I know it +was that old Hamlin--didn't go and tell uncle that you went and--" + +"Claudia, Claudia, hold your little tongue, my dear, for just five +minutes, if you possibly can, while I speak to this boy myself!" said +Mr. Middleton. + +"Ah, you see uncle don't want to hear of his mistakes. He is not vain of +them." + +"Will you hold your tongue just for three minutes, Claudia?" + +"Yes, sir, to oblige you; but I know I shall get a sore throat by +keeping my mouth open so long." + +And with that, I regret to say, Miss Merlin put out her little tongue +and literally "held" it between her thumb and finger as she sank back in +her seat. + +"Ishmael," said Mr. Middleton, "I have seen your poster about the +pocketbook. It is mine; I dropped it this forenoon, when we first came +out." + +"Oh, sir, I'm so glad I have found the owner, and that it is you!" +exclaimed Ishmael, putting his hand in his pocket to deliver the lost +article. + +"Stop, stop, stop, my impetuous little friend! Don't you know I must +prove my property before I take possession of it? That is to say, I must +describe it before I see it, so as to convince you that it is really +mine?" + +"Oh, sir, but that was only put in my poster to prevent imposters from +claiming it," said Ishmael, blushing. + +"Nevertheless, it is better to do business in a business-like way," +persisted Mr. Middleton, putting his hand upon that of the boy to +prevent him from drawing forth the pocketbook. "Imprimis--a crimson +pocketbook, with yellow silk lining; items--in one compartment three +quarter eagles in gold; in another two dollars in silver. Now is that +right?" + +"Oh, yes, sir; but it wasn't necessary; you know that!" said Ishmael, +putting the pocketbook in the hand of its owner. + +Mr. Middleton opened it, took out a piece of gold and would have +silently forced it in the hand of the poor boy, but Ishmael respectfully +but firmly put back the offering. + +"Take it, my boy; it is usual to do so, you know," said Mr. Middleton, +in a low voice. + +"Not for me, sir; please do not offer me money again unless I have +earned it," replied the boy, in an equally low tone. + +"But as a reward for finding the pocketbook," persisted Mr. Middleton. + +"That was a piece of good fortune, sir, and deserved no reward," replied +Ishmael. + +"Then for restoring it to me." + +"That was simple honesty, sir, and merited nothing either." + +"Still, there would be no harm in your taking this from me," insisted +Mr. Middleton, pressing the gold upon the boy. + +"No, sir; perhaps there would not be; but I am sure--I am very +sure--that Thomas Jefferson when he was a boy would never have let +anybody pay him for being honest!" + +"Who?" demanded Mr. Middleton, with a look of perplexity. + +"Thomas Jefferson, sir, who wrote the Declaration of Independence, that +I read of in that beautiful history you gave me." + +"Oh!" said Mr. Middleton, ceasing to press the money upon the boy, but +putting it in his pocketbook and returning the pocketbook to his pocket. +"Oh! and by the way, I am told that you have sold that history to-day." + +"Yes! for money to buy spinning-tops and marbles with!" put in Miss +Claudia. + +Ishmael looked around in dismay for a moment, and then burst out with: + +"Oh, sir! indeed, indeed I did not!" + +"What! you didn't sell it?" exclaimed Mr. Middleton. + +"Oh, yes, sir, I sold it!" said Ishmael, as the irrepressible tears +rushed to his eyes. "I sold it! I was obliged to do so! Patrick Henry +would have done it, sir!" + +"But you did not sell it to get money to buy toys with?" + +"Oh, no, no, no, sir! It was a matter of life and death, else I never +would have parted with my book!" + +"Tell me all about it, my boy." + +"My Aunt Hannah has been ill in bed all the winter. I haven't been able +to earn anything for the last month. We got out of money and provisions. +And Mr. Nutt wouldn't trust us for anything--" + +"Uncle, mind you, don't deal with that horrid man any more!" interrupted +Claudia. + +"Did you owe him much, my boy?" inquired Mr. Middleton. + +"Not a penny, sir! We never went in debt and never even asked for credit +before." + +"Go on." + +"Well, sir, to-day Aunt Hannah wanted a cup of tea so badly that she +cried for it, sir--cried like any little baby, and said she would die if +she didn't get it; and so I brought my book to town this afternoon and +sold it to get the money to buy what she wanted." + +"But you had the pocketbook full of money; why didn't you take some of +that?" + +"The Lord says 'Thou shalt not steal!'" + +"But that would have been only taking in advance what would certainly +have been offered to you as a reward." + +"I did think of that when aunt was crying for tea; but then I knew John +Hancock never would have done so, and I wouldn't, so I sold my book." + +"There, uncle! I said so! Now! now! what do you think now?" exclaimed +Claudia. + +"It must have cost you much to part with your treasure, my boy!" said +Mr. Middleton, without heeding the interruption of Claudia. + +Ishmael's features quivered, his eyes filled with tears and his voice +failed in the attempt to answer. + +"There is your book, my lad! It would be a sin to keep it from you," +said Mr. Middleton, taking a packet from the bottom of the sleigh and +laying it upon Ishmael's knees. + +"My book! my book again! Oh, oh, sir! I--" His voice sank; but his pale +face beamed with surprise, delight, and gratitude. + +"Yes, it is yours, my boy, my noble boy! I give it to you once more; not +as any sort of a reward; but simply because I think it would be a sin to +deprive you of that which is yours by a sacred right. Keep it, and make +its history still your study, and its heroes still your models," said +Mr. Middleton, with emotion. + +Ishmael was trembling with joy! His delight at recovering his lost +treasure was even greater than his joy at first possessing it had been. +He tried to thank the donor; but his gratitude was too intense to find +utterance in words. + +"There, there, I know it all as well as if you had expressed it with the +eloquence of Cicero, my boy," said Mr. Middleton. + +"Uncle, you are such a good old gander that I would hug and kiss you if +I could do so without climbing over aunt," said Claudia. + +"Mr. Middleton, do let us get along a little faster! or we shall not +reach home until dark," said the lady. + +"My good, little old wife, it will not be dark this night. The moon is +rising, and between the moon above and the snow beneath, we shall have +it as light as day all night. However, here goes!" And Mr. Middleton +touched up his horse and they flew as before the wind. + +It was a glorious ride through a glorious scene! The setting sun was +kindling all the western sky into a dazzling effulgence, and sending +long golden lines of light through the interstices of the forest on one +hand, and the rising moon was flooding the eastern heavens with a +silvery radiance on the other. The sleigh flew as if drawn by winged +horses. + +"Isn't it grand, Ishmael?" inquired Claudia. + +"Oh, yes, indeed, miss!" responded the boy, with fervor. + +In twenty minutes they had reached the turnpike road from which started +the little narrow foot-path leading through the forest to the hut. + +"Well, my boy, here we are! jump out! Good-night! I shall not lose sight +of you!" said Mr. Middleton, as he drew up to let Ishmael alight. + +"Good-night, sir; good-night, madam; good-night, Miss Claudia. I thank +you more than I can express, sir; but, indeed, indeed, I will try to +deserve your kindness," said Ishmael, as he bowed, and took his pack +once more upon his back and sped on through the narrow forest-path that +led to his humble home. His very soul within him was singing for joy. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +A TURNING POINT IN ISHMAEL'S LIFE. + + There is a thought, so purely blest, + That to its use I oft repair, + When evil breaks my spirit's rest, + And pleasure is but varied care; + A thought to light the darkest skies, + To deck with flowers the bleakest moor, + A thought whose home is paradise, + The charities of Poor to Poor. + + --_Richard Monckton Milnes_. + +Ishmael lifted the latch and entered the hut, softly lest Hannah should +have fallen asleep and he should awaken her. + +He was right. The invalid had dropped into one of those soft, refreshing +slumbers that often visit and relieve the bed-ridden and exhausted +sufferer. + +Ishmael closed the door, and moving about noiselessly, placed his +treasured book on the bureau; put away his provisions in the cupboard; +rekindled the smoldering fire; hung on the teakettle; set a little stand +by Hannah's bedside, covered it with a white napkin and arranged a +little tea service upon it; and then drew his little three-legged stool +to the fire and sat down to warm and rest his cold and tired limbs, and +to watch the teakettle boil. + +Poor child! His feeble frame had been fearfully over-tasked, and so the +heat of the fire and the stillness of the room, both acting upon his +exhausted nature, sent him also to sleep, and he was soon nodding. + +He was aroused by the voice of Hannah, who had quietly awakened. + +"Is that you, Ishmael?" she said. + +"Yes, aunt," he exclaimed, starting up with a jerk and rubbing his eyes; +"and I have got the tea and things; and the kettle is boiling; but I +thought I wouldn't set the tea to draw until you woke up, for fear it +should be flat." + +"Come here, my child," said Hannah, in a kindly voice, for you see the +woman had had a good sleep and had awakened much refreshed, with calmer +nerves and consequently better temper. + +"Come to me, Ishmael," repeated Hannah; for the boy had delayed obeying +long enough to set the tea to draw, and cut a slice of bread and set it +down to toast. + +When Ishmael went to her she raised herself up, took his thin face +between her hands and gazed tenderly into it, saying: + +"I was cross to you, my poor lad, this morning; but, oh, Ishmael, I felt +so badly I was not myself." + +"I know that, Aunt Hannah; because when you are well you are always good +to me; but let me run and turn your toast now, or it will burn; I will +come back to you directly." And the practical little fellow flew off to +the fireplace, turned the bread and flew back to Hannah. + +"But where did you get the tea, my child?" she inquired. + +Ishmael told her all about it in a few words. + +"And so you walked all the way back again to Baymouth, tired and hungry +as you were; and you sold your precious book, much as you loved it, all +to get tea for me! Oh, my boy, my boy, how unjust I have been to you! +But I am so glad Mr. Middleton bought it back and gave it to you again! +And the pocketbook was his! and you gave it to him and would not take +any reward for finding it! That was right, Ishmael; that was right! And +it seems to me that every good thing you have ever got in this world has +come through your own right doing," was the comment of Hannah upon all +this. + +"Well, aunt, now the tea is drawn and the toast is ready, let me fix it +on the stand for you," said Ishmael, hurrying off to perform this duty. + +That evening Hannah enjoyed her tea and dry toast only as a woman long +debarred from these feminine necessaries could enjoy them. + +When Ishmael also had had his supper and had cleared away the tea +service, he took down his book, lighted his little bit of candle, +and--as his aunt was in a benignant humor, he went to her for sympathy +in his studies--saying: + +"Now, aunt, don't mope and pine any more! George Washington didn't, even +when the army was at Valley Forge and the snow was so deep and the +soldiers were barefooted! Let me read you something out of my book to +amuse you! Come, now, I'll read to you what General Marion did when--" + +"No, don't, that's a good boy," exclaimed Hannah, interrupting him in +alarm, for she had a perfect horror of books. "You know it would tire me +to death, dear! But just you sit down by me and tell me about Mrs. +Middleton and Miss Merlin and how they were dressed. For you know, dear, +as I haven't been able to go to church these three months, I don't even +know what sort of bonnets ladies wear." + +This requirement was for a moment a perfect "poser" to Ishmael. He +wasn't interested in bonnets! But, however, as he had the faculty of +seeing, understanding, and remembering everything that fell under his +observation in his own limited sphere, he blew out his candle, sat down +and complied with his aunt's request, narrating and describing until she +went to sleep. Then he relighted his little bit of candle and sat down +to enjoy his book in comfort. + +That night the wind shifted to the south and brought in a mild spell of +weather. + +The next day the snow began to melt. In a week it was entirely gone. In +a fortnight the ground had dried. All the roads became passable. With +the improved weather, Hannah grew better. She was able to leave her bed +in the morning and sit in her old arm-chair in the chimney-corner all +day. + +The professor came to look after his pupil. + +Poor old odd-jobber! In his palmiest days he had never made more than +sufficient for the support of his large family; he had never been able +to lay up any money; and so, during this long and severe winter, when he +was frozen out of work, he and his humble household suffered many +privations; not so many as Hannah and Ishmael had; for you see, there +are degrees of poverty even among the very poor. + +And the good professor knew this; and so on that fine March morning, +when he made his appearance at the hut, it was with a bag of flour on +his back and a side of bacon in his hand. + +After the primitive manners of the neighborhood, he dispensed with +rapping, and just lifted the latch and walked in. + +He found Hannah sitting propped up in her arm-chair in the +chimney-corner engaged in knitting and glancing ruefully at the +unfinished web of cloth in the motionless loom, at which she was not yet +strong enough to work. + +Ishmael was washing his own clothes in a little tub in the other corner. + +"Morning, Miss Hannah! Morning, young Ishmael!" said the professor, +depositing both his bag and bacon on the floor. "I thought I had better +just drop in and see after my 'prentice. Work has been frozen up all +winter, and now, like the rivers and the snow-drifts, it is thawed and +coming with a rush! I'm nigh torn to pieces by the people as has been +sending after me; and I thought I would just take young Ishmael on again +to help me. And--as I heard how you'd been disabled along of the +rheumatism, Miss Hannah, and wasn't able to do no weaving, and as I +knowed young Ishmael would be out of work as long as I was, I just made +so free, Miss Hannah, as to bring you this bag of flour and middling of +bacon, which I hope you'll do me the honor of accepting from a +well-wisher." + +"I thank you, Morris; I thank you, very much; but I cannot think of +accepting such assistance from you; I know that even you and your family +must have suffered something from this long frost; and I cannot take the +gift." + +"Law, Miss Hannah," interrupted the honest fellow, "I never presumed to +think of such a piece of impertinence as to offer it to you as a gift! I +only make free to beg you will take it as an advance on account of +young Ishmael's wages, as he'll be sure to earn; for, bless you, miss, +work is a-pouring in on top of me like the cataract of Niagara itself! +And I shall want all his help. And as I mayn't have the money to pay him +all at once, I would consider of it as a favor to a poor man if you +would take this much of me in advance," said the professor. + +Now whether Hannah was really deceived by the benevolent diplomacy of +the good professor or not, I do not know; but at any rate her sensitive +pride was hushed by the prospect held out of Ishmael's labor paying for +the provisions, and--as she had not tasted meat for three weeks and her +very soul longed for a savory "rasher," she replied: + +"Oh, very well, Morris, if you will take the price out of Ishmael's +wages, I will accept the things and thank you kindly too; for to be +candid with so good a friend as yourself, I was wanting a bit of broiled +bacon." + +"Law, Miss Hannah! It will be the greatest accommodation of me as ever +was," replied the unscrupulous professor. + +Ishmael understood it all. + +"Indeed, professor," he said, "I think Israel Putnam would have approved +of you." + +"Well, young Ishmael, I don't know; when I mean well, my acts often work +evil; and sometimes I don't even mean well! But it wasn't to talk of +myself as I came here this morning; but to talk to you. You see I +promised to go over to Squire Hall's and do several jobs for him +to-morrow forenoon; and to-morrow afternoon I have got to go to old Mr. +Truman's; and to-morrow night I have to lead the exercises at the +colored people's missionary meeting at Colonel Mervin's. And as all that +will be a long day's work I shall have to make a pretty early start in +the morning; and of course as I shall want you to go with me, I shall +expect you to be at my house as early as six o'clock in the morning! Can +you do it?" + +"Oh, yes, professor," answered Ishmael, so promptly and cheerfully that +Morris laid his hand upon the boy's head and smiled upon him as he said, +addressing Hannah: + +"I take great comfort in this boy, Miss Hannah! I look upon him a'most +as my own son and the prop of my declining years; and I hope to prepare +him to succeed me in my business, when I know he will do honor to the +profession. Ah, Miss Hannah, I feel that I am not as young as I used to +be; in fact that I am rather past my first youth; being about fifty-two +years of age; professional duties wear a man, Miss Hannah! But when I +look at this boy I am consoled! I say to myself, though I have no son, I +shall have a successor who will do credit to my memory, my teachings, +and my profession! I say, that, fall when it may, my mantle will fall +upon his shoulders!" concluded Jim with emotion. And like all other +great orators, after having produced his finest effect, he made his +exit. + +The next morning, according to promise, Ishmael rendered himself at the +appointed hour at the professor's cottage. They set out together upon +their day's round of professional visits. The forenoon was spent at +Squire Hall's in mending a pump, fitting up some rain pipes, and putting +locks on some of the cabin doors. Then they got their dinner. The +afternoon was spent at old Mr. Truman's in altering the position of the +lightning rod, laying a hearth, and glazing some windows. And there they +got their tea. The evening was spent in leading the exercises of the +colored people's missionary meeting at Colonel Mervin's. As the session +was rather long, it was after ten o'clock before they left the +meetinghouse on their return home. The night was pitch dark; the rain, +that had been threatening all day long, now fell in torrents. + +They had a full four miles walk before them; but the professor had an +ample old cotton umbrella that sheltered both himself and his pupil; so +they trudged manfully onward, cheering the way with lively talk instead +of overshadowing it with complaints. + +"Black as pitch! not a star to be seen! but courage, my boy! we shall +enjoy the light of the fireside all the more when we get home," said the +professor. + +"Yes! there's one star, professor, just rising,--rising away there on +the horizon beyond Brudenell Hall," said Ishmael. + +"So there is a star, or--something! it looks more like the moon rising; +only there's no moon," said Morris, scrutinizing the small dull red +glare that hung upon the skirts of the horizon. + +"It looks more like a bonfire than either, just now," added the boy, as +the lurid red light suddenly burst into flame. + +"It is! it is a large fire!" cried the professor, as the whole sky +became suddenly illuminated with a red glare. + +"It is Brudenell Hall in flames!" exclaimed Ishmael Worth, in horror. +"Let us hurry on and see if we can do any good." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +THE FIRE AT BRUDENELL HALL. + + Seize then the occasion; by the forelock take + That subtle power the never halting time, + Lest a mere moment's putting off should make + Mischance almost as heavy as a crime. + + --_Wordsworth_. + +Through the threefold darkness of night, clouds, and rain they hurried +on towards that fearful beacon light which flamed on the edge of the +horizon. + +The rain, which continued to pour down in torrents, appeared to dampen +without extinguishing the fire, which blazed and smoldered at intervals. + +"Professor?" said the boy, as they toiled onward through the storm. + +"Well, young Ishmael?" + +"It seems to me the fire is inside the house." + +"Why so, young Ishmael?" + +"Because if it wasn't, this storm would put it out at once! Why, if it +had been the roof that caught from a burning chimney this driving rain +would have quenched it in no time." + +"The roof couldn't catch, young Ishmael; it is all slate." + +"Oh!" ejaculated Ishmael, as they increased their speed. They proceeded +in silence for a few minutes, keeping their eyes fixed on the burning +building, when Ishmael suddenly exclaimed: + +"The house is burning inside, professor! You can see now the windows +distinctly shaped out in fire against the blackness of the building!" + +"Just so, young Ishmael!" + +"Now, then, professor, we must run on as fast as ever we can if we +expect to be of any use. George Washington was always prompt in times of +danger. Remember the night he crossed the Delaware. Come, professor, let +us run on!" + +"Oh yes, young Ishmael, it is all very well for you to say--run on! but +how the deuce am I to do it, with the rain and wind beating this old +umbrella this way and that way, until, instead of being a protection to +our persons, it is a hindrance to our progress!" said the professor, as +he tried in vain to shelter himself and his companion from the fury of +the floods of rain. + +"I think you had better let it down, professor," suggested the boy. + +"If I did we should get wet to the skin, young Ishmael," objected +Morris. + +"All right, professor. The wetter we get the better we shall be prepared +to fight the fire." + +"That is true enough, young Ishmael," admitted Morris. + +"And besides, if you let the umbrella down you can furl it and use it +for a walking-stick, and instead of being a hindrance it will be a help +to you." + +"That is a good idea, young Ishmael. Upon my word, I think if you had +been born in a higher speer of society, young Ishmael, your talents +would have caused you to be sent to the State's legislature, I do +indeed. And you might even have come to be put on the Committee of Ways +and Means." + +"I hope that is not a committee of mean ways, professor." + +"Ha, ha, ha! There you are again! I say it and I stand to it, if you had +been born in a more elevated speer you would have ris' to be something!" + +"Law, professor!" + +"Well, I do! and it is a pity you hadn't been! As it is, my poor boy, +you will have to be contented to do your duty 'in that station to which +the Lord has been pleased to call you,' as the Scriptur' says." + +"As the catechism says, professor! The Scripture says nothing about +stations. The Lord in no respecter of persons." + +"Catechism, was it? Well, it's all the same." + +"Professor! look how the flames are pouring from that window! Run! run!" +And with these words Ishmael took to his heels and ran as fast as +darkness, rain, and wind would permit him. + +The professor took after him; but having shorter wind, though longer +legs, than his young companion, he barely managed to keep up with the +flying boy. + +When they arrived upon the premises a wild scene of confusion lighted up +by a lurid glare of fire met their view. The right wing of the mansion +was on fire; the flames were pouring from the front windows at that end. +A crowd of frightened negroes were hurrying towards the building with +water buckets; others were standing on ladders placed against the wall; +others again were clinging about the eaves, or standing on the roof; and +all these were engaged in passing buckets from hand to hand, or dashing +water on the burning timbers; all poor ineffectual efforts to extinguish +the fire, carried on amid shouts, cries, and halloos that only added to +the horrible confusion. + +A little further removed, the women and children of the family, heedless +of the pouring rain, were clinging together under the old elm tree. The +master of the house was nowhere to be seen; nor did there appear to be +any controlling head to direct the confused mob; or any system in their +work. + +"Professor, they have got no hose! they are trying to put the fire out +with buckets of water! that only keeps it under a little; it will not +put it out. Let me run to your house and get the hose you wash windows +and water trees with, and we can play it right through that window into +the burning room," said Ishmael breathlessly. And without waiting for +permission, he dashed away in the direction of Morris' house. + +"Where the deuce is the master?" inquired the professor, as he seized a +full bucket of water from a man on the ground, and passed it up to the +overseer, Grainger, who was stationed on the ladder. + +"He went out to an oyster supper at Commodore Burghe's, and he hasn't +got back yet," answered the man, as he took the bucket and passed it to +a negro on the roof. + +"How the mischief did the fire break out?" inquired the professor, +handing up another bucket. + +"Nobody knows. The mistress first found it out. She was woke up +a-smelling of smoke, and screeched out, and alarmed the house, and all +run out here. Be careful there, Jovial! Don't be afraid of singing your +old wool nor breaking your old neck either! because if you did you'd +only be saving the hangman and the devil trouble. Go nearer to that +window! dash the water full upon the flames!" + +"Are all safe out of the house?" anxiously inquired the professor. + +"Every soul!" was the satisfactory answer. + +At this moment Ishmael came running up with the hose, exclaiming: + +"Here, professor! if you will take this end, I will run and put the +sucker to the spout of the pump." + +"Good fellow, be off then!" answered Morris. + +The hose was soon adjusted and played into the burning room. + +At this moment there was a sudden outcry from the group of women and +children, and the form of Mrs. Middleton was seen flying through the +darkness towards the firemen. + +"Oh, Grainger!" she cried, as soon as she had reached the spot, "oh, +Grainger! the Burghe boys are still in the house. I thought they had +been out! I thought I had seen them out but it was two negro boys I +mistook in the dark for them! I have just found out my mistake! Oh, +Grainger, they will perish! What is to be done?" + +"'Pends on what room they're in, ma'am," hastily replied the overseer, +while all the others stood speechless with intense anxiety. + +"Oh, they are in the front chamber there, immediately above the burning +room!" cried Mrs. Middleton, wringing her hands in anguish, while those +around suspended their breath in horror. + +"More than a man's life would be worth to venture, ma'am. The ceiling of +that burning room is on fire; it may fall in any minute, carrying the +floor of the upper room with it!" + +"Oh, Grainger! but the poor, poor lads! to perish so horribly in their +early youth!" + +"It's dreadful, ma'am; but it can't be helped! It's as much as certain +death to any man as goes into that part of the building!" + +"Grainger! Grainger! I cannot abandon these poor boys to their fate! +Think of their mother! Grainger, I will give any man his freedom who +will rescue those two boys! It is said men will risk their lives for +that. Get up on the ladder where you can be seen and heard and proclaim +this--shout it forth: 'Freedom to any slave who will save the Burghe +boys!'" + +The overseer climbed up the ladder, and after calling the attention of +the whole mob by three loud whoops and waiting a moment until quiet was +restored, he shouted: + +"Freedom to any slave who will save the Burghe boys from the burning +building!" + +He paused and waited a response; but the silenqe was unbroken. + +"They won't risk it, ma'am; life is sweet," said the overseer, coming +down from his post. + +"I cannot give them up, Grainger! I cannot for their poor mother's sake! +Go up once more! Shout forth that I offer liberty to any slave with his +wife and children--if he will save those boys!" said Mrs. Middleton. + +Once more the overseer mounted his post and thundered forth the +proclamation: + +"Freedom to any slave with his wife and children, who will rescue the +Burghe boys!" + +Again he paused for a response; and nothing but dead silence followed. + +"I tell you they won't run the risk, ma'am! Life is sweeter than +anything else in this world!" said the overseer, coming down. + +"And the children will perish horribly in the fire and their mother will +go raving mad; for I know I should in her place!" cried Mrs. Middleton, +wildly wringing her hands, and gazing in helpless anguish upon the +burning house. + +"And oh! poor fellows! they are such naughty boys that they will go +right from this fire to the other one!" cried Claudia Merlin, running +up, burying her face in her aunt's gown, and beginning to sob. + +"Oh! oh! oh! that I should live to see such a horrible sight! to stand +here and gaze at that burning building and know those boys are perishing +inside and not be able to help them. Oh! oh! oh!" And here Mrs. +Middleton broke into shrieks and cries in which she was joined by all +the women and children present. + +"Professor! I can't stand this any longer! I'll do it!" exclaimed +Ishmael. + +"Do what?" asked the astonished artist. + +"Get those boys out." + +"You will kill yourself for nothing." + +"No, there's a chance of saving them, professor, and I'll risk it!" said +Ishmael, preparing for a start. + +"You are mad; you shall not do it!" exclaimed the professor, seizing the +boy and holding him fast. + +"Let me go, professor! Let me go, I tell you! Let me go, then! Israel +Putman would have done it, and so will I!" cried Ishmael, struggling, +breaking away, and dashing into the burning building. + +"But George Washington wouldn't, you run mad maniac, he would have had +more prudence!" yelled the professor, beside himself with grief and +terror. + +But Ishmael was out of hearing. He dashed into the front hall, and up +the main staircase, through volumes of smoke that rolled down and nearly +suffocated him. Ishmael's excellent memory stood him in good stead now. +He recollected to have read that people passing through burning houses +filled with smoke must keep their heads as near the floor as possible, +in order to breathe. So when he reached the first landing, where the +fire in the wing was at its worst, and the smoke was too dense to be +inhaled at all, he ducked his head quite low, and ran through the hall +and up the second flight of stairs to the floor upon which the boys +slept. + +He dashed on to the front room and tried the door. It was fastened +within. He rapped and called and shouted aloud. In vain! The dwellers +within were dead, or dead asleep, it was impossible to tell which. He +threw himself down upon the floor to get a breath of air, and then arose +and renewed his clamor at the door. He thumped, kicked, shrieked, hoping +either to force the door or awake the sleepers. Still in vain! The +silence of death reigned within the chamber; while volumes of lurid red +smoke began to fill the passage. This change in the color of the smoke +warned the brave young boy that the flames were approaching. At this +moment, too, he heard a crash, a fall, and a sudden roaring up of the +fire, somewhere near at hand. Again in frantic agony he renewed his +assault upon the door. This time it was suddenly torn open by the boys +within. + +And horrors of horrors! what a scene met his appalled gaze! One portion +of the floor of the room had fallen in, and the flames were rushing up +through the aperture from the gulf of fire beneath. The two boys, +standing at the open door, were spell-bound in a sort of panic. + +"What is it?" asked one of them, as if uncertain whether this were +reality or nightmare. + +"It is fire! Don't you see! Quick! Seize each of you a blanket! Wrap +yourselves up and follow me! Stoop near the floor when you want to +breathe! Shut your eyes and mouths when the flame blows too near. Now +then!" + +It is marvelous how quickly we can understand and execute when we are in +mortal peril. Ishmael was instantly understood and obeyed. The lads +quick as lightning caught up blankets, enveloped themselves, and rushed +from the sinking room. + +It was well! In another moment the whole floor, with a great, sobbing +creak, swayed, gave way, and fell into the burning gulf of fire below. +The flames with a horrible roar rushed up, filling the upper space +where the chamber floor had been; seizing on the window-shutters, +mantel-piece, door-frames, and all the timbers attached to the walls; +and finally streaming out into the passage as if in pursuit of the +flying boys. + +They hurried down the hot and suffocating staircase to the first floor, +where the fire raged with the utmost fury. Here the flames were bursting +from the burning wing through every crevice into the passage. Ishmael, +in his wet woollen clothes, and the boys in their blankets, dashed for +the last flight of stairs--keeping their eyes shut to save their sight, +and their lips closed to save their lungs--and so reached the ground +floor. + +Here a wall of flame barred their exit through the front door; but they +turned and made their escape through the back one. + +They were in the open air! Scorched, singed, blackened, choked, +breathless, but safe! + +Here they paused a moment to recover breath, and then Ishmael said: + +"We must run around to the front and let them know that we are out!" The +two boys that he had saved obeyed him as though he had been their +master. + +Extreme peril throws down all false conventional barriers and reduces +and elevates all to their proper level. In this supreme moment Ishmael +instinctively commanded, and they mechanically obeyed. + +They hurried around to the front. Here, as soon as they were seen and +recognized, a general shout of joy and thanksgiving greeted them. + +Ishmael found himself clasped in the arms of his friend, the professor, +whose tears rained down upon him as he cried: + +"Oh, my boy! my boy! my brave, noble boy! there is not your like upon +this earth! no, there is not! I would kneel down and kiss your feet! I +would! There isn't a prince in this world like you! there isn't, +Ishmael! there isn't! Any king on this earth might be proud of you for +his son and heir, my great-hearted boy!" And the professor bowed his +head over Ishmael and sobbed for joy and gratitude and admiration. + +"Was it really so well done, professor?" asked Ishmael simply. + +"Well done, my boy? Oh, but my heart is full! Was it well done? Ah! my +boy, you will never know how well done, until the day when the Lord +shall judge the quick and the dead!" + +"Ah, if your poor young mother were living to see her boy now!" cried the +professor, with emotion. + +"Don't you suppose mother does live, and does see me, professor? I do," +answered Ishmael, in a sweet, grave tone that sounded like Nora's own +voice. + +"Yes, I do! I believe she does live and watch over you, my boy." + +Meanwhile Mrs. Middleton, who had been engaged in receiving and +rejoicing over the two rescued youths, and soothing and composing their +agitated spirits, now came forward to speak to Ishmael. + +"My boy," she said, in a voice shaking with emotion, "my brave, good +boy! I cannot thank you in set words; they would be too poor and weak to +tell you what I feel, what we must all ever feel towards you, for what +you have done to-night. But we will find some better means to prove how +much we thank, how highly we esteem you." + +Ishmael held down his head, and blushed as deeply as if he had been +detected in some mean act and reproached for it. + +"You should look up and reply to the madam!" whispered the professor. + +Ishmael raised his head and answered: + +"My lady, I'm glad the young gentlemen are saved and you are pleased. +But I do not wish to have more credit than I have a right to; for I feel +very sure George Washington wouldn't." + +"What do you say, Ishmael? I do not quite understand you," said the +lady. + +"I mean, ma'am, as it wasn't altogether myself as the credit is due to." + +"To whom else, then, I should like to know?" inquired the lady in +perplexity. + +"Why, ma'am, it was all along of Israel Putnam. I knew he would have +done it, and so I felt as if I was obliged to!" + +"What a very strange lad! I really do not quite know what to make of +him!" exclaimed the lady, appealing to the professor for want of a +better oracle. + +"Why, you see, ma'am, Ishmael is a noble boy and a real hero; but he is +a bit of a heathen for all that, with a lot of false gods, as he is +everlasting a-falling down and a-worshiping of! And the names of his +gods are Washington, Jefferson, Putnam, Marion, Hancock, Henry, and the +lot! The History of the United States is his Bible, ma'am, and its +warriors and statesmen are his saints and prophets. But by-and-by, when +Ishmael grows older, ma'am, he will learn, when he does any great or +good action, to give the glory to God, and not to those dead and gone +old heroes who were only flesh and blood like himself," said the +professor. + +Mrs. Middleton looked perplexed, as if the professor's explanation +itself required to be explained. And Ishmael, who seemed to think that a +confession of faith was imperatively demanded of him, looked anxious--as +if eager, yet ashamed, to speak. Presently he conquered his shyness, and +said: + +"But you are mistaken, professor. I am not a heathen. I wish to be a +Christian. And I do give the glory of all that is good and great to the +Lord, first of all. I do honor the good and great men; but I do glorify +and worship the Lord who made them." And having said this, Ishmael +collapsed, hung his head, and blushed. + +"And I know he is not a heathen, you horrid old humbug of a professor! +He is a brave, good boy, and I love him!" said Miss Claudia, joining the +circle and caressing Ishmael. + +But, ah! again it was as if she had caressed Fido, and said that he was +a brave, good dog, and she loved him. + +"It was glorious in you to risk your life to save those good-for-nothing +boys, who were your enemies besides! It was so! And it makes my heart +burn to think of it! Stoop down and kiss me, Ishmael!" + +Our little hero had the instincts of a gallant little gentleman. And +this challenge was to be in no wise rejected. And though he blushed +until his very ears seemed like two little flames, he stooped and +touched with his lips the beautiful white forehead that gleamed like +marble beneath its curls of jet. The storm, which had abated for a time, +now arose with redoubled violence. The party of women and children, +though gathered under a group of cedars, were still somewhat exposed to +its fury. + +Grainger, the overseer, who with his men had been unremitting in his +endeavors to arrest the progress of the flames, now came up, and taking +off his hat to Mrs. Middleton, said: + +"Madam, I think, please the Lord, we shall bring the fire under +presently and save all of the building except that wing, which must go. +But, if you please, ma'am, I don't see as you can do any good standing +here looking on. So, now that the young gentlemen are safe, hadn't you +all better take shelter in my house? It is poor and plain; but it is +roomy and weather-tight, and altogether you and the young gentlemen and +ladies would be better off there than here." + +"I thank you, Grainger. I thank you for your offer as well as for your +efforts here to-night, and I will gladly accept the shelter of your roof +for myself and young friends. Show us the way. Come, my children. Come, +you also, Ishmael." + +"Thank you very much, ma'am; but, if I can't be of any more use here, I +must go home. Aunt Hannah will be looking for me." And with a low bow +the boy left the scene. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +ISHMAEL'S FIRST STEP ON THE LADDER. + + There is a proud modesty in merit + Averse to asking, and resolved to pay + Ten times the gift it asks. + + --_Dryden_. + +Early the next morning the professor made his appearance at the Hill +Hut. Ishmael and Hannah had eaten breakfast, and the boy was helping his +aunt to put the warp in the loom for a new piece of cloth. + +"Morning, Miss Hannah; morning, young Ishmael! You are wanted, sir, up +to the Hall this morning, and I am come to fetch you," said the +professor, as he stood within the door, hat in hand. + +"Yes, I thought I would be; there must be no end of the rubbish to clear +away, and the work to do up there now, and I knew you would be expecting +me to help you, and so I meant to go up to your house just as soon as +ever I had done helping aunt to put the warp in her loom," answered +Ishmael simply. + +"Oh, you think you are wanted only to be set to work, do you? All right! +But now as we are in a hurry, I'll just lend a hand to this little job, +and help it on a bit." And with that the artist, who was as expert at +one thing as at another, began to aid Hannah with such good will that +the job was soon done. + +"And now, young Ishmael, get your hat and come along. We must be going." + +But now, Hannah, who had been far too much interested in her loom to +stop to talk until its arrangements were complete, found time to ask: + +"What about that fire at Brudenell Hall?" + +"Didn't young Ishmael tell you, ma'am?" inquired the professor. + +"Very little! I was asleep when he came in last night, and this morning, +when I saw that his clothes were all scorched, and his hair singed, and +his hands and face red and blistered, and I asked him what in the world +he had been doing to himself, he told me there had been a fire at the +Hall; but that it was put out before any great damage had been done; +nothing but that old wing, that they talked about pulling down, burnt, +as if to save them the trouble," answered Hannah. + +"Well, ma'am, that was a cheerful way of putting it, certainly; and it +was also a true one; there wasn't much damage done, as the wing that was +burnt was doomed to be pulled down this very spring. But did young +Ishmael tell you how he received his injuries?" + +"No; but I suppose of course he got them, boy-like, bobbing about among +the firemen, where he had no business to be!" + +"Ma'am, he got burned in saving Commodore Burghe's sons, who were fast +asleep in that burning wing! Mrs. Middleton offered freedom to any slave +who would venture through the house to wake them up, and get them out. +Not a man would run the risk! Then she offered freedom, not only to any +slave, but also to the wife and children of any slave who would go in +and save the boys. Not a man would venture! And when all the women were +a-howling like a pack of she-wolves, what does your nephew do but rush +into the burning wing, rouse up the boys and convoy them out! Just in +time, too! for they were sleeping in the chamber over the burning room, +and in two minutes after they got out the floor of that room fell in!" +said Morris. + +"You did that! You!" exclaimed Hannah vehemently. "Oh! you horrid, +wicked, ungrateful, heartless boy! to do such a thing as that, when you +knew if you had been burnt to death, it would have broken my heart! And +you, professor! you are just as bad as he is! yes, and worse too, +because you are older and ought to have more sense! The boy was in your +care! pretty care you took of him to let him rush right into the fire." + +"Ma'am, if you'll only let me get in a word edgeways like, I'll tell you +all about it! I did try to hinder him! I reasoned with him, and I held +him tight, until the young hero--rascal, I mean--turned upon me and hit +me in the face; yes, ma'am, administered a 'scientific' right into my +left eye, and then broke from me and rushed into the burning house--" + +"Well, but I thought it better the professor should have a black eye +than the boys should be burned to death," put in the lad, edgeways. + +"Oh, Ishmael, Ishmael, this is dreadful! You will live to be hung, I +know you will!" sobbed Hannah. + +"Well, aunty, maybe so; Sir William Wallace did," coolly replied the +boy. + +"What in the name of goodness set you on to do such a wild thing? And +all for old Burghe's sons! Pray, what were they to you that you should +rush through burning flames for them?" + +"Nothing, Aunt Hannah; only I felt quite sure that Israel Putnam or +Francis Marion would have done just as I did, and so--" + +"Plague take Francis Putnam and Israel Marion, and also Patrick +Handcock, and the whole lot of 'em, I say! Who are they that you should +run your head into the fire for them? They wouldn't do it for you, that +I know," exclaimed Hannah. + +"Aunt Hannah," said Ishmael pathetically, "you have got their names all +wrong, and you always do! Now, if you would only take my book and read +it while you are resting in your chair, you would soon learn all their +names, and--" + +"I'll take the book and throw it into the fire the very first time I lay +my hands on it! The fetched book will be your ruin yet!" exclaimed +Hannah, in a rage. + +"Now, Miss Worth," interposed the professor, "if you destroy that boy's +book, I'll never do another odd job for you as long as ever I live." + +"Whist! professor," whispered Ishmael. "You don't know my Aunt Hannah as +well as I do. Her bark is a deal worse than her bite! If you only knew +how many times she has threatened to 'shake the life out of' me, and to +'be the death of me', and to 'flay' me 'alive,' you would know the value +of her words." + +"Well, young Ishmael, you are the best judge of that matter, at least. +And now are you ready? For, indeed, we haven't any more time to spare. +We ought to have been at the Hall before this." + +"Why, professor, I have been ready and waiting for the last ten +minutes." + +"Come along, then. And now, Miss Hannah, you take a well-wisher's +advice and don't scold young Ishmael any more about last night's +adventur'. He has done a brave act, and he has saved the commodore's +sons without coming to any harm by it. And, if he hasn't made his +everlasting fortun', he has done himself a great deal of credit and made +some very powerful friends. And that I tell you! You wait and see!" said +the professor, as he left the hut, followed by Ishmael. + +The morning was clear and bright after the rain. As they emerged into +the open air Ishmael naturally raised his eyes and threw a glance across +the valley to Brudenell Heights. The main building was standing intact, +though darkened; and a smoke, small in volume but dense black in hue, +was rising from the ruins of the burnt wing. + +Ishmael had only time to observe this before they descended the narrow +path that led through the wooded valley. They walked on in perfect +silence until the professor, noticing the unusual taciturnity of his +companion, said: + +"What is the matter with you, young Ishmael? You haven't opened your +mouth since we left the hut." + +"Oh, professor, I am thinking of Aunt Hannah. It is awful to hear her +rail about the great heroes as she does. It is flat blasphemy," replied +the boy solemnly. + +"Hum, ha, well, but you see, young Ishmael, though I wouldn't like to +say one word to dampen your enthusiasm for great heroism, yet the truth +is the truth; and that compels me to say that you do fall down and +worship these same said heroes a little too superstitiously. Why, law, +my boy, there wasn't one of them, at twelve years of age, had any more +courage or wisdom than you have--even if as much." + +"Oh, professor, don't say that--don't! it is almost as bad as anything +Aunt Hannah says of them. Don't go to compare their great boyhood with +mine. History tells what they were, and I know myself what I am." + +"I doubt if you do, young Ishmael." + +"Yes! for I know that I haven't even so much as the courage that you +think I have; for, do you know, professor, when I was in that burning +house I was frightened when I saw the red smoke rolling into the passage +and heard the fire roaring so near me? And once--I am ashamed to own it, +but I will, because I know George Washington always owned his faults +when he was a boy--once, I say, I was tempted to run away and leave the +boys to their fate." + +"But you didn't do it, my lad. And you were not the less courageous +because you knew the danger that you freely met. You are brave, Ishmael, +and as good and wise as you are brave." + +"Oh, professor, I know you believe so, else you wouldn't say it; but I +cannot help thinking that if I really were good I shouldn't vex Aunt +Hannah as often as I do." + +"Humph!" said the professor. + +"And then if I were wise, I would always know right from wrong." + +"And don't you?" + +"No, professor; because last night when I ran into the burning house to +save the boys I thought I was doing right; and when the ladies so kindly +thanked me, I felt sure I had done right; but this morning, when Aunt +Hannah scolded me, I doubted." + +"My boy, listen to the oracles of experience. Do what your own +conscience assures you to be right, and never mind what others think or +say. I, who have been your guide up to this time, can be so no longer. I +can scarcely follow you at a distance, much less lead you. A higher hand +than Old Morris' shall take you on. But here we are now at the Hall," +said the professor, as he opened the gates to admit himself and his +companion. + +They passed up the circular drive leading to the front of the house, +paused a few minutes to gaze upon the ruins of the burnt wing, of which +nothing was now left but a shell of brick walls and a cellar of smoking +cinders, and then they entered the house by the servant's door. + +"Mr. Middleton and the Commodore are in the library, and you are to take +the boy in there," said Grainger, who was superintending the clearing +away of the ruins. + +"Come along, young Ishmael!" said the professor, and as he knew the way +of the house quite as well as the oldest servant in it, he passed +straight on to the door of the library and knocked. + +"Come in," said the voice of Mr. Middleton. + +And the professor, followed by Ishmael, entered the library. + +It was a handsome room, with the walls lined with book-cases; the windows +draped with crimson curtains; the floor covered with a rich carpet; a +cheerful fire burning in the grate; and a marble-top table in the center +of the room, at which was placed two crimson velvet arm-chairs occupied +by two gentlemen--namely, Mr. Middleton and Commodore Burghe. The +latter was a fine, tall, stout jolly old sailor, with a very round +waist, a very red face, and a very white head, who, as soon as ever he +saw Ishmael enter, got up and held out his broad hand, saying: + +"This is the boy, is it? Come here, my brave little lad, and let us take +a look at you!" + +Ishmael took off his hat, advanced and stood before the commodore. + +"A delicate little slip of a fellow to show such spirit!" said the old +sailor, laying his hand on the flaxen hair of the boy and passing his +eyes down from Ishmael's broad forehead and thin cheeks to his slender +figure. "Never do for the army or navy, sir! be rejected by both upon +account of physical incapacity, sir. Eh?" he continued, appealing to Mr. +Middleton. + +"The boy is certainly very delicate at present; but that may be the +fault of his manner of living; under better regimen he may outgrow his +fragility," said Mr. Middleton. + +"Yes, yes, so he may; but now as I look at him, I wonder where the deuce +the little fellow got his pluck from! Where did you, my little man, eh?" +inquired the old sailor, turning bluffly to Ishmael. + +"Indeed I don't know, sir; unless it was from George Washington +and--" Ishmael was going on to enumerate his model heroes, but the +commodore, who had not stopped to hear the reply, turned to Mr. +Middleton again and said: + +"One is accustomed to associate great courage with great size, weight, +strength, and so forth!" And he drew up his own magnificent form with +conscious pride. + +"Indeed, I do not know why we should, then, when all nature and all +history contradicts the notion! Nature shows us that the lion is braver +than the elephant, and history informs us that all the great generals of +the world have been little men--" + +"And experience teaches us that schoolmasters are pedants!" said the old +man, half vexed, half laughing; "but that is not the question. The +question is how are we to reward this brave little fellow?" + +"If you please, sir, I do not want any reward," said Ishmael modestly. + +"Oh, yes, yes, yes; I know all about that! Your friend, Mr. Middleton, +has just been telling me some of your antecedents--how you fought my +two young scapegraces in defense of his fruit baskets. Wish you had been +strong enough to have given hem a good thrashing. And about your finding +the pocketbook, forbearing to borrow a dollar from it, though sorely +tempted by want. And then about your refusing any reward for being +simply honest. You see I know all about you. So I am not going to offer +you money for risking your life to save my boys. But I am going to give +you a start in the world, if I can. Come, now, how shall I do it?" + +Ishmael hesitated, looked down and blushed. + +"Would you like to go to sea and be a sailor, eh?" + +"No, sir, thank you." + +"Like to go for a soldier, eh? You might be a drummerboy, you know." + +"No, thank you, sir." + +"Neither sailor nor soldier; that's queer, too! I thought all lads +longed to be one or the other! Why don't you, eh?" + +"I would not like to leave my Aunt Hannah, sir; she has no one but me." + +"What the deuce would you like, then?" testily demanded the old sailor. + +"If you please, sir, nothing; do not trouble yourself." + +"But you saved the life of my boys, you proud little rascal and do you +suppose I am going to let that pass unrepaid?" + +"Sir, I am glad the young gentlemen are safe; that is enough for me." + +"But I'll be shot if it is enough for me!" + +"Commodore Burghe, sir, will you allow me to suggest something?" said +the professor, coming forward, hat in hand. + +"And who the deuce are you? Oh, I see! the artist-in-general to the +country side! Well, what do you suggest?" laughed the old man. + +"If I might be so bold, sir, it would be to send young Ishmael to +school." + +"Send him to school! Ha, ha, ha! ho, ho, ho! why, he'd like that least +of anything else! why, he'd consider that the most ungrateful of all +returns to make for his services! Boys are sent to school for +punishment, not for reward!" laughed the commodore. + +"Young Ishmael wouldn't think it a punishment, sir," mildly suggested +the professor. + +"I tell you he wouldn't go, my friend! punishment or no punishment! +Why, I can scarcely make my own fellows go! Bosh! I know boys; school is +their bugbear." + +"But, under correction, sir, permit me to say I don't think you know +young Ishmael." + +"I know he is a boy; that is enough!" + +"But, sir, he is rather an uncommon boy." + +"In that case he has an uncommon aversion to school." + +"Sir, put it to him, whether he would like to go to school." + +"What's the use, when I know he'd rather be hung?" + +"But, pray, give him the choice, sir," respectfully persisted the +professor. + +"What a solemn, impertinent jackanapes you are, to be sure, Morris! But +I will 'put it to him,' as you call it! Here, you young fire-eater, come +here to me." + +The boy, who had modestly withdrawn into the background, now came +forward. + +"Stand up before me; hold up your Head; look me in the face! Now, then, +answer me truly, and don't be afraid. Would you like to go to school, +eh?" + +Ishmael did not speak, but the moonlight radiance of his pale beaming +face answered for him. + +"Have you no tongue, eh?" bluffly demanded the old sailor. + +"If you please, sir, I should like to go to school more than anything in +the world, if I was rich enough to pay for it." + +"Humph! what do you think of that, Middleton, eh? what do you think of +that? A boy saying that he would like to go to school! Did you ever hear +of such a thing in your life? Is the young rascal humbugging us, do you +think?" said the commodore, turning to his friend. + +"Not in the least, sir; he is perfectly sincere. I am sure of it, from +what I have seen of him myself. And look at him, sir! he is a boy of +talent; and if you wish to reward him, you could not do so in a more +effectual way than by giving him some education," said Mr. Middleton. + +"But what could a boy of his humble lot do with an education if he had +it?" inquired the commodore. + +"Ah! that I cannot tell, as it would depend greatly upon future +circumstances; but this we know, that the education he desires cannot do +him any harm, and may do him good." + +"Yes! well, then, to school he shall go. Where shall I send him" +inquired the old sailor. + +"Here; I would willingly take him." + +"You! you're joking! Why, you have one of the most select schools in the +State." + +"And this boy would soon be an honor to it! In a word, commodore, I +would offer to take him freely myself, but that I know the independent +spirit of the young fellow could not rest under such an obligation. You, +however, are his debtor to a larger amount than you can ever repay. From +you, therefore, even he cannot refuse to accept an education." + +"But your patrons, my dear sir, may object to the association for their +sons," said the commodore, in a low voice. + +"Do you object?" + +"Not I indeed! I like the little fellow too well." + +"Very well, then, if anyone else objects to their sons keeping company +with Ishmael Worth, they shall be at liberty to do so." + +"Humph! but suppose they remove their sons from the school? what then, +eh?" demanded the commodore. + +"They shall be free from any reproach from me. The liberty I claim for +myself I also allow others. I interfere with no man's freedom of action, +and suffer no man to interfere with mine," returned Middleton. + +"Quite right! Then it is settled the boy attends the school. Where are +you, you young fire-bravo! you young thunderbolt of war! Come forward, +and let us have a word with you!" shouted the commodore. + +Ishmael, who had again retreated behind the shelter of the professor's +stout form, now came forward, cap in hand, and stood blushing before the +old sailor. + +"Well, you are to be 'cursed with a granted prayer,' you young Don +Quixote. You are to come here to school, and I am to foot the bills. You +are to come next Monday, which being the first of April and +all-fool's-day, I consider an appropriate time for beginning. You are to +tilt with certain giants, called Grammar, Geography, and History. And if +you succeed with them, you are to combat certain dragons and griffins, +named Virgil, Euclid, and so forth. And if you conquer them, you may +eventually rise above your present humble sphere, and perhaps become a +parish clerk or a constable--who knows? Make good use of your +opportunities, my lad! Pursue the path of learning, and there is no +knowing where it may carry you. 'Big streams from little fountains flow. +Great oaks from little acorns grow;' and so forth. Good-by! and God +bless you, my lad," said the commodore, rising to take his leave. + +Ishmael bowed very low, and attempted to thank his friend, but tears +arose to his eyes, and swelling emotion choked his voice; and before he +could speak, the commodore walked up to Mr. Middleton, and said: + +"I hope your favor to this lad will not seriously affect your school; +but we will talk further of the matter on some future occasion. I have +an engagement this morning. Good-by! Oh, by the way--I had nearly +forgotten: Mervin, and Turner, and the other old boys are coming down to +my place for an oyster roast on Thursday night. I won't ask you if you +will come. I say to you that you must do so; and I will not stop to hear +any denial. Good-by!" and the commodore shook Mr. Middleton's hand and +departed. + +Ishmael stood the very picture of perplexity, until Mr. Middleton +addressed him. + +"Come here, my brave little lad. You are to do as the commodore has +directed you, and present yourself here on Monday next. Do you +understand?" + +"Yes, sir, I understand very well; but--" + +"But--what, my lad? Wouldn't you like to come?" + +"Oh, yes, sir! more than anything in the world. I would like it, +but--" + +"What, my boy?" + +"It would be taking something for nothing; and I do not like to do that, +sir." + +"You are mistaken, Ishmael. It would be taking what you have a right to +take. It would be taking what you have earned a hundred-fold. You risked +your life to save Commodore Burghe's two sons, and you did save them." + +"Sir, that was only my duty." + +"Then it is equally the commodore's duty to do all that he can for you. +And it is also your duty to accept his offers." + +"Do you look at it in that light, sir?" + +"Certainly I do." + +"And--do you think John Hancock and Patrick Henry would have looked at +it in that light?" + +Mr. Middleton laughed. No one could have helped laughing at the solemn, +little, pale visage of Ishmael, as he gravely put this question. + +"Why, assuredly, my boy. Every hero and martyr in sacred or profane +history would view the matter as the commodore and myself do." + +"Oh, then, sir, I am so glad! and indeed, indeed, I will do my very best +to profit by my opportunities, and to show my thankfulness to the +commodore and you," said Ishmael fervently. + +"Quite right. I am sure you will. And now, my boy, you may retire," said +Mr. Middleton, kindly giving Ishmael his hand. + +Our lad bowed deeply and turned towards the professor, who, with a +sweeping obeisance to all the literary shelves, left the room. + +"Your everlastin' fortin's made, young Ishmael! You will learn the +classmatics, and all the fine arts; and it depends on yourself alone, +whether you do not rise to be a sexton or a clerk!" said the professor, +as they went out into the lawn. + +They went around to the smoking ruins of the burnt wing, where all the +field negroes were collected under the superintendence of the overseer, +Grainger, and engaged in clearing away the rubbish. + +"I have a hundred and fifty things to do," said the professor; "but, +still, if my assistance is required here it must be given. Do you want +my help, Mr. Grainger?" + +"No, Morris, not until the rubbish is cleared away. Then, I think, we +shall want you to put down a temporary covering to keep the cellar from +filling with rain until the builder comes," was the reply. + +"Come along, then, young Ishmael; I guess I will not linger here any +longer; and as for going over to Mr. Martindale's, to begin to dig his +well to-day, it is too late to think of such a thing. So I will just +walk over home with you, to see how Hannah receives your good news," +said the professor, leading the way rapidly down the narrow path through +the wooded valley. + +When they reached the hut they found Hannah sitting in her chair before +the fire, crying. + +In a moment Ishmael's thin arm was around her neck and his gentle voice +in her ear, inquiring: + +"What is the matter?" + +"Starvation is the matter, my child! I cannot weave. It hurts my arms +too much. What we are to do for bread I cannot tell! for of course the +poor little dollar a week that you earn is not going to support us," +said Hannah, sobbing. + +Ishmael looked distressed; the professor dismayed. The same thought +occurred to both--Hannah unable to work, Ishmael's "poor little dollar a +week" would not support them; but yet neither could it be dispensed +with, since it would be the only thing to keep them both from famine, +and since this was the case, Ishmael would be obliged to continue to +earn that small stipend, and to do so he must give up all hopes of going +to school--at least for the present, perhaps forever. It was a bitter +disappointment, but when was the boy ever known to hesitate between +right and wrong? He swallowed his rising tears and kissed his weeping +relative saying: + +"Never mind, Aunt Hannah! Don't cry; maybe if I work hard I may be able +to earn more." + +"Yes; times is brisk; I dare say, young Ishmael will be able to bring +you as much as two dollars a week for a while," chimed in the professor. + +Hannah dropped her coarse handkerchief and lifted her weeping face to +ask: + +"What did they want with you up at the Hall, my dear?" + +"The commodore wanted to send me to school, Aunt Hannah; but it don't +matter," said Ishmael firmly. + +Hannah sighed. + +And the professor, knowing now that he should have no pleasure in seeing +Hannah's delight in her nephew's advancement, since the school plan was +nipped in the bud, took up his hat to depart. + +"Well, young Ishmael, I shall start for Mr. Martindale's to-morrow, to +dig that well. I shall have a plenty for you to do, so you must be at my +house as usual at six o'clock in the morning," he said. + +"Professor, I think I will walk with you. I ought to tell Mr. Middleton +at once. And I shall have no more time after to-day," replied the boy +rising. + +They went out together and in silence retraced their steps to Brudenell +Heights. Both were brooding over Ishmael's defeated hopes and over that +strange fatality in the lot of the poor that makes them miss great +fortunes for the lack of small means. + +The professor parted with his companion at his own cottage door. But +Ishmael, with his hands in his pockets, walked slowly and thoughtfully +on towards Brudenell Heights. + +To have the cup of happiness dashed to the ground the very moment it was +raised to his lips! It was a cruel disappointment. He could not resign +himself to it. All his nature was in arms to resist it. His mind was +laboring with the means to reconcile his duty and his desire. His +intense longing to go to school, his burning thirst for knowledge, the +eagerness of his hungry and restless intellect for food and action, can +scarcely be appreciated by less gifted beings. While earnestly searching +for the way by which he might supply Hannah with the means of living, +without sacrificing his hopes of school, he suddenly hit upon a plan. He +quickened his footsteps to put it into instant execution. He arrived at +Brudenell Hall and asked to see Mrs. Middleton. A servant took up his +petition and soon returned to conduct him to that lady's presence. They +went up two flights of stairs, when the man, turning to the left, opened +a door, and admitted the boy to the bed-chamber of Mrs. Middleton. + +The lady, wrapped in a dressing gown and shawl, reclined in an arm-chair +in the chimney corner. + +"Come here, my dear," she said, in a sweet voice. And when Ishmael had +advanced and made his bow, she took his hand kindly and said: "You are +the only visitor whom I would have received to-day, for I have taken a +very bad cold from last night's exposure, my dear; but you I could not +refuse. Now sit down in that chair opposite me, and tell me what I can +do for you. I hear you are coming to school here; I am glad of it." + +"I was, ma'am; but I do not know that I am", replied the boy. + +"Why, how is that?" + +"I hope you won't be displeased with me, ma'am--" + +"Certainly not, my boy. What is it that you wish to say?" + +"Well, ma'am, my Aunt Hannah cannot weave now, because her wrists are +crippled with rheumatism; and, as she cannot earn any money in that way, +I shall be obliged to give up school--unless--" Ishmael hesitated. + +"Unless what, my boy?" + +"Unless she can get some work that she can do. She can knit and sew very +nicely, and I thought maybe, ma'am--I hope you won't be offended--" + +"Certainly not." + +"I thought, then, maybe you might have some sewing or some knitting to +put out." + +"Why, Ishmael, I have been looking in vain for a seamstress for the last +three or four weeks. And I thought I really should have to go to the +trouble and expense of sending to Baltimore or Washington for one; for +all our spring and summer sewing is yet to do. I am sure I could keep +one woman in fine needlework all the year round." + +"Oh, ma'am, how glad I would be if Aunt Hannah would suit you." + +"I can easily tell that. Does she make your clothes?" + +"All of them, ma'am, and her own too." + +"Come here, then, and let me look at her sewing." + +Ishmael went to the lady, who took his arm and carefully examined the +stitching of his jacket and shirt sleeve. + +"She sews beautifully. That will do, my boy. Ring that bell for me." + +Ishmael obeyed and a servant answered the summons. + +"Jane," she said, "hand me that roll of linen from the wardrobe." + +The woman complied, and the mistress put the bundle in the hands of +Ishmael, saying: + +"Here, my boy: here are a dozen shirts already cut out, with the sewing +cotton, buttons, and so forth rolled up in them. Take them to your aunt. +Ask her if she can do them, and tell her that I pay a dollar apiece." + +"Oh! thank you, thank you, ma'am! I know Aunt Hannah will do them very +nicely!" exclaimed the boy in delight, as he made his bow and his exit. + +He ran home, leaping and jumping as he went. + +He rushed into the hut and threw the bundle on the table, exclaiming +gleefully: + +"There, Aunt Hannah! I have done it!" + +"Done what, you crazy fellow?" cried Hannah, looking up from the frying +pan in which she was turning savory rashers of bacon for their second +meal. + +"I have got you--'an engagement,' as the professor calls a big lot of +work to do. I've got it for you, aunt; and I begin to think a body may +get any reasonable thing in this world if they will only try hard enough +for it!" exclaimed Ishmael. + +Hannah sat down her frying pan and approached the table, saying: + +"Will you try to be sensible now, Ishmael; and tell me where this bundle +of linen came from?" + +Ishmael grew sober in an instant, and made a very clear statement of his +afternoon's errand, and its success, ending as he had begun, by saying: +"I do believe in my soul, Aunt Hannah, that anybody can get any +reasonable thing in the world they want, if they only try hard enough +for it! And now, dear Aunt Hannah, I would not be so selfish as to go to +school and leave all the burden of getting a living upon your shoulders, +if I did not know that it would be better even for you by-and-by! For if +I go to school and get some little education, I shall be able to work at +something better than odd jobbing. The professor and Mr. Middleton, and +even the commodore himself, thinks that if I persevere, I may come to be +county constable, or parish clerk, or schoolmaster, or something of that +sort; and if I do, you know, Aunt Hannah, we can live in a house with +three or four rooms, and I can keep you in splendor! So you won't think +your boy selfish in wanting to go to school, will you, Aunt Hannah?" + +"No, my darling, no. I love you dearly, my Ishmael. Only my temper is +tried when you run your precious head into the fire, as you did last +night." + +"But, Aunt Hannah, Israel Putnam, or Francis--" + +"Now, now, Ishmael--don't, dear, don't! If you did but know how I hate +the sound of those old dead and gone men's names, you wouldn't be +foreverlasting dinging of them into my ears!" said Hannah nervously. + +"Well, Aunt Hannah--I'll try to remember not to name them to you again. +But for all that I must follow where they lead me!" said this young +aspirant and unconscious prophet. For I have elsewhere said, what I now +with emphasis repeat, that "aspirations are prophecies," which it +requires only faith to fulfill. + +Hannah made no reply. She was busy setting the table for the supper, +which the aunt and nephew presently enjoyed with the appreciation only +to be felt by those who seldom sit down to a satisfactory meal. + +When it was over, and the table was cleared, Hannah, who never lost +time, took the bundle of linen, unrolled it, sat down, and commenced +sewing. + +Ishmael with his book of heroes sat opposite to her. + +The plain deal table, scrubbed white as cream, stood between them, +lighted by one tallow candle. + +"Aunt Hannah," said the boy, as he watched her arranging her work, "is +that easier than weaving?" + +"Very much easier, Ishmael." + +"And is it as profitable to you?" + +"About twice as profitable, my dear; so, if the lady really can keep me +in work all the year round, there will be no need of your poor little +wages, earned by your hard labor," answered Hannah. + +"Oh, I didn't think it hard at all, you see, because Israel Put--I beg +your pardon, Aunt Hannah--I won't forget again," said the boy, +correcting himself in time, and returning to the silent reading of his +book. + +Some time after he closed his book, and looked up. + +"Aunt Hannah!" + +"Well, Ishmael?" + +"You often talk to me of my dear mother in heaven, but never of my +father. Who was my father, Aunt Hannah?" + +For all answer Hannah arose and boxed his ears. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +ISHMAEL AND CLAUDIA. + + I saw two children intertwine + Their arms about each other, + Like the lithe tendrils of the vine + Around its nearest brother; + And ever and anon, + As gayly they ran on, + Each looked into the other's face, + Anticipating an embrace. + + --_Richard Monckton Milnes_. + +Punctually at nine o'clock on Monday morning Ishmael Worth rendered +himself at Brudenell Hall. Mr. Middleton's school was just such a one as +can seldom, if ever, be met with out of the Southern States. Mr. +Middleton had been a professor of languages in one of the Southern +universities; and by his salary had supported and educated a large +family of sons and daughters until the death of a distant relative +enriched him with the inheritance of a large funded property. + +He immediately resigned his position in the university, and--as he did +not wish to commit himself hastily to a fixed abode in any particular +neighborhood by the purchase of an estate--he leased the whole +ready-made establishment at Brudenell Hall, all furnished and officered +as it was. There he conveyed his wife and ten children--that is, five +girls and five boys, ranging from the age of one year up to fifteen +years of age. Added to these was the motherless daughter of his +deceased sister, Beatrice Merlin, who had been the wife of the +chief-justice of the Supreme Court of the State. + +Claudia Merlin had been confided to the care of her uncle and aunt in +preference to being sent to a boarding school during her father's +absence on official duty at the capital. + +Mr. and Mrs. Middleton had found, on coming to Brudenell Hall, that +there was no proper school in the neighborhood to which they could send +their sons and daughters. They had besides a strong prejudice in favor +of educating their children under their own eyes. Mr. Middleton, in his +capacity of professor, had seen too much of the temptations of college +life to be willing to trust his boys too early to its dangers. And as +for sending the girls away from home, Mrs. Middleton would not hear of +it for an instant. + +After grappling with the difficulty for a while, they conquered it by +concluding to engage a graduate of the university as tutor, to ground +young people in what are called the fundamental parts of an English +education, together with the classics and mathematics; and also to +employ an accomplished lady to instruct them in music and drawing. This +school was always under the immediate supervision of the master and +mistress of the house. One or the other was almost always present in the +schoolroom. And even if this had not been so, the strictest propriety +must have been preserved; for the governess was a discreet woman, nearly +fifty years of age; and the tutor, though but twenty-five, was the +gravest of all grave young men. + +The classroom was arranged in a spare back parlor on the first floor--a +spacious apartment whose windows looked out upon the near shrubberies +and the distant woods. Here on the right hand were seated the five boys +under their tutor; and on the left were gathered the girls under their +governess. But when a class was called up for recitation, before the +tutor, boys and girls engaged in the same studies, and in the same stage +of progress stood up together, that their minds might be stimulated by +mutual emulation. + +Often Mrs. Middleton occupied a seat in an arm-chair near one of the +pleasant windows overlooking the shrubberies, and employed herself with +some fine needlework while superintending the school. Sometimes, also, +Mr. Middleton came in with his book or paper, and occasionally, from +force of habit, he would take a classbook and hear a recitation. It was +to keep his hand in, he said, lest some unexpected turn of the wheel of +fortune should send him back to his old profession again. + +Thus, this was in all respects a family school. + +But when the neighbors became acquainted with its admirable working, +they begged as a favor the privilege of sending their children as day +pupils; and Mr. Middleton, in his cordial kindness, agreed to receive +the new pupils; but only on condition that their tuition fees should be +paid to augment the salaries of the tutor and the governess, as he--Mr. +Middleton--did not wish, and would not receive, a profit from the +school. + +Among the newcomers were the sons of Commodore Burghe. Like the other +new pupils, they were only day scholars. For bad conduct they had once +been warned away from the school; but had been pardoned and received +back at the earnest entreaty of their father. + +Their presence at Brudenell Hall on the nearly fatal night of the fire +had been accidental. The night had been stormy, and Mrs. Middleton had +insisted upon their remaining. + +These boys were now regular attendants at the school, and their manners +and morals were perceptibly improving. They now sat with the Middleton +boys and shared their studies. + +Into this pleasant family schoolroom, on the first Monday in April, +young Ishmael Worth was introduced. His own heroic conduct had won him a +place in the most select and exclusive little school in the State. + +Ishmael was now thirteen years of age, a tall, slender boy, with a broad +full forehead, large prominent blue eyes, a straight well-shaped nose, +full, sweet, smiling lips, thin, wasted-looking cheeks, a round chin and +fair complexion. His hands and feet were small and symmetrical, but +roughened with hard usage. He was perfectly clean and neat in his +appearance. His thin, pale face was as delicately fair as any lady's; +his flaxen hair was parted at the left side and brushed away from his +big forehead; his coarse linen was as white as snow, and his coarser +homespun blue cloth jacket and trousers were spotless; his shoes were +also clean. + +Altogether, Nora's son was a pleasing lad to look upon as he stood +smilingly but modestly, hat in hand, at the schoolroom door, to which he +had been brought by Jovial. + +The pupils were all assembled--the boys gathered around their tutor, on +the right; the girls hovering about their governess on the left. + +Mr. and Mrs. Middleton were both present, sitting near a pleasant window +that the mild spring morning had invited them to open. They were both +expecting Ishmael, and both arose to meet him. + +Mrs. Middleton silently shook his hand. + +Mr. Middleton presented him to the school, saying: + +"Young gentlemen, this is your new companion, Master Ishmael Worth, as +worthy a youth as it has ever been my pleasure to know. I hope you will +all make him welcome among you." + +There was an instant and mysterious putting together of heads and +buzzing of voices among the pupils. + +"Walter, come here," said Mr. Middleton. + +A youth of about fifteen years of age arose and approached. + +"Ishmael, this is my eldest son, Walter. I hope you two may be good +friends. Walter, take Ishmael to a seat beside you; and when the +recreation hour comes, make him well acquainted with your companions. +Mind, Walter, I commit him to your charge." + +Walter Middleton smiled, shook hands with Ishmael, and led him away to +share his own double desk. + +Mr. Middleton then called the school to order and opened the exercises +with the reading of the Scripture and prayer. + +This over, he came to Ishmael and laid an elementary geography before +him, with the first lesson marked out on it, saying: + +"There, my lad; commit this to memory as soon as you can, and then take +your book up for recitation to Mr. Green. He will hear you singly for +some time until you overtake the first class, which I am sure you will +do very soon; it will depend upon yourself how soon." + +And with these kind words Mr. Middleton left the room. + +How happy was Ishmael! The schoolroom seemed an elysium! It is true that +this was no ordinary schoolroom; but one of the pleasantest places of +the kind to be imagined; and very different from the small, dark, poor +hut. Ishmael was delighted with its snow-white walls, its polished oak +floor, its clear open windows with their outlook upon the blue sky and +the green trees and variegated shrubs. He was pleased with his shining +mahogany desk, with neat little compartments for slate, books, pen, +pencils, ink, etc. He was in love with his new book with its gayly +colored maps and pictures and the wonders revealed to him in its +lessons. He soon left off reveling in the sights and sounds of the +cheerful schoolroom to devote himself to his book. To him study was not +a task, it was an all-absorbing rapture. His thirsty intellect drank up +the knowledge in that book as eagerly as ever parched lips quaffed cold +water. He soon mastered the first easy lesson, and would have gone up +immediately for recitation, only that Mr. Green was engaged with a +class. But Ishmael could not stop; he went on to the second lesson and +then to the third, and had committed the three to memory before Mr. +Green was disengaged. Then he went up to recite. At the end of the first +lesson Mr. Green praised his accuracy and began to mark the second. + +"If you please, sir, I have got that into my head, and also the third +one," said Ishmael, interrupting him. + +"What! do you mean to say that you have committed three of these lessons +to memory?" inquired the surprised tutor. + +"Yes, sir, while I was waiting for you to be at leisure." + +"Extraordinary! Well, I will see if you can recite them," said Mr. +Green, opening the book. + +Ishmael was perfect in his recitation. + +All schoolmasters delight in quick and intelligent pupils; but Mr. Green +especially did so; for he had a true vocation for his profession. He +smiled radiantly upon Ishmael as he asked: + +"Do you think, now, you can take three of these ordinary lessons for one +every day?" + +"Oh, yes, sir; if it would not be too much trouble for you to hear me," +answered our boy. + +"It will be a real pleasure; I shall feel an interest in seeing how fast +a bright and willing lad like yourself can get on. Now, then, put away +your geography, and bring me the Universal History that you will find in +your desk." + +In joy, Ishmael went back to his seat, lifted the lid of his desk, and +found in the inside a row of books, a large slate, a copy-book, pens, +ink, and pencils, all neatly arranged. + +"Am I to use these?" he inquired of Walter Middleton. + +"Oh, yes; they are all yours; my mother put them all in there for you +this morning. You will find your name written on every one of them," +replied the youth. + +What treasures Ishmael had! He could scarcely believe in his wealth and +happiness! He selected the Universal History and took it up to the +tutor, who, in consideration of his pupil's capacity and desire, set him +a very long lesson. + +In an hour Ishmael had mastered this task also, and taken it up to his +teacher. + +His third book that morning was Murray's English Grammar. + +"I do not think I shall set you a lesson of more than the ordinary +length this time, Ishmael. I cannot allow you to devour grammar in such +large quantities as you have taken of geography and history at a meal. +For, grammar requires to be digested as well as swallowed; in other +words, it needs to be understood as well as remembered," said Mr. Green, +as he marked the lesson for his pupil. + +Ishmael smiled as he went back to his seat. + +To ordinary boys the study of grammar is very dry work. Not so to +Ishmael. For his rare, fine, intellectual mind the analysis of language +had a strange fascination. He soon conquered the difficulties of his +initiatory lesson in this science, and recited it to the perfect +satisfaction of his teacher. + +And then the morning's lessons were all over. + +This had been a forenoon of varied pleasures to Ishmael. The gates of +the Temple of Knowledge had been thrown open to him. All three of his +studies had charmed him: the marvelous description of the earth's +surface, the wonderful history of the human race, the curious analysis +of language--each had in its turn delighted him. And now came the +recreation hour to refresh him. + +The girls all went to walk on the lawn in front of the house. + +The boys all went into the shrubberies in the rear; and the day pupils +began to open their dinner baskets. + +Ishmael took a piece of bread from his pocket. That was to be his +dinner. + +But presently a servant came out of the house and spoke to Walter +Middleton; and Walter called our boy, saying: + +"Come, Ishmael; my father has sent for you." + +Ishmael put his piece of bread in his pocket and accompanied the youth +into the house and to the dining-room, where a plain, substantial dinner +of roast mutton, vegetables, and pudding was provided for the children +of the family. + +"You are to dine with my children every day, Ishmael," said Mr. +Middleton, in those tones of calm authority that admitted of no appeal +from their decision. + +Ishmael took the chair that was pointed out to him, and you may be sure +he did full justice to the nourishing food placed before him. + +When dinner was over the boys had another hour's recreation in the +grounds, and then they returned to the schoolroom for afternoon +exercises. These were very properly of a lighter nature than those of +the morning--being only penmanship, elocution, and drawing. + +At six o'clock the school was dismissed. And Ishmael went home, +enchanted with his new life, but wondering where little Claudia could +be; he had not seen her that day. And thus ended his first day at +school. + +When he reached the hut Hannah had supper on the table. + +"Well, Ishmael, how did you get on?" she asked. + +"Oh, Aunt Hannah, I have had such, a happy day!" exclaimed the boy. And +thereupon he commenced and poured upon her in a torrent of words a +description of the schoolroom, the teachers, the studies, the dinner, +the recreations, and, in short, the history of his whole day's +experiences. + +"And so you are charmed?" said Hannah. + +"Oh, aunt, so much!" smiled the boy. + +"Hope it may last, that's all! for I never yet saw the lad that liked +school after the first novelty wore off," observed the woman. + +The next morning Ishmael awoke with the dawn, and sprang from his pallet +in the loft as a lark from its nest in the tree. + +He hurried downstairs to help Hannah with the morning work before he +should prepare for school. + +He cut wood, and brought water enough to last through the day, and then +ate his frugal breakfast, and set off for school. + +He arrived there early--almost too early, for none of the day pupils had +come, and there was no one in the schoolroom but the young Middletons +and Claudia Merlin. + +She was sitting in her seat, with her desk open before her, and her +black ringletted head half buried in it. But as soon she heard the door +open she glanced up, and seeing Ishmael, shut down the desk and flew to +meet him. + +"I am so glad you come to school, Ishmael! I wasn't here yesterday, +because I had a cold; but I knew you were! And oh! how nice you do look. +Indeed, if I did not know better, I should take you to be the young +gentleman, and those Burghes to be workman's sons!" she said, as she +held his hand, and looked approvingly upon his smooth, light hair, his +fair, broad forehead, clear, blue eyes, and delicate features; and upon +his erect figure and neat dress. + +"Thank you, miss," answered Ishmael, with boyish embarrassment. + +"Come here, Bee, and look at him," said Miss Merlin, addressing some +unknown little party, who did not at once obey the behest. + +With a reddening cheek, Ishmael gently essayed to pass to his seat; but +the imperious little lady held fast his hand, as, with a more peremptory +tone, she said: + +"Stop! I want Bee to see you! Come here, Bee, this instant, and look at +Ishmael!" + +This time a little golden-haired, fair-faced girl came from the group of +children collected at the window, and stood before Claudia. + +"There, now, Bee, look at the new pupil! Does he look like a common +boy--a poor laborer's son?" + +The little girl addressed as Bee was evidently afraid to disobey Claudia +and ashamed to obey her. She therefore stood in embarrassment. + +"Look at him, can't you? he won't bite you!" said Miss Claudia. + +Ishmael felt reassured by the very shyness of the little new +acquaintance that was being forced upon him, and he said, very gently: + +"I will not frighten you, little girl; I am not a rude boy." + +"I know you will not; it is not that," murmured the little maiden, +encouraged by the sweet voice, and stealing a glance at the gentle, +intellectual countenance of our lad. + +"There, now, does he look like a laborer's son?" inquired Claudia. + +"No," murmured Bee. + +"But he is, for all that! He is the son of--of--I forget; but some +relation of Hannah Worth, the weaver. Who was your father, Ishmael? I +never heard--or if I did I have forgotten. Who was he?" + +Ishmael's face grew crimson. Yet he could not have told, because he did +not know, why this question caused his brow to burn as though it had +been smitten by a red-hot iron. + +"Who was your father, I ask you, Ishmael?" persisted the imperious +little girl. + +"I do not remember my father, Miss Claudia," answered the boy, in a low, +half-stifled voice. + +"And now you have hurt his feelings, Claudia; let him alone," whispered +the fair child, in a low voice, as the tears of a vague but deep +sympathy, felt but not understood, arose to her eyes. + +Before another word could be said Mrs. Middleton entered the room. + +"Ah, Bee, so your are making acquaintance with your new schoolmate! This +is my oldest daughter, Miss Beatrice, Ishmael. We call her Bee, because +it is the abbreviation of Beatrice, and because she is such a busy, +helpful little lady," she said, as she shook hands with the boy and +patted the little girl on the head. + +The entrance of the teachers and the day pupils broke up this little +group; the children took their seats and the school was opened, as +before, with prayer. This morning the tutor led the exercises. Mr. +Middleton was absent on business. This day passed much as the previous +one, except that at its close there was Claudia to shake hands with +Ishmael; to tell him that he was a bright, intelligent boy, and that she +was proud of him; and all with the air of a princess rewarding some +deserving peasant. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +YOUNG LOVE. + + Have you been out some starry night, + And found it joy to bend + Your eyes to one particular light + Till it became a friend? + And then so loved that glistening spot, + That whether it were far, + Or more, or less, it mattered not-- + It still was your own star? + Thus, and thus only, can you know + How I, even lowly I, + Can live in love, though set so low, + And my lady-love no high! + + --_Richard Monckton Milnes_. + +Ishmael's improvement was marked and rapid; both as to his bodily and +mental growth and progress. His happiness in his studies; his regular +morning and evening walks to and from school; his abundant and +nutritious noontide meals with the young Middletons; even his +wood-cutting at the hut; his whole manner of life, in fact, had tended +to promote the best development of his physical organization. He grew +taller, stronger, and broader-shouldered; he held himself erect, and +his pale complexion cleared and became fair. He no longer ate with a +canine rapacity; his appetite was moderate, and his habits temperate, +because his body was well nourished and his health was sound. + +His mental progress was quite equal to his bodily growth. He quickly +mastered the elementary branches of education, and was initiated into +the rudiments of Latin, Greek, and mathematics. He soon overtook the two +Burghes and was placed in the same class with them and with John and +James Middleton--Mr. Middleton's second and third sons. When he entered +the class, of course he was placed at the foot; but he first got above +Ben Burghe, and then above Alfred Burghe, and he was evidently resolved +to remain above them, and to watch for an opportunity for getting above +James and John Middleton, who were equally resolved that no such +opportunity should be afforded him. This was a generous emulation +encouraged by Mr. Middleton, who was accustomed to say, laughingly, to +his boys: + +"Take care, my sons! You know Ishmael is a dead shot! Let him once bring +you down, and you will never get up again!" + +And to Ishmael: + +"Persevere, my lad! Some fine day you will catch them tripping, and take +a step higher in the class." And he declared to Mrs. Middleton that his +own sons had never progressed so rapidly in their studies as now that +they had found in Ishmael Worth a worthy competitor to spur them on. +Upon that very account, he said, the boy was invaluable in the school. + +Well, John and James had all Ishmael's industry and ambition, but they +had not his genius! consequently they were soon distanced in the race by +our boy. Ishmael got above James, and kept his place; then he got above +John, at the head of the class, and kept that place also; and finally he +got so far ahead of all his classmates that, not to retard his progress, +Mr. Middleton felt obliged to advance him a step higher and place him +beside Walter who, up to this time, had stood alone, unapproached and +unapproachable, at the head of the school. + +John and James, being generous rivals, saw this well-merited advancement +without "envy, hatred or malice"; but to Alfred ind Benjamin Burghe it +was as gall and wormwood. + +Walter was, of course, as yet much in advance of Ishmael; but, in +placing the boys together, Mr. Middleton had said: + +"Now, Walter, you are about to be put upon your very best mettle. +Ishmael will certainly overtake you, and if you are not very careful he +will soon surpass you." + +The noble boy laughed as he replied: + +"After what I have seen of Ishmael for the last two or three years, +father, I dare not make any promises! I think I am a fair match for most +youths of my age; and I should not mind competing with industry alone, +or talent alone, or with a moderate amount of both united in one boy; +but, really, when it comes to competing with invincible genius combined +with indomitable perseverence, I do not enter into the contest with any +very sanguine hopes of success." + +The youth's previsions proved true. Before the year was out Ishmael +stood by his side, his equal, and bidding fair to become his superior. + +Mr. Middleton had too much magnanimity to feel any little paternal +jealousy on this account. He knew that his own son was highly gifted in +moral and intellectual endowments, and he was satisfied; and if Ishmael +Worth was even his son's superior in these respects, the generous man +only rejoiced the more in contemplating the higher excellence. + +Commodore Burghe was also proud of his protege. He was not very well +pleased that his own sons were eclipsed by the brighter talents of the +peasant boy; but he only shrugged his shoulders as he said: + +"You know the Bible says that 'gifts are divers,' my friend. Well, my +two boys will never be brilliant scholars, that is certain; but I hope, +for that very reason, Alf may make the braver soldier and Ben the bolder +sailor." And having laid this flattering unction to his soul, the old +man felt no malice against our boy for outshining his own sons. + +Not so the Burghe boys themselves. Their natures were essentially low; +and this low nature betrayed itself in their very faces, forms, and +manners. They were short and thickset, with bull necks, bullet heads, +shocks of thick black hair, low foreheads, large mouths, dark +complexions, and sullen expressions. They were very much alike in person +and in character. The only difference being that Alf was the bigger and +the wickeder and Ben the smaller and the weaker. + +Against Ishmael they had many grudges, the least of which was cause +enough with them for lifelong malice. First, on that memorable occasion +of the robbed carriage, he had exposed their theft and their falsehood. +Secondly, he had had the good luck to save their lives and win +everlasting renown for the brave act; and this, to churlish, thankless, +and insolent natures like theirs, was the greater offense of the two; +and now he had had the unpardonable impudence to eclipse them in the +school. He! the object of their father's bounty, as they called him. +They lost no opportunity of sneering at him whenever they dared to do +so. + +Ishmael Worth could very well afford to practice forbearance towards +these ill-conditioned lads. He was no longer the poor, sickly, and +self-doubting child he had been but a year previous. Though still +delicate as to his physique, it was with an elegant, refined rather than +a feeble and sickly delicacy. He grew very much like his father, who was +one of the handsomest men of his day; but it was from his mother that he +derived his sweet voice and his beautiful peculiarity of smiling only +with his eyes. His school-life had, besides, taught him more than book +learning; it had taught him self-knowledge. He had been forced to +measure himself with others, and find out his relative moral and +intellectual standing. His success at school, and the appreciation he +received from others, had endowed him with a self-respect and confidence +easily noticeable in the modest dignity and grace of his air and manner. +In these respects also his deportment formed a favorable contrast to the +shame-faced, half-sullen, and half-defiant behavior of the Burghes. +These boys were the only enemies Ishmael possessed in the school; his +sweetness of spirit had, on the contrary, made him many friends. He was +ever ready to do any kindness to anyone; to give up his own pleasure for +the convenience of others; to help forward a backward pupil, or to +enlighten a dull one. This goodness gained him grateful partisans among +the boys; but he had, also, disinterested ones among the girls. + +Claudia and Beatrice were his self-constituted little lady-patronesses. + +The Burghes did not dare to sneer at Ishmael's humble position in their +presence. For, upon the very first occasion that Alfred had ventured a +sarcasm at the expense of Ishmael in her hearing, Claudia had so shamed +him for insulting a youth to whose bravery he was indebted for his life, +that even Master Alfred had had the grace to blush, and ever afterward +had avoided exposing himself to a similar scorching. + +In this little world of the schoolroom there was a little unconscious +drama beginning to be performed. + +I said that Claudia and Beatrice had constituted themselves the little +lady-patronesses of the poor boy. But there was a difference in their +manner towards their protege. + +The dark-eyed, dark-haired, imperious young heiress patronized him in a +right royal manner, trotting him out, as it were, for the inspection of +her friends, and calling their attention to his merits--so surprising in +a boy of his station; very much, I say, as she would have exhibited the +accomplishments of her dog, Fido, so wonderful in a brute! very much, +ah! as duchesses patronize promising young poets. + +This was at times so humiliating to Ishmael that his self-respect must +have suffered terribly, fatally, but for Beatrice. + +The fair-haired, blue-eyed, and gentle Bee had a much finer, more +delicate, sensitive, and susceptible nature than her cousin; she +understood Ishmael better, and sympathized with him more than Claudia +could. She loved and respected him as an elder brother, and indeed more +than she did her elder brothers; for he was much superior to both in +physical, moral, and intellectual beauty. Bee felt all this so deeply +that she honored in Ishmael her ideal of what a boy ought to be, and +what she wished her brothers to become. + +In a word, the child-woman had already set up an idol in her heart, an +idol never, never, in all the changes and chances of this world, to be +thrown from its altar. Already she unconsciously identified herself with +his successes. He was now the classmate, equal, and competitor of her +eldest brother; yet in the literary and scholastic rivalship and +struggle between the two, it was not for Walter, but for Ishmael that +she secretly trembled; and in their alternate triumphs and defeats, it +was not with Walter, but Ishmael, that she sorrowed or rejoiced. + +Bee was her mother's right hand woman in all household affairs; she +would have been the favorite, if Mrs. Middleton's strict sense of +justice had permitted her to have one among the children. It was Bee who +was always by her mother's side in the early morning, helping her to +prepare the light, nutritious puddings for dinner. + +On these occasions Bee would often beg for some special kind of tart or +pie, not for the gratification of her own appetite, but because she had +noticed that Ishmael liked that dish. So early she became his little +household guardian. + +And Ishmael? He was now nearly sixteen years old, and thoughtful beyond +his years. Was he grateful for this little creature's earnest affection? +Very grateful he was indeed! He had no sister; but as the dearest of all +dear sisters he loved this little woman of twelve summers. + +But she was not his idol! Oh, no! The star of his boyish worship was +Claudia! Whether it was from youthful perversity, or from prior +association, or, as is most likely, by the attraction of antagonism, the +fair, gentle, intellectual peasant boy adored the dark, fiery, imperious +young patrician who loved, petted, and patronized him only as if he had +been a wonderfully learned pig or very accomplished parrot! Bee knew +this; but the pure love of her sweet spirit was incapable of jealousy, +and when she saw that Ishmael loved Claudia best, she herself saw reason +in that for esteeming her cousin higher than she had ever done before! +If Ishmael loved Claudia so much, then Claudia must be more worthy than +ever she had supposed her to be! Such was the reasoning of Beatrice. + +Did Mr. and Mrs. Middleton observe this little domestic drama? + +Yes; but they attached no importance to it. They considered it all the +harmless, shallow, transient friendships of childhood. They had left +their own youth so far behind that they forgot what serious +matters--sometimes affecting the happiness of many years, sometimes +deciding the destiny of a life--are commenced in the schoolroom. + +Ishmael was felt to be perfectly trustworthy; therefore he was allowed +the privilege of free association with these little girls--an honor not +accorded to other day pupils. + +This "unjust partiality," as they called the well-merited confidence +bestowed upon our boy, greatly incensed the Burghes, and increased their +enmity against Ishmael. + +Master Alfred, who was now a very forward youth of eighteen, fancied +himself to be smitten with the charms of the little beauty of fifteen. +Whether he really was so or not it is impossible to say; but it is +extremely probable that he was more alive to the fortune of the heiress +than to the beauty of the girl. Avarice is not exclusively the passion +of the aged, nor is it a whit less powerful than the passion of love. +Thus young Alfred Burghe was as jealous of Ishmael's approach to +Claudia, as if he--Alfred--had loved the girl instead of coveting her +wealth. Early, very early, marriages were customary in that +neighborhood; so that there was nothing very extravagant in the dream of +that fast young gentleman, that in another year--namely, when he should +be nineteen and she sixteen--he might marry the heiress, and revel in +her riches. But how was he to marry her if he could not court her? And +how was he to court her if he was never permitted to associate with her? +He was forbidden to approach her, while "that cur of a weaver boy" was +freely admitted to her society! He did not reflect that the "weaver boy" +had earned his own position; had established a character for truth, +honesty, fidelity; was pure in spirit, word, and deed, and so was fit +company for the young. But Alfred was quite incapable of appreciating +all this; he thought the preference shown to Ishmael unjust, indecent, +outrageous, and he resolved to be revenged upon his rival, by exposing, +taunting, and humiliating him in the presence of Claudia, the very first +time chance should throw them all three together. + +Satan, who always assists his own, soon sent the opportunity. + +It was near the first of August; there was to be an examination, +exhibition, and distribution of prizes at the school. And the parents +and friends of the pupils were invited to attend. + +Walter Middleton and Ishmael Worth were at the head of the school and +would compete for the first prizes with equal chance of success. The +highest prize--a gold watch--was to be awarded to the best written Greek +thesis. Walter and Ishmael were both ordered to write for this prize, +and for weeks previous to the examination all their leisure time was +bestowed upon this work. The day before the examination each completed +his own composition. And then, like good, confidential, unenvying +friends as they were, they exchanged papers and gave each other a sight +of their work. When each had read and returned his rival's thesis, +Walter said with a sigh: + +"It will be just as I foreboded, Ishmael. I said you would take the +prize, and now I know it." + +Ishmael paused some time before he answered calmly: + +"No, Walter, I will not take it." + +"Not take it! nonsense! if you do not take it, it will be because the +examiners do not know their business! Why, Ishmael, there can be no +question as to the relative merits of your composition and mine! Mine +will not bear an instant's comparison with yours." + +"Your thesis is perfectly correct; there is not a mistake in it," said +Ishmael encouragingly. + +"Oh, yes, it is correct enough; but yours, Ishmael, is not only that, +but more! for it is strong, logical, eloquent! Now I can be accurate +enough, for that matter; but I cannot be anything more! I cannot be +strong, logical, or eloquent in my own native and living language, much +less in a foreign and a dead one! So, Ishmael, you will gain the prize." + +"I am quite sure that I shall not," replied our boy. + +"Then it will be because our examiners will know no more of Greek than I +do, and not so much as yourself! And as that cannot possibly be the +case, they must award you the prize, my boy. And you shall be welcome to +it for me! I have done my duty in doing the very best I could; and if +you excel me by doing better still, Heaven forbid that I should be so +base as to grudge you the reward you have so well earned. So God bless +you, old boy," said Walter, as he parted from his friend. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +ISHMAEL AND CLAUDIA. + + And both were young--yet not alike in youth; + As the sweet moon upon the horizon's verge, + The maid was on the eve of womanhood; + The boy had no more summers; but his heart + Had far out-grown his years, and to his eye + There was but one beloved face on earth, + And that was shining on him. + + --_Byron_. + +The first of August, the decisive day, arrived. It was to be a fete day +for the whole neighborhood--that quiet neighbourhood, where fetes, +indeed, were so unusual as to make a great sensation when they did +occur. There was to be the examination in the forenoon, followed by the +distribution of prizes in the afternoon, and a dance in the evening. +"The public" were invited to attend in the morning and afternoon, and +the parents, friends, and guardians of the pupils were invited to remain +for the dinner and ball in the evening. All the young people were on the +qui vive for this festival; and their elders were not much less excited. + +Everywhere they were preparing dresses as well as lessons. + +Poor Hannah Worth, whose circumstances were much improved since she had +been seamstress in general to Mrs. Middleton's large family, had +strained every nerve to procure for Ishmael a genteel suit of clothes +for this occasion. And she had succeeded. And this summer morning saw +Ishmael arrayed, for the first time in his life, in a neat, well-fitting +dress suit of light gray cassimere, made by the Baymouth tailor. Hannah +was proud of her nephew, and Ishmael was pleased with himself. He was +indeed a handsome youth, as he stood smiling there for the inspection of +his aunt. Every vestige of ill health had left him, but left him with a +delicacy, refinement, and elegance in his person, manners, and speech +very rare in any youth, rarer still in youth of his humble grade. But +all this was of the soul. + +"You will do, Ishmael--you will do very well indeed!" said Hannah, as +she drew the boy to her bosom and kissed him with blended feelings of +affection, admiration, and remorse. Yes, remorse; for Hannah remembered +how often, in his feeble infancy, she had wished him dead, and had been +impatient for his death. + +"I hope you will do yourself credit to-day, Ishmael," she said, as she +released him from her embrace. + +"I shall try to do you credit, Aunt Hannah," replied the smiling youth, +as he set off gayly for the fete at the school. + +It was a splendid morning, but promised to be a sultry day. + +When he reached Brudenell Hall he found the young ladies and gentlemen +of the school, about twenty in all, assembled on the front lawn before +the house. The young gentlemen in their holiday suits were sauntering +lazily about among the parterres and shrubberies. The young ladies in +their white muslin dresses and pink sashes were grouped under the shade +of that grove of flowering locusts that stood near the house--the same +grove that had sheltered some of them on the night of the fire. + +As Ishmael came up the flagged walk leading to the house Claudia saw him +and called out: + +"Come here, Ishmael, and let us look at you!" + +The youth, blushing with the consciousness of his new clothes, and the +criticisms they would be sure to provoke from his honored but +exasperating little patroness, advanced to the group of white-robed +girls. + +Claudia, with her glittering black ringlets, her rich crimson bloom, and +glorious dark eyes, was brilliantly beautiful, and at fifteen looked +quite a young woman, while Ishmael at sixteen seemed still a boy. + +Her manner, too, was that of a young lady towards a mere lad. + +She took him by the hand, and looked at him from head to foot, and +turned him around; and then, with a triumphant smile, appealed to her +companions, exclaiming: + +"Look at him now! Isn't he really elegant in his new clothes? Light gray +becomes him--his complexion is so fair and clear! There isn't another +boy in the neighborhood that wouldn't look as yellow as a dandelion in +gray! Isn't he handsome, now?" + +This was a very severe ordeal for Ishmael. The young ladies had all +gathered around Claudia, and were examining her favourite. Ishmael felt +his face burn until it seemed as if the very tips of his ears would take +fire. + +"Isn't he handsome, now, Bee?" pursued the relentless Claudia, appealing +to her cousin. + +Beatrice was blushing in intense sympathy with the blushing youth. + +"I say, isn't he handsome, Bee?" persevered the implacable critic, +turning him around for her cousin's closer inspection. + +"Yes! he is a very handsome dog! I wonder you do not get a collar and +chain for him, for fear he should run away, or someone should steal him +from you, Claudia!" suddenly exclaimed the distressed girl, bursting +into indignant tears. + +"Consternation! what is the matter now?" inquired the heiress, dropping +her victim, from whom general attention was now diverted. + +"What is the matter, Bee? what is the matter?" inquired all the young +ladies, gathering around the excited girl. + +Beatrice could only sob forth the words: + +"Nothing, only Claudia vexes me." + +"Jealous little imp!" laughed Miss Merlin. + +"I am not jealous, I am only vexed," sobbed Beatrice. + +"What at? what at?" was the general question. + +But Beatrice only answered by tears and sobs. This gentlest of all +gentle creatures was in a passion! It was unprecedented; it was +wonderful and alarming! + +"I should really like to know what is the matter with you, you foolish +child! Why are you so angry with me? It is very unkind!" said Miss +Merlin, feeling, she knew not why, a little ashamed. + +"I would not be angry with you if you would treat him properly, like a +young gentleman, and not like a dog! You treat him for all the world as +you treat Fido," said this little lady of so few years, speaking with an +effort of moral courage that distressed her more than her companions +could have guessed, as she turned and walked away. + +Ishmael stepped after her. There were moments when the boy's soul arose +above all the embarrassments incident to his age and condition. + +He stepped after her, and taking her hand, and pressing it +affectionately, said: + +"Thank you, Bee! Thank you, dear, dearest, Bee! It was bravely done!" + +She turned her tearful, smiling face towards the youth, and replied: + +"But do not blame Claudia. She means well always; but, she is--" + +"What is she?" inquired the youth anxiously; for there was no book in +his collection that he studied with so much interest as Claudia. There +was no branch of knowledge that he wished so earnestly to be thoroughly +acquainted with as with the nature of Claudia. + +"What is she?" he again eagerly inquired. + +"She is blind, where you are concerned." + +"I think so too," murmured Ishmael, as he pressed the hand of his little +friend and left her. + +Was Ishmael's allegiance to his "elect lady" turned aside? Ah, no! +Claudia might misunderstand, humiliate, and wound him; but she was still +"his own star," the star of destiny. He went straight back to her side. +But before a word could be exchanged between them the bell rang that +summoned the young ladies to their places in the classroom. + +The long drawing room, which was opened only once or twice in the year, +for large evening parties, had been fitted up and decorated for this +fete. + +The room being in its summer suit of straw matting, lace curtains, and +brown holland chair and sofa covering, needed but little change in its +arrangements. + +At the upper end of the room was erected a stage; upon that was placed a +long table; behind the table were arranged the seats of the examining +committee; and before it, and below the stage, were ranged, row behind +row, the benches for the classes, a separate bench being appropriated to +each class. The middle of the room was filled up with additional +chairs, arranged in rows, for the accommodation of the audience. The +walls were profusely decorated with green boughs and blooming flowers, +arranged in festoons and wreaths. + +At twelve o'clock precisely, the examining committee being in their +places, the classbooks on the table before them, the classes ranged in +order in front of them, and the greater part of the company assembled, +the business of the examination commenced in earnest. + +The examining committee was composed of the masters of a neighboring +collegiate school, who were three in number--namely, Professor Adams, +Doctor Martin, and Mr. Watkins. The school was divided into three +classes. They began with the lowest class and ascended by regular +rotation to the highest. The examination of these classes passed off +fairly enough to satisfy a reasonable audience. Among the pupils there +was the usual proportion of "sharps, flats, and naturals"--otherwise of +bright, dull, and mediocre individuals. After the examination of the +three classes was complete, there remained the two youths, Walter +Middleton and Ishmael Worth, who, far in advance of the other pupils, +were not classed with them, and, being but two, could not be called a +class of themselves. Yet they stood up and were examined together, and +acquitted themselves with alternating success and equal honor. For +instance, in mathematics Walter Middleton had the advantage; in +belles-lettres Ishmael excelled; in modern languages both were equal; +and nothing now remained but the reading of the two Greek theses to +establish the relative merits of these generous competitors. These +compositions had been placed in the hands of the committee, without the +names of their authors; so that the most captious might not be able to +complain that the decision of the examiners had been swayed by fear or +favor. The theses were to be read and deliberated upon by the examiners +alone, and while this deliberation was going on there was a recess, +during which the pupils were dismissed to amuse themselves on the lawn, +and the audience fell into easy disorder, moving about and chatting +among themselves. + +In an hour a bell was rung, the pupils were called in and arranged in +their classes, the audience fell into order again, and the distribution +of prizes commenced. This was arranged on so liberal a scale that each +and all received a prize for something thing or other--if it were not +for scholastic proficiency, or exemplary deportment, then it was for +personal neatness or something else. The two Burghes, who were grossly +ignorant, slothful, perverse, and slovenly, got prizes for the regular +attendance, into which they were daily dragooned by their father. + +Walter Middleton received the highest prize in mathematics; Ishmael +Worth took the highest in belles-lettres; both took prizes in modern +languages; so far they were head and head in the race; and nothing +remained but to award the gold watch which was to confer the highest +honors of the school upon its fortunate recipient. But before awarding +the watch the two theses were to be read aloud to the audience for the +benefit of the few who were learned enough to understand them. Professor +Adams was the reader. He arose in his place and opened the first paper; +it proved to be the composition of Ishmael Worth. As he read the eyes +and ears of the two young competitors, who were sitting together, were +strained upon him. + +"Oh, I know beforehand you will get the prize! And I wish you joy of it, +my dear fellow!" whispered Walter. + +"Oh, no, I am sure I shall not! You will get it! You will see!" replied +Ishmael. + +Walter shook his head incredulously. But as the reading proceeded Walter +looked surprised, then perplexed, and then utterly confounded. Finally +he turned and inquired: + +"Ish., what the mischief is the old fellow doing with your composition? +He is reading it all wrong." + +"He is reading just what is written, I suppose," replied Ishmael. + +"But he isn't, I tell you! I ought to know, for I have read it myself, +you remember! and I assure you he makes one or two mistakes in every +paragraph! The fact is, I do not believe he knows much of Greek, and he +will just ruin us both by reading our compositions in that style!" +exclaimed Walter. + +"He is reading mine aright," persisted Ishmael. + +And before Walter could reply again, the perusal of Ishmael's thesis was +finished, the paper was laid upon the table, and Walter's thesis was +taken up. + +"Now then; I wonder if he is going to murder mine in the same manner," +said Walter. + +The reader commenced and went on smoothly to the end without having +miscalled a word or a syllable. + +"That is a wonder; I do not understand it at all!" said young Middleton. + + +Ishmael smiled; but did not reply. + +Professor Adams rapped upon the table and called the school to order; +and then, still retaining Walter's thesis in his hand, he said: + +"Ihe highest prize in the gift of the examiners--the gold watch--is +awarded to the author of the thesis I hold in my hand. The young +gentleman will please to declare himself, walk forward, and receive the +reward." + +"There, Walter! what did I tell you? I wish you joy now, old fellow! +There! 'go where glory awaits you,'" smilingly whispered Ishmael. + +"I understand it all now, Ish.! I fully understand it! But I will not +accept the sacrifice, old boy," replied Walter. + +"Will the young gentleman who is the author of the prize thesis step up +and be invested with this watch?" rather impatiently demanded the +wearied Professor Adams. + +Walter Middleton arose in his place. + +"I am the author of the thesis last read; but I am not entitled to the +prize; there has been a mistake." + +"Walter!" exclaimed his father, in a tone of rebuke. + +The examiners looked at the young speaker in surprise, and at each other +in perplexity. + +"Excuse me, father; excuse me, gentlemen; but there has been a serious +mistake, which I hope to prove to you, and which I know you would not +wish me to profit by," persisted the youth modestly, but firmly. + +"Don't, now, Walter! hush, sit down," whispered Ishmael in distress. + +"I will," replied young Middleton firmly. + +"Walter, come forward and explain yourself; you certainly owe these +gentlemen both an explanation and an apology for your unseemly +interruption of their proceedings and your presumptuous questioning of +their judgment," said Mr. Middleton. + +"Father, I am willing and anxious to explain, and my explanation in +itself will be my very best apology; but, before I can go on, I wish to +beg the favor of a sight of the thesis that was first read," said +Walter, coming up to the table of the examiners. + +The paper was put in his hands. He cast his eyes over it and smiled. + +"Well, my young friend, what do you mean by that?" inquired Professor +Adams. + +"Why, sir, I mean that it is just as I surmised; that this paper which I +hold in my hand is not the paper that was prepared for the examining +committee; this, sir, must be the original draft of the thesis, and not +the fair copy which was intended to compete for the gold watch," said +Walter firmly. + +"But why do you say this, sir? What grounds have you for entertaining +such an opinion?" inquired Professor Adams. Young Middleton smiled +confidently as he replied: + +"I have seen and read the fair copy; there was not a mistake in it; and +it was in every other respect greatly superior to my own." + +"If this is true, and of course I know it must be so, since you say it, +my son, why was not the fair copy put in our hands? By what strange +inadvertence has this rough draft found its way to us?" inquired Mr. +Middleton. + +"Father," replied Walter, in a low voice, "by no inadvertence at all! +Ishmael has done this on purpose that your son might receive the gold +watch. I am sure of it; but I cannot accept his noble sacrifice! Father, +you would not have me do it." + +"No, Walter; no, my boy; not if a kingdom instead of a gold watch were +at stake. You must not profit by his renunciation, if there has been any +renunciation. But are you sure that there has been?" + +"I will prove it to your satisfaction, sir. Yesterday, in my great +anxiety to know how my chances stood for the first prize, I asked +Ishmael for a sight of his thesis, and I tendered him a sight of mine. +Ishmael did not refuse me. We exchanged papers and read each other's +compositions. Ishmael's was fairly written, accurate, logical, and very +eloquent. Mine was very inferior in every respect except literal +accuracy. Ishmael must have seen, after comparing the two, that he must +gain the prize. I certainly knew he would; I expressed my conviction +strongly to that effect; and I congratulated him in anticipation of a +certain triumph. But, though I wished him joy, I must have betrayed the +mortification that was in my own heart; for Ishmael insisted that I +should be sure to get the medal myself. And this is the way in which he +has secured the fulfillment of his own prediction: by suppressing his +fair copy that must have taken the prize, and sending up that rough +draft on purpose to lose it in my favor." + +"Can this be true?" mused Mr. Middleton. + +"You can test its truth for yourself, sir. Call up Ishmael Worth. You +know that he will not speak falsely. Ask him if he has not suppressed +the fair copy and exhibited the rough draft. You have authority over +him, sir. Order him to produce the suppressed copy, that his abilities +may be justly tested," said Walter. + +Mr. Middleton dropped his head upon his chest and mused. Meanwhile the +audience were curious and impatient to know what on earth could be going +on around the examiner's table. Those only who were nearest had heard +the words of Walter Middleton when he first got up to disclaim all right +to the gold watch. But after he had gone forward to the table no more +was heard, the conversation being carried on in a confidential tone much +too low to be heard beyond the little circle around the board. + +After musing for a few minutes, Mr. Middleton lifted his head and said: + +"I will follow your advice, my son." Then, raising his voice, he called +out: + +"Ishmael Worth come forward." + +Ishmael, who had half suspected what was going on around that table, now +arose, approached and stood respectfully waiting orders. + +Mr. Middleton took the thesis from the hands of Walter and placed it in +those of Ishmael, saying: + +"Look over that paper and tell me if it is not the first rough draft of +your thesis." + +"Yes, sir, it is," admitted the youth, as with embarrassment he received +the paper. + +"Have you a fair copy?" inquired Mr. Middleton. + +"Yes, sir." + +"Where is it? anywhere in reach?" + +"It is in the bottom of my desk in the schoolroom, sir." + +"Go and fetch it, that we may examine it and fairly test your +abilities," commanded the master. + +Ishmael left the drawing-room, and after an absence of a few minutes +returned with a neatly folded paper, which he handed to Mr. Middleton. + +That gentleman unfolded and looked at it. A very cursory examination +served to prove the great superiority of this copy over the original +one. Mr. Middleton refolded it, and, looking steadily and almost sternly +into Ishmael's face, inquired: + +"Was the rough draft sent to the examiners, instead of this fair copy, +through any inadvertence of yours? Answer me truly." + +"No, sir," replied Ishmael, looking down. + +"It was done knowingly, then?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"For what purpose, may I ask you, did you suppress the fair copy, which +most assuredly must have won you the watch, and substitute this rough +draft, that as certainly must have lost it?" + +Still looking down, Ishmael remained silent and embarrassed. + +"Young man, I command you to reply to me," said the master. + +"Sir, I thought I had a right to do as I pleased with my own +composition," replied Ishmael, lifting his head and looking straight +into the face of the questioner, with that modest confidence which +sometimes gained the victory over his shyness. + +"Unquestionably; but that is not an answer to my question, as to why the +substitution was made." + +"I wish you would not press the question, sir." + +"But I do, Ishmael, and I enjoin you to answer it." + +"Then, sir, I suppressed the fair copy, and sent up the rough draft, +because I thought there was one who, for his great diligence, had an +equal or better right to the watch than I had, and who would be more +pained by losing it than I should, and I did not wish to enter into +competition with him; for indeed, sir, if I had won the watch from my +friend I should have been more pained by his defeat than pleased at my +own victory," said Ishmael, his fine face clearing up under the +consciousness of probity. (But, reader, mark you this--it was the +amiable trait inherited from his father--the pain in giving pain; the +pleasure in giving pleasure. But we know that this propensity which had +proved so fatal to the father was guided by conscience to all good ends +in the son.) + +While Ishmael gave this little explanation, the examiners listened, +whispered, and nodded to each other with looks of approval. + +And Walter came to his friend's side, and affectionately took and +pressed his hand, saying: + +"I knew it, as soon as I had heard both theses read, and saw that they +seemed to make mistakes only in yours. It was very generous in you, +Ishmael; but you seemed to leave out of the account the fact that I +ought not to have profited by such generosity; and also that if I had +lost the prize, and you had won it, my mortification would have been +alleviated by the thought that you, the best pupil in the school, and my +own chosen friend, had won it." + +"Order!" said Mr. Middleton, interrupting this whispered conversation. +"Ishmael," he continued, addressing the youth, "your act was a generous +one, certainly; whether it was a righteous one is doubtful. There is an +old proverb which places 'justice before generosity.' I do not know that +it does not go so far as even to inculcate justice to ourselves before +generosity to our fellows. You should have been just to yourself before +being generous to your friend. It only remains for us now to rectify +this wrong." Then turning to Professor Adams, he said: + +"Sir, may I trouble you to take this fair copy and read it aloud?" + +Professor Adams bowed in assent as he received the paper. Ishmael and +Walter returned to their seats to await the proceedings. + +Professor Adams arose in his place, and in a few words explained how it +happened that in the case of the first thesis read to them, he had given +the rough draft instead of the fair copy, which in justice to the young +writer he should now proceed to read. + +Now, although not half a dozen persons in that room could have perceived +any difference in the two readings of a thesis written in a language of +which even the alphabet was unknown known to them, yet every individual +among them could keenly appreciate the magnanimity of Ishmael, who would +have sacrificed his scholastic fame for his friend's benefit, and the +quickness and integrity of Walter in discovering the generous ruse and +refusing the sacrifice. They put their heads together whispering, +nodding, and smiling approval. "Damon and Pythias," "Orestes and +Pylades," were the names bestowed upon the two friends. But at length +courtesy demanded that the audience should give some little attention to +the reading of the Greek thesis, whether they understood a word of it or +not. Their patience was not put to a long test. The reading was a matter +of about fifteen minutes, and at its close the three examiners conversed +together for a few moments. + +And then Professor Adams arose and announced the young author of the +thesis which he had just read as the successful competitor for the +highest honors of the school, and requested him to come forward and be +invested with the prize. + +"Now it is my time to wish you joy, and to say, 'Go where glory waits +you,' Ishmael!" whispered Walter, pressing his friend's hand and gently +urging him from his seat. + +Ishmael yielded to the impulse and the invitation, and went up to the +table. Professor Adams leaned forward, threw the slender gold chain, to +which the watch was attached, around the neck of Ishmael, saying: + +"May this well-earned prize be the earnest of future successes even more +brilliant than this." + +Ishmael bowed low in acknowledgment of the gold watch and the kind +words, and amid the hearty applause of the company returned to his seat. + +The business of the day was now finished, and as it was now growing late +in the afternoon, the assembly broke up. The "public" who had come only +for the examination returned home. The "friends" who had been invited to +the ball repaired first to the dining room to partake of a collation, +and then to chambers which had been assigned them, to change their +dresses for the evening. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +ISHMAEL HEARS A SECRET FROM AN ENEMY. + + Shame come to Romeo? Blistered be thy tongue + For such a wish! He was not born to shame; + Upon his brow shame is ashamed to sit; + For 'tis a throne where honor may be crowned, + Sole monarch of the universal earth! + + --_Shakspere_. + +In the interval the drawing room was rapidly cleared out and prepared +for dancing. The staging at the upper end, which had been appropriated +to the use of the examining committee, was now occupied by a band of six +negro musicians, headed by the Professor of Odd Jobs. They were seated +all in a row, engaged in tuning their instruments under the instructions +of Morris. The room wore a gay, festive, and inviting aspect. It was +brightly lighted up; its white walls were festooned with wreaths of +flowers; its oak floor was polished and chalked for the dancers; and +its windows were all open to admit the pleasant summer air and the +perfume of flowers, so much more refreshing in the evening than at any +other time of the day. + +At a very early hour the young ladies and gentlemen of the school, whose +gala dresses needed but the addition of wreaths and bouquets for the +evening, began to gather in the drawing room; the girls looking very +pretty in their white muslin dresses, pink sashes, and coronets of red +roses; and the boys very smart in their holiday clothes, with rosebuds +stuck into their buttonholes. Ishmael was made splendid by the addition +of his gold watch and chain, and famous by his success of the morning. +All the girls, and many of the boys, gathered around him, sympathizing +with his triumph and complimenting him upon his abilities. Ishmael was +clearly the hero of the evening; but he bore himself with an aspect half +of pleasure, half of pain, until Walter Middleton approached him, and +taking his arm walked him down the room, until they were out of earshot +from the others, when he said: + +"Now do, Ishmael, put off that distressed look and enjoy your success as +you ought! Make much of your watch, my boy! I know if it were not for +thoughts of me, you would enjoy the possession of it vastly--would you +not, now?" + +"Yes," said Ishmael, "I would." + +"You would not be a 'human boy,' if you didn't. I know well enough I was +near losing my wits with delight in the first watch I possessed, +although it was but a trumpery little silver affair! Well, now, Ishmael, +enjoy your possession without a drawback. I assure you, upon record, I +am very glad you got the prize. You deserved the honor more than I did, +and you needed the watch more. For see here, you know I have a gold one +of my own already--my mother's gift to me on my last birthday," +continued Walter, taking out and displaying his school watch. "Now what +could I do with two? So, Ishmael, let me see you enjoy yours, or else I +shall feel unhappy," he concluded, earnestly pressing his friend's hand. + +"Walter Middleton, what do you mean, sir, by stealing my thunder in that +way? It is my property that you are carrying off! Ishmael is my protege, +my liege subject. Bring him back, sir! I want to show his watch to my +companions," spoke the imperious voice of Miss Merlin. + +"Come, Ishmael; you must make a spectacle of yourself again, I suppose, +to please that little tyrant," laughed Walter, as he turned back with +his friend towards the group of young girls. + +Now in this company was one who looked with the envious malignity of +Satan upon the well-merited honors of the poor peasant boy. This enemy +was Alfred Burghe, and he was now savagely waiting his opportunity to +inflict upon Ishmael a severe mortification. + +As Walter and Ishmael, therefore, approached the group of young ladies, +Alfred, who was loitering near them, lying in wait for his victim, drew +away with an expression of disgust upon his face, saying: + +"Oh, if that fellow is to join our circle, I shall feel obliged to leave +it. It is degrading enough to be forced to mix with such rubbish in the +schoolroom, without having to associate with him in the drawing room." + +"What do you mean by that, sir?" demanded Miss Merlin, flashing upon him +the lightning of her eyes, before Ishmael had drawn near enough to +overhear the words of Alfred. + +"I mean that fellow is not fit company for me." + +"No; Heavens knows that he is not!" exclaimed Claudia pointedly. + +"Never mind, Miss Merlin; do not be angry with him; the beaten have a +right to cry out," said Ishmael, who had now come up, and stood smiling +among them, totally unconscious of the humiliation that was in store for +him. + +"I am not angry; I am never angry with such dull pups; though I find it +necessary to punish them sometimes," replied Claudia haughtily. + +"I say he is no fit company for me; and when I say that, I mean to say +that he is no fit company for any young gentleman, much less for any +young lady!" exclaimed Alfred. + +Ishmael looked on with perfect good humor, thinking only that his +poverty was sneered at, and feeling immeasurably above the possibility +of humiliation or displeasure upon that account. + +Claudia thought as he did, that only his lowly fortunes had exposed him +to contempt; so putting her delicate white gloved hand in that of +Ishmael, she said: + +"Ishmael Worth is my partner in the first dance; do you dare to hint +that the youth I dance with is not proper company for any gentleman, or +any lady, either?" + +"No, I don't hint it; I speak it out in plain words; he is not only not +fit company for any gentleman or lady, but he is not even fit company +for any decent negro!" + +Ishmael, strong in conscious worth, and believing the words of Alfred to +be only reckless assertion, senseless abuse, laughed aloud with sincere, +boyish mirthfulness at its absurdity. + +But Claudia's cheeks grew crimson, and her eyes flashed--bad signs these +for the keeping of her temper towards "dull pups." + +"He is honest, truthful, intelligent, industrious, and polite. These are +qualities which, of course, unfit him for such society as yours, Mr. +Burghe; but I do not see why they should unfit him for that of ladies +and gentlemen," said Claudia severely. + +"He is a ----," brutally exclaimed Alfred, using a coarse word, at which +all the young girls started and recoiled, as if each had received a +wound, while all the boys exclaimed simultaneously: + +"Oh, fie!" or "Oh, Alf, how could you say such a thing!" + +"For shame!" + +As for Walter Middleton, he had collared the young miscreant before the +word was fairly out of his mouth. But an instant's reflection caused the +young gentleman to release the culprit, with the words: + +"My father's house and the presence of these young ladies protect you +for the present, sir." + +Ishmael stood alone, in the center of a shocked and recoiling circle of +young girls; so stunned by the epithet that had been hurled at him that +he scarcely yet understood its meaning or felt that he was wounded. + +"What did he say, Walter?" he inquired, appealing to his friend. + +Walter Middleton put his strong arm around the slender and elegant form +of Ishmael, and held him firmly; but whether in a close embrace or light +restraint, or both, it was hard to decide, as he answered: + +"He says what will be very difficult for him to explain, when he shall +be called to account to-morrow morning; but what, it is quite needless +to repeat." + +"I say he is a ----! His mother was never married! and no one on earth +knows who his father was--or if he ever had a father!" roared Alfred +brutally. + +Walter's arm closed convulsively upon Ishmael. There was good reason. +The boy had given one spasmodic bound forward, as if he would have +throttled his adversary on the spot; but the restraining arm of Walter +Middleton held him back; his face was pale as marble; a cold sweat had +burst upon his brow; he was trembling in every limb as he gasped: + +"Walter, this cannot be true! Oh, say it is not true!" + +"True! no! I believe it is as false--as false as that young villain's +heart! and nothing can be falser than that!" indignantly exclaimed young +Middleton. + +"It is! it is true! The whole county knows it is true!" vociferated +Alfred. "And if anybody here doubts it, let them ask old Hannah Worth if +her nephew isn't a ----" + +"Leave the room, sir!" exclaimed Walter, interrupting him before he +could add another word. "Your language and manners are so offensive as +to render your presence entirely inadmissible here! Leave the room, +instantly!" + +"I won't!" said Alfred stoutly. + +Walter was unwilling to release Ishmael from the tight, half-friendly, +half-masterly embrace in which he held him; else, perhaps, he might +himself have ejected the offender. As it was, he grimly repeated his +demand. + +"Will you leave the room?" + +"No!" replied Alfred. + +"James, do me the favor to ring the bell." + +James Middleton rang a peal that brought old Jovial quickly to the room. + +"Jovial, will you go and ask your master if he will be kind enough to +come here; his presence is very much needed," said Walter. + +Jovial bowed and withdrew. + +"I shall go and complain to my father of the insults I have received!" +said Alfred, turning to leave the room; for he had evidently no wish to +meet the impending interview with Mr. Middleton. + +"I anticipated that you would reconsider your resolution of remaining +here!" laughed Walter, as he let this sarcasm off after his retreating +foe. + +He had scarcely disappeared through one door before Mr. Middleton +entered at another. + +"What is all this about, Walter?" he inquired, approaching the group of +panic-stricken girls and wondering boys. + +"Some new rudeness of Alfred Burghe, father; but he has just taken +himself off, for which I thank him; so there is no use in saying more +upon the subject for the present," replied Walter. + +"There is no use, in any case, to disturb the harmony of a festive +evening, my son; all complaints may well be deferred until the morning, +when I shall be ready to hear them," replied Mr. Middleton, smiling, and +never suspecting how serious the offense of Alfred Burghe had been. + +"And now," he continued, turning towards the band, "strike up the music, +professor! The summer evenings are short, and the young people must make +the most of this one. Walter, my son, you are to open the ball with your +cousin." + +"Thank you very much, uncle; thank you, Walter, but my hand is engaged +for this set to Ishmael Worth; none but the winner of the first prize +for me!" said Claudia gayly, veiling the kindness that prompted her to +favor the mortified youth under a sportive assumption of vanity. + +"Very well, then, where is the hero?" said Mr. Middleton. + +But Ishmael had suddenly disappeared, and was nowhere to be found. + +"Where is he, Walter? He was standing by you," said Claudia. + +"I had my arm around him to prevent mischief, and I released him only an +instant since; but he seems to have slipped away," answered Walter, in +surprise. + +"He has gone after Alfred! and there will be mischief done; and no one +could blame Ishmael if there was!" exclaimed Claudia. + +"It was young Worth, then, that Burghe assailed?" inquired Mr. +Middleton. + +"Yes, uncle! and if Mr. Burghe is permitted to come to the house after +his conduct this evening, I really shall feel compelled to write to my +father, and request him to remove me, for I cannot, indeed, indeed, I +cannot expose myself to the shock of hearing such language as he has +dared to use in my presence this evening!" said Claudia excitedly. + +"Compose yourself, my dear girl; he will not trouble us after this +evening; he does not return to school after the vacation; he goes to +West Point," said her uncle. + +"And where I hope the discipline will be strict enough to keep him in +order!" exclaimed Claudia. + +"But now someone must go after Ishmael. Ring for Jovial, Walter." + +"Father, old Jovial will be too slow. Had I not better go myself?" asked +Walter, seizing his hat. + +Mr. Middleton assented, and the young man went out on his quest. + +He hunted high and low, but found no trace of Ishmael. He found, +however, what set his mind at ease upon the subject of a collision +between the youths; it was the form of Alfred Burghe, stretched at +length upon the thick and dewy grass. + +"Why do you lie there? You will take cold. Get up and go home," said +Walter, pitying his discomfiture and loneliness; for the generous are +compassionate even to the evil doer. + +Alfred did not condescend to reply. + +"Get up, I say; you will take cold," persisted Walter. + +"I don't care if I do! I had as lief die as not! I have no friends! +nobody cares for me," exclaimed the unhappy youth, in the bitterness of +spirit common to those who have brought their troubles upon themselves. + +"If you would only reform your manners, Alfred, you would find friends +enough, from the Creator, who only requires of you that 'you cease to do +evil and learn to do well,' down to the humblest of his creatures--down +to that poor boy whom you so heartlessly insulted to-night; but whose +generous nature would bear no lasting malice against you," said Walter +gravely. + +"It is deuced hard, though, to see a fellow like that taking the shine +out of us all," grumbled Alfred. + +"No, it isn't! it is glorious, glorious indeed, to see a poor youth like +that struggling up to a higher life--as he is struggling. He won the +prize from me, me, his senior in age and in the school, and my heart +burns with admiration for the boy when I think of it! How severely he +must have striven to have attained such proficiency in these three +years. How hard he must have studied; how much of temptation to idleness +he must have resisted; how much of youthful recreation, and even of +needful rest, he must have constantly denied himself; not once or twice, +but for months and years! Think of it! He has richly earned all the +success he has had. Do not envy him his honors, at least until you have +emulated his heroism," said Walter, with enthusiasm. + +"I think I will go home," said Alfred, to whom the praises of his rival +was not the most attractive theme in the world. + +"You may return with me to the house now, if you please, since my friend +Ishmael has gone home. Keep out of the way of Miss Merlin, and no one +else will interfere with you," said Walter, who, when not roused to +indignation, had all his father's charity for "miserable" sinners. + +Alfred hesitated for a minute, looking towards the house, where the +light windows and pealing music of the drawing room proved an attraction +too strong for his pride to resist. Crestfallen and sheepish, he +nevertheless returned to the scene of festivity, where the young people +were now all engaged in dancing, and where, after a while, they all with +the happy facility of youth forgot his rudeness and drew him into their +sports. All except Claudia, who would have nothing on earth to say to +him, and Beatrice, who, though ignorant of his assault upon Ishmael, +obeyed the delicate instincts of her nature that warned her to avoid +him. + +On observing the return of Alfred, Mr. Middleton took the first +opportunity of saying to his son: + +"I see that you have brought Burghe back." + +"Yes, father; since Ishmael is not here to be pained by his presence, I +thought it better to bring him back; for I remembered your words spoken +of him on a former occasion: 'That kindness will do more to reform such +a nature as his than reprobation could.'" + +"Yes--very true! But poor Ishmael! Where is he?" + +Aye! where, indeed? + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +AT HIS MOTHER'S GRAVE. + + He sees her lone headstone, + 'Tis white as a shroud; + Like a pall hangs above it + The low, drooping cloud. + + 'Tis well that the white ones + Who bore her to bliss, + Shut out from her new life + The sorrows of this. + + Else sure as he stands here, + And speaks of his love, + She would leave for his darkness + Her glory above. + + --_E.H. Whittier_. + +Giddy, faint, reeling from the shock he had received, Ishmael tottered +from the gay and lighted rooms and sought the darkness and the coolness +of the night without. + +He leaned against the great elm tree on the lawn, and wiped the beaded +sweat from his brow. + +"It is not true," he said. "I know it is not true! Walter said it was +false; and I would stake my soul that it is. My dear mother is an angel +in heaven; I am certain of that; for I have seen her in my dreams ever +since I can remember. But yet--but yet--why did they all recoil from me? +Even she--even Claudia Merlin shrank from me as from something unclean +and contaminating, when Alfred called me that name. If they had not +thought there was some truth in the charge, would they all have recoiled +from me so? Would she have shrunk from me as if I had had the plague? +Oh, no! Oh, no! And then Aunt Hannah! Why does she act so very strangely +when I ask her about my parents? If I ask her about my father she +answers me with a blow. If I ask her about my mother, she answers that +my mother was a saint on earth and is now an angel in heaven. Oh! I do +not need to be told that; I know it already. I always knew it of my dear +mother. But to only know it no longer satisfies me; I must have the +means of proving it. And to-night, yes, to-night, Aunt Hannah, before +either of us sleep, you shall tell me all that you know of my angel +mother and my unknown father." + +And having recovered his severely shaken strength, Ishmael left the +grounds of Brudenell Hall and struck into the narrow foot-path leading +down the heights and through the valley to the Hut hill. + +Hannah was seated alone, enjoying her solitary cup of tea, when Ishmael +opened the door and entered. + +"What, my lad, have you come back so early? I did not think the ball +would have been over before twelve or one o'clock, and it is not ten +yet; but I suppose, being a school ball, it broke up early. Did you get +any premiums? How many did you get?" inquired Hannah, heaping question +upon question without waiting for reply, as was her frequent custom. + +Ishmael drew a chair to the other side of the table and sunk heavily +into it. + +"You are tired, poor fellow, and no wonder! I dare say, for all the good +things you got at the ball, that a cup of tea will do you no harm," said +Hannah, pouring out and handing him one. + +Ishmael took it wearily and sat it by his side. + +"And now tell me about the premiums," continued his aunt. + +"I got the first premium in belles-lettres, aunt; and it was Hallam's +'History of Literature.' And I got the first in languages, which was +Irving's 'Life of Washington'--two very valuable works, Aunt Hannah, +that will be treasures to me all my life." + +"Why do you sigh so heavily, my boy? are you so tired as all that? But +one would think, as well as you love books, those fine ones would 'liven +you up. Where are they? Let me see them." + +"I left them at the school, Aunt Hannah. I will go and fetch them +to-morrow." + +"There's that sigh again! What is the matter with you, child? Are you +growing lazy? Who got the gold medal?" + +"It wasn't a medal, Aunt Hannah. Mr. Middleton wanted to give something +useful as well as costly for the first prize; and he said a medal was of +no earthly use to anybody, so he made the prize a gold watch and chain." + +"But who got it?" + +"I did, aunt; there it is," said Ishmael, taking the jewel from his neck +and laying it on the table. + +"Oh! what a beautiful watch and chain! and all pure gold! real yellow +guinea gold! This must be worth almost a hundred dollars! Oh, Ishmael, +we never had anything like this in the house before. I am so much afraid +somebody might break in and steal it!" exclaimed Hannah, her admiration +and delight at sight of the rich prize immediately modified by the cares +and fears that attend the possession of riches. + +Ishmael did not reply; but Hannah went on reveling in the sight of the +costly bauble, until, happening to look up, she saw that Ishmael, +instead of drinking his tea, sat with his head drooped upon his hand in +sorrowful abstraction. + +"There you are again! There is no satisfying some people. One would +think you would be as happy as a king with all your prizes. But there +you are moping. What is the matter with you, boy? Why don't you drink +your tea?" + +"Aunt Hannah, you drink your own tea, and when you have done it I will +have a talk with you." + +"Is it anything particular?" + +"Very particular, Aunt Hannah; but I will not enter upon the subject +now," said Ishmael, raising his cup to his lips to prevent further +questionings. + +But when the tea was over and the table cleared away, Ishmael took the +hand of his aunt and drew her towards the door, saying: + +"Aunt Hannah, I want you to go with me to my mother's grave. It will not +hurt you to do so; the night is beautiful, clear and dry, and there is +no dew." + +Wondering at the deep gravity of his words and manner, Hannah allowed +him to draw her out of the house and up the hill behind it to Nora's +grave at the foot of the old oak tree. It was a fine, bright, starlight +night, and the rough headstone, rudely fashioned and set up by the +professor, gleamed whitely out from the long shadowy grass. + +Ishmael sank down upon the ground beside the grave, put his arms around +the headstone, and for a space bowed his head. + +Hannah seated herself upon a fragment of rock near him. But both +remained silent for a few minutes. + +It was Hannah who broke the spell. + +"Ishmael, my dear," she said, "why have you drawn me out here, and what +have you to say to me of such a serious nature that it can be uttered +only here?" + +But Ishmael still was silent--being bowed down with thought or grief. + +Reflect a moment, reader: At this very instant of time his enemy--he who +had plunged him in this grief--was in the midst of all the light and +music of the ball at Brudenell Hall; but could not enjoy himself, +because the stings of conscience irritated him, and because the frowns +of Claudia Merlin chilled and depressed him. + +Ishmael was out in the comparative darkness and silence of night and +nature. Yet he, too, had his light and music--light and music more in +harmony with his mood than any artificial substitutes could be; he had +the holy light of myriads of stars shining down upon him, and the music +of myriads of tiny insects sounding around him. Mark you this, dear +reader--in light and music is the Creator forever worshiped by nature. +When the sun sets, the stars shine; and when the birds sleep, the +insects sing! + +This subdued light and music of nature's evening worship suited well the +saddened yet exalted mood of our poor boy. He knew not what was before +him, what sort of revelation he was about to invoke, but he knew that, +whatever it might be, it should not shake his resolve, "to deal justly, +love mercy, and walk humbly" with his God. + +Hannah, spoke again: + +"Ishmael, will you answer me--why have you brought me here? What have +you to say to me so serious as to demand this grave for the place of its +hearing?" + +"Aunt Hannah," began the boy, "what I have to say to you is even more +solemn than your words import." + +"Ishmael, you frighten me." + +"No, no; there is no cause of alarm." + +"Why don't you tell me what has brought us here, then?" + +"I am about to do so," said Ishmael solemnly. "Aunt Hannah, you have +often told me that she whose remains lie below us was a saint on earth +and is an angel in heaven!" + +"Yes, Ishmael. I have told you so, and I have told you truly." + +"Aunt Hannah, three years ago I asked you who was my father. You replied +by a blow. Well, I was but a boy then, and so of course you must have +thought that that was the most judicious answer you could give. But now, +Aunt Hannah, I am a young man, and I demand of you, Who was my father?" + +"Ishmael, I cannot tell you!" + +With a sharp cry of anguish the youth sprang up; but governing his +strong excitement he subsided to his seat, only gasping out the +question: + +"In the name of Heaven, why can you not?" + +Hannah's violent sobs were the only answer. + +"Aunt Hannah! I know this much--that your name is Hannah Worth; that my +dear mother was your sister; that her name was Nora Worth; and that mine +is Ishmael Worth! Therefore I know that I bear yours and my mother's +maiden name! I always took it for granted that my father belonged to the +same family; that he was a relative, perhaps a cousin of my mother, and +that he bore the same name, and therefore did not in marrying my mother +give her a new one. That was what I always thought, Aunt Hannah; was I +right?" + +Hannah sobbed on in silence. + +"Aunt Hannah! by my mother's grave, I adjure you to answer me! Was I +right?" + +"No, Ishmael, you were not!" wailed Hannah. + +"Then I do not bear my father's name?" + +"No." + +"But only my poor mother's?" + +"Yes." + +"Oh, Heaven! how is that?" + +"Because you have no legal right to your father's; because the only name +to which you have any legal right is your poor, wronged mother's!" + +With a groan that seemed to rend body and soul asunder, Ishmael threw +himself upon his mother's grave. + +"You said she was an angel! And I know that she was!" he cried, as soon +as he had recovered the power of speech. + +"I said truly, and you know the truth!" wept Hannah. + +"How, then, is it, that I, her son, cannot bear my father's name?" + +"Ishmael, your mother was the victim of a false marriage!" + +Ishmael sprang up from his recumbent posture, and gazed at his aunt with +a fierceness that pierced through the darkness. + +"And so pure and proud was she, that the discovery broke her heart!" + +Ishmael threw himself once more upon the grave, and clasping the mound +in his arms, burst into a passionate flood of tears, and wept long and +bitterly. And, after a while, through this shower of tears, came forth +in gusty sobs these words: + +"Oh, mother! Oh, poor, young, wronged, and broken-hearted mother! sleep +in peace; for your son lives to vindicate you. Yes, if he has been +spared, it was for this purpose--to honor, to vindicate, to avenge you!" +And after these words his voice was again lost and drowned in tears and +sobs. + +Hannah kneeled down beside him, took his hand, and tried to raise him, +saying: + +"Ishmael, my love, get up, dear! There was no wrong done, no crime +committed, nothing to avenge. Your father was as guiltless as your +mother, my boy; there was no sin; nothing from first to last but great +misfortune. Come into the house, my Ishmael, and I will tell you all +about it." + +"Yes; tell me all! tell me every particular; have no more concealments +from me!" cried Ishmael, rising to follow his aunt. + +"I will not; but oh, my boy! gladly would I have kept the sorrowful +story concealed from you forever, but that I know from what I have seen +of you to-night, that some rude tongue has told you of your +misfortune--and told you wrong besides!" said Hannah, as they re-entered +the hut. + +They sat down beside the small wood fire that the chill night made not +unwelcome, even in August. Hannah sat in her old arm-chair, and Ishmael +on the three-legged stool at her feet, with his head in her lap. And +there, with her hand caressing his light brown hair, Hannah told him the +story of his mother's love and suffering and death. + +At some parts of her story his tears gushed forth in floods, and his +sobs shook his whole frame. Then Hannah would be forced to pause in her +narrative, until he had regained composure enough to listen to the +sequel. + +Hannah told him all; every particular with which the reader is already +acquainted; suppressing nothing but the name of his miserable father. + +At the close of the sad story both remained silent for some time; the +deathly stillness of the room broken only by Ishmael's deep sighs. At +last, however, he spoke: + +"Aunt Hannah, still you have not told me the name of him my poor mother +loved so fatally." + +"Ishmael, I have told you that I cannot; and now I will tell you why I +cannot." + +And then Hannah related the promise that she had made to her dying +sister, never to expose the unhappy but guiltless author of her death. + +"Poor mother! poor, young, broken-hearted mother! She was not much older +than I am now when she died--was she, Aunt Hannah?" + +"Scarcely two years older, my dear." + +"So young!" sobbed Ishmael, dropping his head again upon Hannah's knee, +and bursting into a tempest of grief. + +She allowed the storm to subside a little, and then said: + +"Now, my Ishmael, I wish you to tell me what it was that sent you home +so early from the party, and in such a sorrowful mood. I knew, of +course, that something must have been said to you about your birth. What +was said, and who said it?" + +"Oh, Aunt Hannah! it was in the very height of my triumph that I was +struck down! I was not proud, Heaven knows, that I should have had such +a fall! I was not proud--I was feeling rather sad upon account of +Walter's having missed the prize; and I was thinking how hard it was in +this world that nobody could enjoy a triumph without someone else +suffering a mortification. I was thinking and feeling so, as I tell you, +until Walter came up and talked me out of my gloom. And then all my +young companions were doing me honor in their way, when--" + +Ishmael's voice was choked for a moment; but with an effort he regained +his composure and continued, though in a broken and faltering voice: + +"Alfred Burghe left the group, saying that I was not a proper companion +for young ladies and gentlemen. And when--she--Miss Merlin, angrily +demanded why I was not, he--Oh! Aunt Hannah!" Ishmael suddenly ceased +and dropped his face into his hands. + +"Compose yourself, my dear boy, and go on," said the weaver. + +"He said that I was a--No! I cannot speak the word! I cannot!" + +"A young villain! If ever I get my hands on him, I will give him as good +a broomsticking as ever a bad boy had in this world! He lied, Ishmael! +You are not what he called you. You are legitimate on your mother's +side, because she believed herself to be a lawful wife. You bear her +name, and you could lawfully inherit her property, if she had left any. +Tell them that when they insult you!" exclaimed Hannah indignantly. + +"Ah! Aunt Hannah, they would not believe it without proof!" + +"True! too true! and we cannot prove it, merely because your mother +bound me by a promise never to expose the bigamy of your father. Oh, +Ishmael, to shield him, what a wrong she did to herself and to you!" +wept the woman. + +"Oh, Aunt Hannah, do not blame her! she was so good!" said this loyal +son. "I can bear reproach for myself, but I will not bear it for her! +Say anything you like to me, dear Aunt Hannah! but never say a word +against her!" + +"But, poor boy! how will you bear the sure reproach of birth that you +are bound to hear from others? Ah, Ishmael, you must try to fortify your +mind, my dear, to bear much unjust shame in this world. Ishmael, the +brighter the sun shines the blacker the shadow falls. The greater your +success in the world, the bitterer will be this shame! See, my boy, it +was in the hour of your youthful triumph that this reproach was first +cast in your face! The envious are very mean, my boy. Ah, how will you +answer their cruel reproaches!" + +"I will tell you, Aunt Hannah! Let them say what they like of me; I will +try to bear with them patiently; but if any man or boy utters one word +of reproach against my dear mother--" The boy ceased to speak, but his +face grew lived. + +"Now, now, what would you do?" exclaimed Hannah, in alarm. + +"Make him recant his words, or silence him forever!" + +"Oh, Ishmael! Ishmael! you frighten me nearly to death! Good Heaven, men +are dreadful creatures! They never receive an injury but they must needs +think of slaying! Oh, how I wish you had been a girl! Since you were to +be, how I do wish you had been a girl! Boys are a dreadful trial and +terror to a lone woman! Oh, Ishmael! promise me you won't do anything +violent!" exclaimed Hannah, beside herself with terror. + +"I cannot, Aunt Hannah! For I should be sure to break such a promise if +the occasion offered. Oh, Aunt Hannah! you don't know all my mother is +to me! You don't! You think because she died the very day that I was +born that I cannot know anything about her and cannot love her; but I +tell you, Aunt Hannah, I know her well! and I love her as much as if she +was still in the flesh. I have seen her in my dreams ever since I can +remember anything. Oh! often, when I was very small and you used to lock +me up alone in the hut, while you went away for all day to Baymouth, I +have been strangely soothed to sleep and then I have seen her in my +dreams!" + +"Ishmael, you rave!" + +"No, I don't; I will prove it to you, that I see my mother. Listen, now; +nobody ever described her to me; not even you; but I will tell you how +she looks--she is tall and slender; she has a very fair skin and very +long black hair, and nice slender black eyebrows and long eyelashes, and +large dark eyes--and she smiles with her eyes only! Now, is not that my +mother? For that is the form that I see in my dreams," said Ishmael +triumphantly, and for the moment forgetting his grief. + +"Yes, that is like what she was; but of course you must have heard her +described by someone, although you may have forgotten it. Ishmael, dear, +I shall pray for you to-night, that all thoughts of vengeance may be put +out of your mind. Now let us go to bed, my child, for we have to be up +early in the morning. And, Ishmael?" + +"Yes, Aunt Hannah." + +"Do you also pray to God for guidance and help." + +"Aunt Hannah, I always do," said the boy, as he bade his relative +good-night and went up to his loft. + +Long Ishmael lay tumbling and tossing upon his restless bed. But when +at length he fell asleep a heavenly dream visited him. + +He dreamed that his mother, in her celestial robe, stood by his bed and +breathed sweetly forth his name: + +"Ishmael, my son." + +And in his dream he answered: + +"I am here, mother." + +"Listen, my child: Put thoughts of vengeance from your soul! In this +strong temptation think not what Washington, Jackson, or any of your +warlike heroes would have done; think what the Prince of Peace, Christ, +would have done; and do thou likewise!" And so saying, the heavenly +vision vanished. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +LOVE AND GENIUS. + + Her face was shining on him; he had looked + Upon it till it could not pass away; + He had no breath, no being but in hers; + She was his voice: he did not speak to her, + But trembled on her words: she was his sight; + For his eye followed hers and saw with hers, + Which colored all his objects. + + --_Byron_. + +Early the next morning Ishmael walked over to Brudenell Hall with the +threefold purpose of making an apology for his sudden departure from the +ball; taking leave of the family for the holidays; and bringing home the +books he had won as prizes. + +As he approached the house he saw Mr. Middleton walking on the lawn. + +That gentleman immediately advanced to meet Ishmael, holding out his +hand, and saying, with even more than his usual kindness of manner: + +"Good-morning, my dear boy; you quite distinguished yourself yesterday; +I congratulate you." + +"I thank you, sir; I thank you very much; but I fear that I was guilty +of great rudeness in leaving the party so abruptly last night; but I +hope, when you hear my explanation, you will excuse me, sir," said +Ishmael, deeply flushing. + +Mr. Middleton kindly drew the boy's arm within his own, and walked him +away from the house down a shady avenue of elms, and when they had got +quite out of hearing of any chance listener, he said gravely: + +"My boy, I have heard the facts from Walter, and I do not require any +explanation from you. I hold you entirely blameless in the affair, +Ishmael, and I can only express my deep regret that you should have +received an insult while under my roof. I trust, Ishmael, that time and +reflection will convince young Burghe of his great error, and that the +day may come when he himself will seek you to make a voluntary apology +for his exceeding rudeness." + +Ishmael did not reply; his eyes were fixed upon the ground, and his very +forehead was crimson. Mr. Middleton saw all this, divined his thoughts, +and so gently continued: + +"You will be troubled no more with Alfred Burghe or his weak brother; +both boys left this morning; Alfred goes to the Military Academy at West +Point; Ben to the Naval School at Annapolis; so you will be quite free +from annoyance by them." + +Still Ishmael hung his head, and Mr. Middleton added: + +"And now, my young friend, do not let the recollection of that +scapegrace's words trouble you in the slightest degree. Let me assure +you, that no one who knows you, and whose good opinion is worth having, +will ever esteem your personal merits less, upon account of--" Mr. +Middleton hesitated for a moment, and then said, very softly--"your +poor, unhappy mother." + +Ishmael sprang aside, and groaned as if he had received a stab; and then +with a rush of emotion, and in an impassioned manner, he exclaimed: + +"My poor, unhappy mother! Oh, sir, you have used the right words! She +was very poor and very unhappy! most unhappy; but not weak! not foolish! +not guilty! Oh, believe it, sir! believe it, Mr. Middleton! For if you +were to doubt it, I think my spirit would indeed be broken! My poor, +young mother, who went down to the grave when she was but little older +than her son is now, was a pure, good, honorable woman. She was, sir! +she was! and I will prove it to the world some day, if Heaven only lets +me live to do it! Say you believe it, Mr. Middleton! Oh, say you believe +it!" + +"I do believe it, my boy," replied Mr. Middleton, entirely carried away +by the powerful magnetism of Ishmael's eager, earnest, impassioned +manner. + +"Heaven reward you, sir," sighed the youth, subsiding into the modest +calmness of his usual deportment. + +"How do you intend to employ your holidays, Ishmael?" inquired his +friend. + +"By continuing my studies at home, sir," replied the youth. + +"I thought so! Well, so that you do not overwork yourself, you are right +to keep them up. These very long vacations are made for the benefit of +the careless and idle, and not for the earnest and industrious. But, +Ishmael, that little cot of yours is not the best place for your +purpose; studies can scarcely be pursued favorably where household work +is going on constantly; so I think you had better come here every day as +usual, and read in the schoolroom. Mr. Brown will be gone certainly; but +I shall be at home, and ready to render you any assistance." + +"Oh, sir, how shall I thank you?" joyfully began Ishmael. + +"By just making the best use of your opportunities to improve yourself, +my lad," smiled his friend, patting him on the shoulder. + +"But, sir--in the vacation--it will give you trouble--" + +"It will afford me pleasure, Ishmael! I hope you can take my word for +that?" + +"Oh, Mr. Middleton! Indeed you--how can I ever prove myself grateful +enough?" + +"By simply getting on as fast as you can, boy! as I told you before. And +let me tell you now, that there is good reason why you should now make +the best possible use of your time; it may be short." + +"Sir?" questioned Ishmael in perplexity and vague alarm. + +"I should rather have said it must be short! I will explain. You know +Mr. Herman Brudenell?" + +"Mr--Herman--Brudenell," repeated the unconscious son, slowly and +thoughtfully; then, as a flash of intelligence lighted up his face, he +exclaimed: "Oh, yes, sir, I know who you mean; the young gentleman who +owns Brudenell Hall, and who is now traveling in Europe." + +"Yes! but he is not such a very young gentleman now; he must be between +thirty-five and forty years of age. Well, my boy, you know, of course, +that he is my landlord. When I rented this place, I took it by the year, +and at a very low price, as the especial condition that I should leave +it at six months' warning. Ishmael, I have received that warning this +morning. I must vacate the premises on the first of next February." + +Ishmael looked confounded. "Must vacate these premises the first of next +February," he echoed, in a very dreary voice. + +"Yes, my lad; but don't look so utterly sorrowful; we shall not go out +of the world, or even out of the State; perhaps not out of the county, +Ishmael; and our next residence will be a permanent one; I shall +purchase, and not rent, next time; and I shall not lose sight of your +interests; besides the parting is six months off yet; so look up, my +boy. Bless me, if I had known it was going to depress you in this way, I +should have delayed the communication as long as possible; in fact, my +only motive for making it now, is to give a good reason why you should +make the most of your time while we remain here." + +"Oh, sir, I will; believe me, I will; but I am so sorry you are ever +going to leave us," said the boy, with emotion. + +"Thank you, Ishmael; I shall not forget you; and in the meantime, Mr. +Brudenell, who is coming back to the Hall, and is a gentleman of great +means and beneficence, cannot fail to be interested in you; indeed, I +myself will mention you to him. And now come in, my boy, and take +luncheon with us. We breakfasted very early this morning in order to get +the teachers off in time for the Baltimore boat; and so we require an +early luncheon," said Mr. Middleton, as he walked his young friend off +to the house. + +Mrs. Middleton and all her children and Claudia were already seated +around the table in the pleasant morning room, where all the windows +were open, admitting the free summer breezes, the perfume of flowers, +and the songs of birds. + +The young people started up and rushed towards Ishmael; for their +sympathies were with him; and all began speaking at once. + +"Oh, Ishmael! why did you disappoint me of dancing with the best scholar +in the school?" asked Claudia. + +"What did you run away for?" demanded James. + +"I wouldn't have gone for him," said John. + +"Oh, Ishmael, it was such a pleasant party," said little Fanny. + +"Alf was a bad boy," said Baby Sue. + +"It was very impolite in you to run away and leave me when I was your +partner in the first quadrille! I do not see why you should have +disappointed me for anything that fellow could have said or done!" +exclaimed Claudia. + +As all were speaking at once it was quite impossible to answer either, +so Ishmael looked in embarrassment from one to the other. + +Bee had not spoken; she was spreading butter on thin slices of bread for +her baby sisters; but now, seeing Ishmael's perplexity, she whispered to +her mother: + +"Call them off, mamma dear; they mean well; but it must hurt his +feelings to be reminded of last night." + +Mrs. Middleton thought so too; so she arose and went forward and offered +Ishmael her hand, saying: + +"Good-morning, my boy; I am glad to see you; draw up your chair to the +table. Children, take your places. Mr. Middleton, we have been waiting +for you." + +"I know you have, my dear, but cold lunch don't grow colder by standing; +if it does, so much the better this warm weather." + +"I have been taking a walk with my young friend here," said the +gentleman, as he took his seat. + +Ishmael followed his example, but not before he had quietly shaken hands +with Beatrice. + +At luncheon Mr. Middleton spoke of his plan, that Ishmael should come +every day during the holidays to pursue his studies as usual in the +schoolroom. + +"You know he cannot read to any advantage in the little room where +Hannah is always at work," explained Mr. Middleton. + +"Oh, no! certainly not," agreed his wife. + +The family were all pleased that Ishmael was still to come. + +"But, my boy, I think you had better not set in again until Monday. A +few days of mental rest is absolutely necessary after the hard reading +of the last few months. So I enjoin you not to open a classbook before +next Monday." + +As Mrs. Middleton emphatically seconded this move, our boy gave his +promise to refrain, and after luncheon was over he went and got his +books, took a respectful leave of his friends and returned home. + +"Aunty," he said, as he entered the hut, where he found Hannah down on +her knees scrubbing the floor, "what do you think? Mr. Middleton and his +family are going away from the Hall. They have had warning to quit at +the end of six months." + +"Ah," said Hannah indifferently, going on with her work. + +"Yes; they leave on the first of February, and the owner of the place, +young Mr. Herman Brudenell, you know, is coming on to live there for +good!" + +"Ah!" cried Hannah, no longer indifferently, but excitedly, as she left +off scrubbing, and fixed her keen black eyes upon the boy. + +"Yes, indeed! and Mr. Middleton--oh, he is so kind--says he will mention +me to Mr Herman Brudenell." + +"Oh! will he?" exclaimed Hannah, between her teeth. + +"Yes; and--Mr. Herman Brudenell is a very kind gentleman, is he not?" + +"Very," muttered Hannah. + +"You were very well acquainted with him, were you not?" + +"Yes." + +"You answer so shortly, Aunt Hannah. Didn't you like young Mr. Herman +Brudenell?" + +"I--don't know whether I did or not; but, Ishmael, I can't scrub and +talk at the same time. Go out and chop me some wood; and then go and dig +some potatoes, and beets, and cut a cabbage--a white-head mind! and then +go to the spring and bring a bucket of water; and make haste; but don't +talk to me any more, if you can help it." + +Ishmael went out immediately to obey, and as the sound of his ax was +heard Hannah muttered to herself: + +"Herman Brudenell coming back to the Hall to live!" And she fell into +deep thought. + +Ishmael was intelligent enough to divine that his Aunt Hannah did not +wish to talk of Mr. Herman Brudenell. + +"Some old grudge, connected with their relations as landlord and tenant, +I suppose," said Ishmael to himself. And as he chopped away at the wood +he resolved to avoid in her presence the objectionable name. + +The subject was not mentioned between the aunt and nephew again. Ishmael +assisted her in preparing their late afternoon meal of dinner and supper +together, and then, when the room was made tidy and Hannah was seated at +her evening sewing, Ishmael, for a treat, showed her his prize books; at +which Hannah was so pleased, that she went to bed and dreamed that night +that Ishmael had risen to the distinction of being a country +schoolmaster. + +The few days of mental rest that Mr. Middleton had enjoined upon the +young student were passed by Ishmael in hard manual labor that did him +good. Among his labors, as he had now several valuable books, he fitted +up some book shelves over the little low window of his loft, and under +the window he fixed a sloping board, that would serve him for a +writing-desk. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +UNDER THE OLD ELM TREE. + + + She was his life, + The ocean to the river of his thoughts, + Which terminated all; upon a tone, + A touch of hers, his blood would ebb and flow, + And his cheek change tempestuously--his heart + Unknowing of its cause of agony. + + --_Byron_. + +On Monday morning he resumed his attendance at Brudenell Hall. He was +received very kindly by the family, and permitted to go up to the empty +schoolroom and take his choice among all the vacant seats, and to make +the freest use of the school library, maps, globes, and instruments. + +Ishmael moved his own desk up under one of the delightful windows, and +there he sat day after day at hard study. He did not trouble Mr. +Middleton much; whenever it was possible to do so by any amount of labor +and thought, he puzzled out all his problems and got over all his +difficulties alone. + +He kept up the old school hours; punctually, and exactly at noon, he +laid aside his books and went out on the lawn for an hour's recreation +before lunch. + +There he often met his young friends, and always saw Claudia. It was +Miss Merlin's good pleasure to approve and encourage this poor but +gifted youth; and she took great credit, to herself for her +condescension. She seemed to herself like some high and mighty princess +graciously patronizing some deserving young peasant. She often called +him to her side; interested himself in his studies and in his health, +praised his assiduity, but warned him not to confine himself too closely +to his books, as ambitious students had been known before now to +sacrifice their lives to the pursuit of an unattainable fame. She told +him that she meant to interest her father in his fortunes; and that she +hoped in another year the judge would be able to procure for him the +situation of usher in some school, or tutor in some family. Although she +was younger than Ishmael, yet her tone and manner in addressing him was +that of an elder as well as of a superior; and blended the high +authority of a young queen with the deep tenderness of a little mother. +For instance, when he would come out at noon, she would often beckon him +to her side, as she sat in her garden chair, under the shadow of the +great elm tree, with a book of poetry or a piece of needlework in her +hands. And when he came, she would make him sit down on the grass at her +feet, and she would put her small, white hand on his burning forehead, +and look in his face with her beautiful, dark eyes, and murmur softly: + +"Poor boy; your head aches; I know it does. You have been sitting under +the blazing sun in that south window of the schoolroom, so absorbed in +your studies that you forgot to close your shutters." + +And she would take a vial of eau-de-cologne from her pocket, pour a +portion of it upon a handkerchief, and with her own fair hand bathe his +heated brows; at the same time administering a queenly reprimand, or a +motherly caution, as pride or tenderness happened to predominate in her +capricious mood. + +This royal or maternal manner in this beautiful girl would not have +attracted the hearts of most men; but Ishmael, at the age of seventeen, +was yet too young to feel that haughty pride of full-grown manhood which +recoils from the patronage of women, and most of all from that of the +woman they love. + +To him, this proud and tender interest for his welfare added a greater +and more perilous fascination to the charms of his beautiful love; it +drew her nearer to him; it allowed him to worship her, though mutely; it +permitted him to sit at her feet, and in that attitude do silent homage +to her as his queen; it permitted him to receive the cool touch of her +fingers on his heated brow; to hear the soft murmur of her voice close +to his ear; to meet the sweet questioning of her eyes. + +And, oh, the happiness of sitting at her feet, under the green shadows +of that old elm tree! The light touch of her soft fingers on his brow +thrilled him to his heart's core; the sweet sound of her voice in his +ears filled his soul with music; the earnest gaze of her beautiful dark +eyes sent electric shocks of joy through all his sensitive frame. + +Ishmael was intensely happy. This earth was no longer a commonplace +world, filled with commonplace beings; it was a paradise peopled with +angels. + +Did Mr. and Mrs. Middleton fear no harm in the close intimacy of this +gifted boy of seventeen and this beautiful girl of sixteen? + +Indeed, no! They believed the proud heiress looked upon, the peasant boy +merely as her protege, her pet, her fine, intelligent dog! they +believed Claudia secure in her pride and Ishmael absorbed in his +studies. They were three-quarters right, which is as near the correct +thing as you can expect imperfect human nature to approach; that is, +they were wholly right as to Claudia and half right as to Ishmael. +Claudia was secure in her pride; and half of Ishmael's soul--the mental +half--was absorbed in his studies; his mind was given to his books; but +his heart was devoted to Claudia. And in this double occupation there +was no discord, but the most perfect harmony. + +But though Claudia, whom he adored, was his watchful patroness, Bee, +whom he only loved, was his truest friend. Claudia would warn him +against danger; but Bee would silently save him from it. While Claudia +would be administering a queenly rebuke to the ardent young student for +exposing himself to a sunstroke by reading under the blazing sun in an +open south window, Bee, without saying a word, would go quietly into the +schoolroom, close the shutters of the sunny windows, and open those of +the shady ones, so that the danger might not recur in the afternoon. + +In September the school was regularly reopened for the reception of the +day pupils. Their parents were warned, however, that this was to be the +last term; that the school must necessarily be broken up at Christmas, +as the house must be given up on the first of February. The return of +the pupils, although they filled the schoolroom during study hours, and +made the lawn a livelier scene during recess, did not in the least +degree interrupt the intimacy of Ishmael and Claudia. He still sat at +her feet beneath the green shadows of the old elm tree, often reading to +her while she worked her crochet; or strumming upon his old guitar an +accompaniment to her song. For long ago the professor had taught Ishmael +to play, and loaned him the instrument. + +It is not to be supposed that Claudia's favor of Ishmael could be +witnessed by his companions without exciting their envy and dislike of +our youth. But the more strongly they evinced their disapproval of her +partiality for Ishmael, the more ostentatiously she displayed it. + +Many were the covert sneers leveled at "Nobody's Son." And often Ishmael +felt his heart swell, his blood boil, and his cheek burn at these +cowardly insults. And it was well for all concerned that the youth was +"obedient" to that "heavenly vision" which had warned him, in these sore +trials, not to ask himself--as had been his boyish custom--what Marion, +Putnam, Jackson, or any of the "great battle-ax heroes" would have done +in a similar crisis; but what Christ, the Prince of Peace, would have +done; for Ishmael knew that all these great historical warriors held the +"bloody code of honor" that would oblige them to answer insult with +death; but that the Saviour of the world "when reviled, reviled not +again"; and that he commended all his followers to do likewise, +returning "good for evil," "blessings for cursings." + +All this was very hard to do; and the difficulty of it finally sent +Ishmael to study his Bible with a new interest, to seek the mystery of +the Saviour's majestic meekness. In the light of a new experience, he +read the amazing story of the life, sufferings, and death of Christ. Oh, +nothing in the whole history of mankind could approach this, for beauty, +for sublimity, and for completeness; nothing had ever so warmed, +inspired, and elevated his soul as this; this was perfect; answering all +the needs of his spirit. The great heroes and sages of history might be +very good and useful as examples and references in the ordinary trials +and temptations of life; but only Christ could teach him how to meet the +great trial from the world without, where envy and hate assailed him; or +how to resist the dark temptations from the world within, in whose deep +shadows rage and murder lurked! Henceforth the Saviour became his own +exemplar and the gospel his only guidebook. Such was the manner in which +Ishmael was called of the Lord. He became proof against the most +envenomed shafts of malice. The reflection: What would Christ have done? +armed him with a sublime and invincible meekness and courage. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +THE DREAM AND THE AWAKENING. + + The lover is a god,--the ground + He treads on is not ours; + His soul by other laws is bound, + Sustained by other powers; + His own and that one other heart + Form for himself a world apart. + + --_Milnes_. + +Time went on. Autumn faded into winter: the flowers wore withered; +the grass dried; the woods bare. Miss Merlin no longer sat under the +green shadows of the old elm tree; there were no green shadows there; +the tree was stripped of its leaves and seemed but the skeleton of +itself, and the snow lay around its foot. + +The season, far from interrupting the intimacy between the heiress and +her favorite, only served to draw them even more closely together. This +was the way of it. At the noon recess all the pupils of the school would +rush madly out upon the lawn to engage in the rough, healthful, and +exciting game of snowballing each other--all except Claudia, who was far +too fine a lady to enter into any such rude sport, and Ishmael, whose +attendance upon her own presence she would peremptorily demand. + +While all the others were running over each other in their haste to get +out, Claudia would pass into the empty drawing room, and seating herself +in the deep easy chair, would call to her "gentleman in waiting," +saying: + +"Come, my young troubadour, bring your guitar and sit down upon this +cushion at my feet and play an accompaniment to my song, as I sing and +work." + +And Ishmael, filled with joy, would fly to obey the royal mandate; and +soon seated at the beauty's feet, in the glow of the warm wood fire and +in the glory of her heavenly presence, he would lose himself in a +delicious dream of love and music. No one ever interrupted their +tete-a-tete. And Ishmael grew to feel that he belonged to his liege +lady; that they were forever inseparate and inseparable. And thus his +days passed in one delusive dream of bliss until the time came when he +was rudely awakened. + +One evening, as usual, he took leave of Claudia. It was a bitter cold +evening, and she took off her own crimson Berlin wool scarf and with her +own fair hands wound it around Ishmael's neck, and charged him to hasten +home, because she knew that influenza would be lying in wait to seize +any loitering pedestrian that night. + +Ishmael ran home, as happy as it was in the power of man to make him. +How blest he felt in the possession of her scarf--her fine, soft, warm +scarf, deliciously filled with the aroma of Claudia's own youth, beauty, +and sweetness. He felt that he was not quite separated from her while he +had her scarf--her dear scarf, with the warmth and perfume of her own +neck yet within its meshes! That night he only unwound it from his +throat to fold it and lay it on his pillow that his cheek might rest +upon it while he slept--slept the sweetest sleep that ever visited his +eyes. + +Ah, poor, pale sleeper! this was the last happy night he was destined to +have for many weeks and months. + +In the morning he arose early as usual to hasten to school and--to +Claudia. He wound her gift around his neck and set off at a brisk pace. +The weather was still intensely cold; but the winter sky was clear and +the sunshine glittered "keen and bright" upon the crisp white snow. +Ishmael hurried on and reached Brudenell Hall just in time to see a +large fur-covered sleigh, drawn by a pair of fine horses, shoot through, +the great gates and disappear down the forest road. + +A death-like feeling, a strange spasm, as if a hand of ice had clutched +his heart, caught away Ishmael's breath at the sight of that vanishing +sleigh. He could not rationally account for this feeling; but soon as he +recovered his breath he inquired of old Jovial, who stood gazing after +the sleigh. + +"Who has gone away?" + +"Miss Claudia, sir; her pa came after her last night--" + +"Claudia--gone!" echoing Ishmael, reeling and supporting himself against +the trunk of the bare old elm tree. + +"It was most unexpected, sir; mist'ess sat up most all night to see to +the packing of her clothes--" + +"Gone--gone--Claudia gone!" breathed Ishmael, in a voice despairing, yet +so low, that it did not interrupt the easy flow of Jovial's narrative. + +"But you see, sir, the judge, he said how he hadn't a day to lose, +'cause he'd have to be at Annapolis to-morrow to open his court--" + +"Gone--gone!" wailed Ishmael, dropping his arms. + +"And 'pears the judge did write to warn master and mist'ess to get Miss +Claudia ready to go this morning; but seems like they never got the +letter--" + +"Oh, gone!" moaned Ishmael. + +--"Anyways, it was all, 'Quick! march!' and away they went. And the word +does go around as, after the court term is over, the judge he means to +take Miss Claudia over the seas to forrin parts to see the world." + +"Which--which road did they take, Jovial?" gasped Ishmael, striving hard +to recover breath and strength and the power of motion. + +"Law, sir, the Baymouth road, to be sure! where they 'spects to take the +'Napolis boat, which 'ill be a nigh thing if they get there in time to +meet it, dough dey has taken the sleigh an' the fast horses." + +Ishmael heard no more. Dropping his books, he darted out of the gate, +and fled along the road taken by the travelers. Was it in the mad hope +of overtaking the sleigh? As well might he expect to overtake an express +train! No--he was mad indeed! maddened by the suddenness of his +bereavement; but not so mad as that; and he started after his flying +love in the fierce, blind, passionate instinct of pursuit. A whirl of +wild hopes kept him up and urged him on--hopes that they might stop on +the road to water the horses, or to refresh themselves, or that they +might be delayed at the toll-gate to make change, or that some other +possible or impossible thing might happen to stop their journey long +enough for him to overtake them and see Claudia once more; to shake +hands with her, bid her good-by, and receive from her at parting some +last word of regard--some last token of remembrance! This was now the +only object of his life; this was what urged him onward in that fearful +chase! To see Claudia once more--to meet her eyes--to clasp her hand--to +hear her voice--to bid her farewell! + +On and on he ran; toiling up hill, and rushing down dale; overturning +all impediments that lay in his way; startling all the foot-passengers +with the fear of an escaped maniac! On and on he sped in his mad flight, +until he reached the outskirts of the village. There a sharp pang and +sudden faintness obliged him to stop and rest, grudging the few moments +required for the recovery of his breath. Then he set off again, and ran +all the way into the village--ran down the principal street, and turned +down the one leading to the wharf. + +A quick, breathless glance told him all. The boat had left the shore, +and was steaming down the bay. + +He ran down to the water's edge, stretching his arms out towards the +receding steamer, and with an agonizing cry of "Claudia! Claudia!" fell +forward upon his face in a deep swoon. + +A crowd of villagers gathered around him. + +"Who is he?" + +"What is the matter with him!" + +"Is he ill?" + +"Has he fainted?" + +"Has he been hurt?" + +"Has an accident happened?" + +"Is there a doctor to be had?" + +All these questions were asked in the same breath by the various +individuals of the crowd that had collected around the insensible boy; +but none seemed ready with an answer. + +"Is there no one here who can tell who he is?" inquired a tall, +gray-haired, mild-looking man, stooping to raise the prostrate form. + +"Yes; it is Ishmael Worth!" answered Hamlin, the bookseller, who was a +newcomer upon the scene. + +"Ishmael Worth? Hannah Worth's nephew?" + +"Yes; that is who he is." + +"Then stand out of the way, friends; I will take charge of the lad," +said the gray-haired stranger, lifting the form of the boy in his arms, +and gazing into his face. + +"He is not hurt; he is only in a dead faint, and I had better take him +home at once," continued the old man, as he carried his burden to a +light wagon that stood in the street in charge of a negro, and laid him +carefully on the cushions. Then he got in himself, and took the boy's +head upon his knees, and directed the negro to drive gently along the +road leading to the weaver's. And with what infinite tenderness the +stranger supported the light form; with what wistful interest he +contemplated the livid young face. And so at an easy pace they reached +the hill hut. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +DARKNESS. + + With such wrong and woe exhausted, what I suffered and occasioned-- + As a wild horse through a city, runs, with lightning in his eyes, + And then dashing at a church's cold and passive wall impassioned, + Strikes the death into his burning brain, and blindly drops and dies-- + So I fell struck down before her! Do you blame me, friends, for weakness? + 'Twas my strength of passion slew me! fell before her like a stone; + Fast the dreadful world rolled from me, on its roaring wheels of blackness! + When the light came, I was lying in this chamber--and alone. + + --_E.B. Browning_. + +Hannah Worth was sitting over her great wood fire and busily engaged in +needlework when the door was gently pushed open and the gray-haired man +entered, bearing the boy in his arms. + +Hannah looked calmly up, then threw down her work and started from her +chair, exclaiming: + +"Reuben Gray! you back again! you! and--who have you got there--Ishmael? +Good Heavens! what has happened to the poor boy?" + +"Nothing to frighten you, Hannah, my dear; he has fainted, I think, that +is all," answered Reuben gently, as he laid the boy carefully upon the +bed. + +"But, oh, my goodness, Reuben, how did it happen? where did you find +him?" cried Hannah, frantically seizing first one hand and then the +other of the fainting boy, and clapping and rubbing them vigorously. + +"I picked him up on the Baymouth wharf about half an hour ago, Hannah, +my dear, and--" + +"The Baymouth wharf! that is out of all reason! Why it is not more than +two hours since he started to go to Brudenell Hall," exclaimed Hannah, +as she violently rubbed away at the boy's hands. + +Reuben was standing patiently at the foot of the bed, with his hat in +his hands, and he answered slowly: + +"Well, Hannah, I don't know how that might be; but I know I picked him +up where I said." + +"But what caused all this, Reuben Gray? What caused it? that's what I +want to know! can't you speak?" harshly demanded the woman, as she flew +to her cupboard, seized a vinegar cruet, and began to bathe Ishmael's +head and face with its stimulating contents. + +"Well, Hannah, I couldn't tell exactly; but 'pears to me someone went +off in the boat as he was a-pining after." + +"Who went off in the boat?" asked Hannah impatiently. + +"Law, Hannah, my dear, how can I tell? Why, there wasn't less than +thirty or forty passengers, more or less, went off in that boat!" + +"What do I care how many restless fools went off in the boat? Tell me +about the boy!" snapped Hannah, as she once more ran to the cupboard, +poured out a little precious brandy (kept for medicinal purposes) and +came and tried to force a teaspoonful between Ishmael's lips. + +"Hannah, woman, don't be so unpatient. Indeed, it wasn't my fault. I +will tell you all I know about it." + +"Tell me, then." + +"I am going to. Well, you see, I had just taken some of the judge's +luggage down to the boat and got it well on, and the boat had just +started, and I was just a-getting into my cart again when I see a youth +come a-tearin' down the street like mad, and he whips round the corner +like a rush of wind, and streaks it down to the wharf and looks after +the boat as if it was a-carrying off every friend he had upon the yeth; +and then he stretches out both his arms and cries out aloud, and falls +on his face like a tree cut down. And a crowd gathered, and someone said +how the lad was your nephew, so I picked him up and laid him in my cart +to bring him home. And I made Bob drive slow; and I bathed the boy's +face and hands with some good whisky, and tried to make him swallow +some; but it was no use." + +While Reuben spoke, Ishmael gave signs of returning consciousness, and +then suddenly opened his eyes and looked around him. + +"Drink this, my boy; drink this, my darling Ishmael," said Hannah, +raising his head with one hand while she held the brandy to his lips +with the other. + +Ishmael obediently drank a little and then sank back upon his pillow. He +gazed fixedly at Hannah for a few moments, and then suddenly threw his +arms around her neck, as she stooped over him, and cried out in a voice +piercing shrill with anguish: + +"Oh, Aunt Hannah! she is gone; she is gone forever!" + +"Who is gone, my boy?" asked Hannah sympathetically. + +"Claudia! Claudia!" he wailed, covering his convulsed face with his +hands. + +"How, my ban upon Brudenell Hall and all connected with it!" exclaimed +Hannah bitterly, as the hitherto unsuspected fact of Ishmael's fatal +love flashed upon her mind; "my blackest ban upon Brudenell Hall and all +its hateful race! It was built for the ruin of me and mine! I was a +fool, a weak, wicked fool, ever to have allowed Ishmael to enter its +unlucky doors! My curse upon them!" + +The boy threw up his thin hand with a gesture of deprecation. + +"Don't! don't! don't, Aunt Hannah! Every word you speak is a stab +through my heart." And the sentence closed with a gasp and a sob, and he +covered his face with his hands. + +"What can I do for him?" said Hannah, appealing to Reuben. + +"Nothing, my dear, but what you have done. Leave him alone to rest +quietly. It is easy to see that he has been very much shaken both in +body and hind; and perfect rest is the only thing as will help him," +answered Gray. + +Ishmael's hands covered his quivering face; but they saw that his bosom +was heaving convulsively. He seemed to be struggling valiantly to regain +composure. Presently, as if ashamed of having betrayed his weakness, he +uncovered his face and said, in a faltering and interrupted voice: + +"Dear Aunt Hannah, I am so sorry that I have disturbed you; excuse me; +and let me lie here for half an hour to recover myself. I do not wish to +be self-indulgent; but I am exhausted. I ran all the way from Brudenell +Hall to Baymouth to get--to see--to see--" His voice broke down with +a sob, he covered his face with his hands, and shook as with an ague. + +"Never mind, my dear, don't try to explain; lie as long as you wish, and +sleep if you can," said Hannah. + +But Ishmael looked up again, and with recovered calmness, said: + +"I will rest for half an hour, Aunt Hannah, no longer; and then I will +get up and cut the wood, or do any work you want done." + +"Very well, my boy," said Hannah, stooping and kissing him. Then she +arranged the pillow, covered him up carefully, drew the curtains and +came away and left him. + +"He will be all right in a little while, Hannah, my dear," said Reuben, +as he walked with her to the fireplace. + +"Sit down there, Reuben, and tell me about yourself, and where you have +been living all this time," said Hannah, seating herself in her +arm-chair and pointing to another. + +Reuben slowly took the seat and carefully deposited his hat on the floor +by his side. + +"I am sorry I spoke so sharply to you about the lad, Reuben; it was a +thankless return for all your kindness in taking care of him and +bringing him home; but indeed I am not thankless, Reuben; but I have +grown to be a cross old woman," she said. + +"Have you, indeed, Hannah, my dear?" exclaimed Reuben, raising his +eyebrows in sincere astonishment and some consternation. + +"It appears to me that you might see that I have," replied Hannah +plainly. + +"Well, no; seems to me, my dear, you're the same as you allers was, both +as to looks and as to temper." + +"I feel that I am very much changed. And so are you, Reuben! How gray +your hair is!" she said, looking critically at her old admirer. + +"Gray! I believe you! Ain't it though?" exclaimed Reuben, smiling, and +running his fingers through his blanched locks. + +"But you haven't told me all about yourself, yet; where you have been +living; how you have been getting along, and what brought you back to +this part of the country," said Hannah, with an air of deep interest. + +"Why, Hannah, my dear, didn't you know all how and about it?" + +"No; I heard long ago, of course, that you had got a place as overseer +on the plantation of some rich gentleman up in the forest; but that was +all; I never even heard the name of the place or the master." + +"Well, now, that beats all! Why, Hannah, woman, as soon as I got +settled, I set down and writ you a letter, and all how and about it, and +axed you, if ever you changed your mind about what--about the--about our +affairs, you know--to drop me a line and I'd come and marry you and the +child, right out of hand, and fetch you both to my new home." + +"I never got the letter." + +"See that, now! Everything, even the post, goes to cross a feller's +love! But Hannah, woman, if you had a-got the letter, would you a-called +me back?" asked Gray eagerly. + +"No, Reuben, certainly not," said Hannah decidedly. + +"Then it is just as well you didn't get it," sighed this most faithful, +though most unfortunate of suitors. + +"Yes; just as well, Reuben," assented Hannah; "but that fact does not +lessen my interests in your fortunes, and as I never got the letter I am +still ignorant of your circumstances." + +"Well, Hannah, my dear, I'm thankful as you feel any interest in me at +all; and I'll tell you everything. Let me see, what was it you was +wanting to know, now? all about myself; where I was living; how I was +getting along; and what fotch me back here; all soon told, Hannah, my +dear. First about myself: You see, Hannah, that day as you slammed the +door in my face I felt so distressed in my mind as I didn't care what on +earth became of me; first I thought I'd just 'list for a soldier; then I +thought I'd ship for a sailor; last I thought I'd go and seek my fortun' +in Californy; but then the idea of the girls having no protector but +myself hindered of me; hows'evar, anyways I made up my mind, as come +what would I'd leave the neighborhood first opportunity; and so, soon +after, as I heard of a situation as overseer at Judge Merlin's +plantation up in the forest of Prince George's County, I sets off and +walks up there, and offers myself for the place; and was so fort'nate as +to be taken; so I comes back and moves my family, bag and baggage, up +there. Now as to the place where I live, it is called Tanglewood, and a +tangle it is, as gets more and more tangled every year of its life. As +to how I'm getting on, Hannah, I can't complain; for if I have to do +very hard work, I get very good wages. As to what brought me back to the +neighborhood, Hannah, it was to do some business for the judge, and to +buy some stock for the farm. But there, my dear! that boy has slipped +out, and is cutting the wood; I'll go and do it for him," said Reuben, +as the sound of Ishmael's ax fell upon his ears. + +Hannah arose and followed Gray to the door, and there before it stood +Ishmael, chopping away at random, upon the pile of wood, his cheeks +flushed with fever and his eyes wild with excitement. + +"Hannah, he is ill; he is very ill; he doesn't well know what he is +about," said Reuben, taking the ax from the boy's hand. + +"Ishmael, Ishmael, my lad, come in; you are not well enough to work," +said Hannah anxiously. + +Ishmael yielded up the ax and suffered Reuben to draw him into the +house. + +"It is only that I am so hot and dizzy and weak, Mr. Middleton; but I am +sure I shall be able to do it presently," said Ishmael apologetically, +as he put his hand to his head and looked around himself in perplexity. + +"I'll tell you what, the boy is out of his head, Hannah, and it's my +belief as he's a going to have a bad illness," said Reuben, as he guided +Ishmael to the bed and laid him on it. + +"Oh, Reuben! what shall we do?" exclaimed Hannah. + +"I don't know, child! wait a bit and see." + +They had not long to wait; in a few hours Ishmael was burning with fever +and raving with delirium. + +"This is a-gwine to be a bad job! I'll go and fetch a doctor," said +Reuben Gray, hurrying away for the purpose. + +Reuben's words proved true. It was a "bad job." Severe study, mental +excitement, disappointment and distress had done their work upon his +extremely sensitive organization, and Ishmael was prostrated by +illness. + +We will not linger over the gloomy days that followed. The village +doctor brought by Reuben was as skillful as if he had been the +fashionable physician of a large city, and as attentive as if his poor +young patient had been a millionaire. Hannah devoted herself with almost +motherly love to the suffering boy; and Reuben remained in the +neighborhood and came every day to fetch and carry, chop wood and bring +water, and help Hannah to nurse Ishmael. And Hannah was absolutely +reduced to the necessity of accepting his affectionate services. Mr. +Middleton, as soon as he heard of his favorite's illness, hurried to the +hut to inquire into Ishmael's condition and to offer every assistance in +his power to render; and he repeated his visits as often as the great +pressure of his affairs permitted him to do. Ishmael's illness was long +protracted; Mr. Middleton's orders to vacate Brudenell Hall on or before +the first day of February were peremptory; and thus it followed that the +whole family removed from the neighborhood before Ishmael was in a +condition to bid them farewell. + +The day previous to their departure, however, Mr. and Mrs. Middleton, +with Walter and Beatrice, came to take leave of him. As Mrs. Middleton +stooped over the unconscious youth her tears fell fast and warm upon his +face, so that in his fever dream he murmured: + +"Claudia, it is beginning to rain, let us go in." + +At this Beatrice burst into a flood of tears and was led away to the +carriage by her father. + +After the departure of the Middletons it was currently reported in the +neighborhood that the arrival of Mr. Herman Brudenell was daily +expected. Hannah became very much disturbed with an anxiety that was all +the more wearing because she could not communicate it to anyone. The +idea of remaining in the neighborhood with Mr. Brudenell, and being +subjected to the chance of meeting him, was unsupportable to her; she +would have been glad of any happy event that might take her off to a +distant part of the State, and she resolved, in the event of poor +Ishmael's death, to go and seek a home and service somewhere else. +Reuben Gray stayed on; and in answer to all Hannah's remonstrances he +said: + +"It is of no use talking to me now, Hannah! You can't do without me, +woman; and I mean to stop until the poor lad gets well or dies." + +But our boy was not doomed to die; the indestructible vitality, the +irrepressible elasticity of his delicate and sensitive organization, +bore him through and above his terrible illness, and he passed the +crisis safely and lived. After that turning point his recovery was +rapid. It was a mild, dry mid-day in early spring that Ishmael walked +out for the first time. He bent his steps to the old oak tree that +overshadowed his mother's grave, and seated himself there to enjoy the +fresh air while he reflected. + +Ishmael took himself severely to task for what he called the blindness, +the weakness, and the folly with which he had permitted himself to fall +into a hopeless, mad, and nearly fatal passion for one placed so high +above him that indeed he might as well have loved some "bright +particular star," and hoped to win it. And here on the sacred turf of +his mother's grave he resolved once for all to conquer this boyish +passion, by devoting himself to the serious business of life. + +Hannah and Reuben were left alone in the hut. + +"Now, Reuben Gray," began Hannah, "no tongue can tell how much I feel +your goodness to me and Ishmael; but, my good man, you mustn't stay in +this neighborhood any longer; Ishmael is well and does not need you; and +your employer's affairs are neglected and do need you. So, Reuben, my +friend, you had better start home as soon as possible." + +"Well, Hannah, my dear, I think so too, and I have thought so for the +last week, only I did not like to hurry you," said Reuben acquiescently. + +"Didn't like to hurry me, Reuben? how hurry me? I don't know what you +mean," said Hannah, raising her eyes in astonishment. + +"Why, I didn't know as you'd like to get ready so soon; or, indeed, +whether the lad was able to bear the journey yet," said Reuben calmly +and reflectively. + +"Reuben, I haven't the least idea of your meaning." + +"Why, law, Hannah, my dear, it seems to me it is plain enough; no woman +likes to be hurried at such times, and I thought you wouldn't like to be +neither; I thought you would like a little time to get up some little +finery; and also the boy would be the better for more rest before taking +of a long journey; but hows'ever, Hannah, if you don't think all these +delays necessary, why I wouldn't be the man to be a-making of them. +Because, to tell you the truth, considering the shortness of life, I +think the delays have been long enough; and considering our age, I +think we have precious little time to lose. I'm fifty-one years of age, +Hannah; and you be getting on smart towards forty-four; and if we ever +mean to marry in this world, I think it is about time, my dear." + +"Reuben Gray, is that what you mean?" + +"Sartin, Hannah! You didn't think I was a-going away again without you, +did you now?" + +"And so that was what you meant, was it?" + +"That was what I meant, and that was what I still mean, Hannah, my +dear." + +"Then you must be a natural fool!" burst forth Hannah. + +"Now stop o' that, my dear! 'taint a bit of use! all them hard words +might o' fooled me years and years agone, when you kept me at such a +distance that I had no chance of reading your natur'; but they can't +fool me now, as I have been six weeks in constant sarvice here, Hannah, +and obsarving of you close. Once they might have made me think you hated +me; but now nothing you can say will make me believe but what you like +old Reuben to-day just as well as you liked young Reuben that day we +first fell in love long o' one another at the harvest home. And as for +me, Hannah, the Lord knows I have never changed towards you. We always +liked each other, Hannah, and we like each other still. So don't try to +deceive yourself about it, for you can't deceive me!" + +"Reuben Gray, why do you talk so to me?" + +"Because it is right, dear." + +"I gave you your answer years ago." + +"I know you did, Hannah; because there were sartain circumstances, as +you chose to elewate into obstacles against our marriage; but now, +Hannah, all these obstacles are removed. Nancy and Peggy married and +went to Texas years ago. And Kitty married and left me last summer. She +and her husband have gone to Californy; where, they do tell me, that +lumps of pure gold lay about the ground as plenty as stones do around +here! Anyways, they've all gone! all the little sisters as I have worked +for, and cared for, and saved for--all gone, and left me alone in my old +age!" + +"That was very ungrateful, and selfish, and cruel of them, Reuben! They +should have taken you with them! At least little Kitty and her husband +should have done so," said Hannah, with more feeling than she had yet +betrayed. + +"Law, Hannah, why little Kitty and her husband couldn't! Why, child, it +takes mints and mints of money to pay for a passage out yonder to +Californy! and it takes nine months to go the v'y'ge--they have to go +all around Cape--Cape Hoof, no, Horn--Cape Horn! I knowed it wor +somethin' relating to cattle. Yes, Hannah--hundreds of dollars and +months of time do it take to go to that gold region! and so, 'stead o' +them being able to take me out, I had to gather up all my savings to +help 'em to pay their own passage." + +"Poor Reuben! poor, poor Reuben!" said Hannah, with the tears springing +to her eyes. + +"Thank you, thank you, dear; but I shall not be poor Reuben, if you will +be mine," whispered Gray. + +"Reuben, dear, I would--indeed I would--if I were still young and +good-looking; but I am not so, dear Reuben; I am middle-aged and plain." + +"Well, Hannah, old sweetheart, while you have been growing older, have I +been going bac'ards and growing younger? One would think so to hear you +talk. No, Hannah! I think there is just about the same difference in our +ages now as there was years ago; and besides, if you were young and +handsome, Hannah, I would never do such a wrong as to ask you to be the +wife of a poor old man like me! It is the fitness of our ages and +circumstances, as well as our long attachment, that gives me the courage +to ask you even at this late day, old friend, to come and cheer my +lonely home. Will you do so, Hannah?" + +"Reuben, do you really think that I could make you any happier than you +are, or make your home any more comfortable than it is?" asked Hannah, +in a low, doubting voice. + +"Sartain, my dear." + +"But, Reuben, I am not good-tempered like I used to be; I am very often +cross; and--" + +"That is because you have been all alone, with no one to care for you, +Hannah, my dear. You couldn't be cross, with me to love you," said +Reuben soothingly. + +"But, indeed, I fear I should; it is my infirmity; I am cross even with +Ishmael, poor dear lad." + +"Well, Hannah, even if you was to be, I shouldn't mind it much. I don't +want to boast, but I do hope as I've got too much manhood to be out of +patience with women; besides, I aint easy put out, you know." + +"No, you good fellow; I never saw you out of temper in my life." + +"Thank you, Hannah! Then it's a bargain?" + +"But, Reuben! about Ishmael?" + +"Lord bless you, Hannah, why, I told you years ago, when the lad was a +helpless baby, that he should be as welcome to me as a son of my own; +and now, Hannah, at his age, with his larnin', he'll be a perfect +treasure to me," said Reuben, brightening up. + +"In what manner, Reuben?" + +"Why, law, Hannah, you know I never could make any fist of reading, +writing, and 'rithmetic; and so the keeping of the farm-books is just +the one torment of my life. Little Kitty used to keep them for me before +she was married (you know I managed to give the child a bit of +schooling); but since she have been gone they haven't been half kept, +and if I hadn't a good memory of my own I shouldn't be able to give no +account of nothing. Now, Ishmael, you know, could put all the books to +rights for me, and keep them to rights." + +"If that be so, it will relieve my mind very much, Reuben," replied +Hannah. + +The appearance of Ishmael's pale face at the door put an end to the +conversation for the time being. And Reuben took up his hat and +departed. + +That evening, after Reuben had bid them good-night, and departed to the +neighbor's house where he slept, Hannah told Ishmael all about her +engagement to Gray. And it was with the utmost astonishment the youth +learned they were all to go to reside on the plantation of Judge +Merlin--Claudia's father! Well! to live so near her house would make his +duty to conquer his passion only the more difficult, but he was still +resolved to effect his purpose. + +Having once given her consent, Hannah would not compromise Reuben's +interest with his employer by making any more difficulties or delays. +She spent the remainder of that week in packing up the few effects +belonging to herself and Ishmael. The boy himself employed his time in +transplanting rosebushes from the cottage-garden to his mother's grave, +and fencing it around with a rude but substantial paling. On Sunday +morning Reuben and Hannah were married at the church; and on Monday they +were to set out for their new home. + +Early on Monday morning Ishmael arose and went out to take leave of his +mother's grave; and, kneeling there, he silently renewed his vow to +rescue her name from reproach and give it to honor. + +Then he returned and joined the traveling party. + +Before the cottage door stood Reuben's light wagon, in which were packed +the trunks with their wearing apparel, the hamper with their luncheon, +and all the little light effects which required care. Into this Gray +placed Hannah and Ishmael, taking the driver's seat himself. A heavier +wagon behind this one contained all Hannah's household furniture, +including her loom and wheel and Ishmael's home-made desk and +book-shelf, and in the driver's seat sat the negro man who had come down +in attendance upon the overseer. + +The Professor of Odd Jobs stood in the door of the hut, with his hat in +his hand, waving adieu to the departing travelers. The professor had +come by appointment to see them off and take the key of the hut to the +overseer at the Hall. + +The sun was just rising above the heights of Brudenell Hall and flooding +all the vale with light. The season was very forward, and, although the +month was March, the weather was like that of April. The sky was of that +clear, soft, bright blue of early spring; the sun shone with dazzling +splendor; the new grass was springing up everywhere, and was enameled +with early violets and snow-drops; the woods were budding with the +tender green of young vegetation. Distant, sunny hills, covered with +apple or peach orchards all in blossom, looked like vast gardens of +mammoth red and white rose trees. + +Even to the aged spring brings renewal of life, but to the young--not +even poets have words at command to tell what exhilaration, what +ecstatic rapture, it brings to the young, who are also sensitive and +sympathetic. + +Ishmael was all these; his delicate organization was susceptible of +intense enjoyment or suffering. He had never in his life been five miles +from his native place; he had just risen from a sick-bed as from a +grave; he was going to penetrate a little beyond his native round of +hills, and see what was on the other side; the morning was young, the +season was early, the world was fresh; this day seemed a new birth to +Ishmael; this journey a new start in his life; he intensely enjoyed it +all; to him all was delightful: the ride through the beautiful, green, +blossoming woods; the glimpses of the blue sky through the quivering +upper leaves; the shining of the sun; the singing of the birds; the +fragrance of the flowers. + +To him the waving trees seemed bending in worship, the birds trilling +hymns of joy, and the flowers wafting offerings of incense! There are +times when earth seems heaven and all nature worshipers. Ishmael was +divinely happy; even the lost image of Claudia reappeared now surrounded +with a halo of hope, for to-day aspirations seemed prophecies, will +seemed power, and all things possible. And not on Ishmael alone beamed +the blessed influence of the spring weather. Even Hannah's care-worn +face was softened into contentment and enjoyment. As for Reuben's honest +phiz, it was a sight to behold in its perfect satisfaction. Even the +negro driver of the heavy wagon let his horses take their time as he +raised his ear to catch some very delicate trill in a bird's song, or +turned his head to inhale the perfume from some bank of flowers. + +Onward they journeyed at their leisure through all that glad morning +landscape. + +At noon they stopped at a clearing around a cool spring in the woods, +and while the negro fed and watered the horses, they rested and +refreshed themselves with a substantial luncheon, and then strolled +about through the shades until "Sam" had eaten his dinner, re-packed the +hamper, and put the horses to the wagons again. And then they all +returned to their seats and recommenced their journey. + +On and on they journeyed through the afternoon; deeper and deeper they +descended into the forest as the sun declined in the west. When it was +on the edge of the horizon, striking long golden lines through the +interstices of the woods, Hannah grew rather anxious, and she spoke up: + +"It seems to me, Reuben, that we have come ten miles since we saw a +house or a farm." + +"Yes, my dear. We are now in the midst of the old forest of Prince +George's, and our home is yet about five miles off. But don't be afraid, +Hannah, woman; you have got me with you, and we will get home before +midnight." + +"I am only thinking of the runaway negroes, Reuben; they all take refuge +in these thick woods, you know; and they are a very desperate gang; +their hands against everybody and everybody's hands against them, you +may say." + +"True, Hannah; they are desperate enough, for they have everything to +fear and nothing to hope, in a meeting with most of the whites; but +there is no danger to us, child." + +"I don't know; they murdered a harmless peddler last winter, and +attacked a peaceable teamster this spring." + +"Still, my dear, there is no danger; we have a pair of double-barreled +pistols loaded, and also a blunderbuss; and we are three men, and you +are as good as a fourth; so don't be afraid." + +Hannah was silenced, if not reassured. + +They journeyed on at a rate as fast as the rather tired horses could be +urged to make. When the sun had set it grew dark, very dark in the +forest. There was no moon; and although it was a clear, starlight night, +yet that did not help them much. They had to drive very slowly and +carefully to avoid accidents, and it was indeed midnight when they drove +up to the door of Hannah's new home. It was too dark to see more of it +than that it was a two-storied white cottage with a vine-clad porch, and +that it stood in a garden on the edge of the wood. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +THE NEW HOME. + + It is a quiet picture of delight, + The humble cottage, hiding from the sun + In the thick woods. You see it not till then, + When at its porch. Rudely, but neatly wrought, + Four columns make its entrance; slender shafts, + The rough bark yet upon them, as they came + From the old forest. Prolific vines + Have wreathed them well and half obscured the rinds + Original, that wrap them. Crowding leaves + Or glistening green, and clustering bright flowers + Of purple, in whose cups, throughout the day, + The humming bird wantons boldly, wave around + And woo the gentle eye and delicate touch. + This is the dwelling, and 'twill be to them + Quiet's especial temple. + + --_W.G. Simms_. + +"Welcome home, Hannah! welcome home, dearest woman! No more hard work +now, Hannah! and no more slaving at the everlasting wheel and loom! +Nothing to do but your own pretty little house to keep, and your own +tidy servant girl to look after! And no more anxiety about the future, +Hannah; for you have me to love you and care for you! Ah, dear wife! +this is a day I have looked forward to through all the gloom and trouble +of many years. Thank God, it has come at last, more blessed than I ever +hoped it would be, and I welcome you home, my wife!" said Reuben Gray, +as he lifted his companion from the wagon, embraced her, and led her +through the gate into the front yard. + +"Oh, you dear, good Reuben, what a nice, large house this is! so much +better than I had any reason to expect," said Hannah, in surprise and +delight. + +"You'll like it better still by daylight, my dear," answered Gray. + +"How kind you are to me, dear Reuben." + +"It shall always be my greatest pleasure to be so, Hannah." + +A negro girl at this moment appeared at the door with a light, and the +husband and wife entered the house. + +Ishmael sprang down from his seat, stretched his cramped limbs, and +gazed about him with all the curiosity and interest of a stranger in a +strange scene. + +The features of the landscape, as dimly discerned by starlight, were +simple and grand. + +Behind him lay the deep forest from which they had just emerged. On its +edge stood the white cottage, surrounded by its garden. Before him lay +the open country, sloping down to the banks of a broad river, whose dark +waves glimmered in the starlight. + +So this was Judge Merlin's estate--and Claudia's birthplace! + +"Well, Ishmael, are you waiting for an invitation to enter? Why, you are +as welcome as Hannah herself, and you couldn't be more so!" exclaimed +the hearty voice of Reuben Gray, as he returned almost immediately after +taking Hannah in. + +"I know it, Uncle Reuben. You are very good to me; and I do hope to make +myself very useful to you," replied the boy. + +"You'll be a fortun' to me, lad--an ample fortun' to me! But why don't +you go in out of the midnight air? You ain't just as strong as Samson, +yet, though you're agwine to be," said Gray cheerily. + +"I only stopped to stretch my limbs, and--to help in with the luggage," +said Ishmael, who was always thoughtful, practical, and useful, and who +now stopped to load himself with Hannah's baskets and bundles before +going into the house. + +"Now, then, Sam," said Gray, turning to the negro, "look sharp there! +Bring in the trunks and boxes from the light wagon; take the furniture +from the heavy one, and pile it in the shed, where it can stay until +morning; put both on 'em under cover, feed and put up the horses; and +then you can go to your quarters." + +The negro bestirred himself to obey these orders, and Reuben Gray and +Ishmael entered the cottage garden. + +They passed up a gravel walk bordered each side with lilac bushes, and +entered by a vine-shaded porch into a broad passage, that ran through +the middle of the house from the front to the back door. + +"There are four large rooms on this floor, Ishmael, and this is the +family sitting room," said Gray, opening a door on his right. + +It was a very pleasant front room, with a bright paper on its walls, a +gay homespun carpet on the floor; pretty chintz curtains at the two +front windows; chintz covers of the same pattern on the two easy-chairs +and the sofa; a bright fire burning in the open fireplace, and a neat +tea-table set out in the middle of the floor. + +But Hannah was nowhere visible. + +"She has gone in her room, Ishmael, to take off her bonnet; it is the +other front one across the passage, just opposite to this; and as she +seems to be taking of her time, I may as well show you your'n, Ishmael. +Just drop them baskets down anywhere, and come with me, my lad," said +Gray, leading the way into the passage and up the staircase to the +second floor. Arrived there, he opened a door, admitting himself and his +companion into a chamber immediately over the sitting-room. + +"This is your'n, Ishmael, and I hope as you'll find it comfortable and +make yourself at home," said Reuben, hastily, as he introduced Ishmael +to this room. + +It was more rudely furnished than the one below. There was no carpet +except the strip laid down by the bedside; the bed itself was very +plain, and covered with a patchwork quilt; the two front windows were +shaded with dark green paper blinds; and the black walnut bureau, +washstand, and chairs were very old. Yet all was scrupulously clean; and +everywhere were evidences that the kindly care of Reuben Gray had taken +pains to discover Ishmael's habits and provide for his necessities. For +instance, just between the front windows stood an old-fashioned piece of +furniture, half book-case and half writing-desk, and wholly convenient, +containing three upper shelves well filled with books, a drawer full of +stationery, and a closet for waste paper. + +Ishmael walked straight up to this. + +"Why, where did you get this escritoire, and all these books, Uncle +Reuben?" he inquired, in surprise. + +"Why, you see, Ishmael, the screwtwar, as you call it, was among the +old furnitur' sent down from the mansion-house here, to fit up this +place when I first came into it; you see, the housekeeper up there sends +the cast-off furniture to the overseer, same as she sends the cast-off +finery to the niggers." + +"But the books, Uncle Reuben; they are all law books," said the boy, +examining them. + +"Exactly; and that's why I was so fort'nate as to get 'em. You see, I +was at the sale at Colonel Mervin's to see if I could pick up anything +nice for Hannah; and I sees a lot of books sold--laws! why, the story +books all went off like wildfire; but when it come to these, nobody +didn't seem to want 'em. So I says to myself: These will do to fill up +the empty shelves in the screwtwar, and I dare say as our Ishmael would +vally them. So I up and bought the lot for five dollars; and sent 'em up +here by Sam, with orders to put 'em in the screwtwar, and move the +screwtwar out'n the sitting room into this room, as I intended for you." + +"Ah, Uncle Reuben, how good you are to me! Everybody is good to me." + +"Quite nat'rel, Ishmael, since you are useful to everybody. And now, my +lad, I'll go and send Sam up with your box. And when you have freshed up +a bit you can come down to supper," said Gray, leaving Ishmael in +possession of his room. + +In a few minutes after the negro Sam brought in the box that contained +all Ishmael's worldly goods. + +"Missus Gray say how the supper is all ready, sir," said the man, +setting down the box. + +As Ishmael was also quite ready, he followed the negro downstairs into +the sitting room. + +Hannah was already in her seat at the head of the table; while behind +her waited a neat colored girl. Reuben stood at the back of his own +chair at the foot of the table, waiting for Ishmael before seating +himself. When the boy took his own place, Reuben asked a blessing, and +the meal commenced. The tired travelers did ample justice to the hot +coffee, broiled ham and eggs and fresh bread and butter before them. + +After supper they separated for the night. + +Ishmael went up to his room and went to bed, so very tired that his head +was no sooner laid upon his pillow than his senses were sunk in sleep. + +He was awakened by the caroling of a thousand birds. He started up, a +little confused at first by finding himself in a strange room; but as +memory quickly returned he sprang from his bed and went and drew up his +blind and looked out from his window. + +It was early morning; the sun was just rising and flooding the whole +landscape with light. A fine, inspiring scene lay before him--orchards +of apple, peach, and cherry trees in full blossom; meadows of white and +red clover; fields of wheat and rye, in their pale green hue of early +growth; all spreading downwards towards the banks of the mighty Potomac +that here in its majestic breadth seemed a channel of the sea; while far +away across the waters, under the distant horizon, a faint blue line +marked the southern shore. + +Sailing up and down the mighty river were ships of all nations, craft of +every description, from the three-decker East India merchantman, going +or returning from her distant voyage, to the little schooner-rigged +fishermen trading up and down the coast. These were the sights. The +songs of birds, the low of cattle, the hum of bees, and the murmur of +the water as it washed the sands--these were the sounds. All the joyous +life of land, water, and sky seemed combined at this spot and visible +from this window. + +"This is a pleasant place to live in; thank the Lord for it!" said +Ishmael fervently, as he stood gazing from the window. Not long, +however, did the youth indulge his love of nature; he turned away, +washed and dressed himself quickly and went downstairs to see if he +could be useful. + +The windows were open in the sitting room, which was filled with the +refreshing fragrance of the lilacs. The breakfast table was set; and +Phillis, the colored girl, was bringing in the coffee. Almost at the +same moment Hannah entered from the kitchen and Reuben from the garden. + +"Good-morning, Ishmael!" said Reuben gayly. "How do you like Woodside? +Woodside is the name of our little home, same as Tanglewood is the name +of the judge's house, a half a mile back in the forest, you know. How do +you like it by daylight?" + +"Oh, very much, indeed, uncle. Don't you like it, Aunt Hannah? Isn't it +pleasant?" exclaimed the youth, appealing to Mrs. Gray. + +"Very pleasant, indeed, Ishmael!" she said. "Ah, Reuben," she continued, +turning to her husband, "you never let me guess what a delightful home +you were bringing me to! I had no idea but that it was just like the +cottages of other overseers that I have known--a little house of two or +three small rooms." + +"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Gray, "I knew you too well, Hannah! I knew if I +had let you know how well off I was, you would never have taken me; your +pride would have been up in arms and you would have thought besides as +how I was comfortable enough without you, which would have been an idee +as I never could have got out of your head! No, Hannah, I humored your +pride, and let you think as how you were marrying of a poor, miserable, +desolate old man, as would be apt to die of neglect and privations if +you didn't consent to come and take care of him. And then I comforted +myself with thinking what a pleasant surprise I had in store for you +when I should fetch you here. Enjoy yourself, dear woman! for there +isn't a thing as I have done to this house I didn't do for your sake!" + +"But, Reuben, how is it that you have so much better a house than other +men of your station ever have?" + +"Well, Hannah, my dear, it is partly accident and partly design in the +judge. You see, this house used to be the mansion of the planters +theirselves, until the present master, when he was first married, built +the great house back in the woods, and then, 'stead of pulling this one +down, he just 'pointed it to be the dwelling of the overseer; for it is +the pleasure of the judge to make all his people as comfortable as it is +possible for them to be," answered Reuben. As he spoke, Phillis placed +the last dish upon the table, and they all took their seats and +commenced breakfast. + +As soon as the meal was over, Ishmael said: + +"Now, Uncle Reuben, if you will give me those farm books you were +wanting me to arrange, I will make a commencement." + +"No, you won't, Ishmael, my lad. You have worked yourself nearly to +death this winter and spring, and now, please the Lord, you shall do no +more work for a month. When I picked you up for dead that day, I +promised the Almighty Father to be a father to you; so, Ishmael, you +must regard me as such, when I tell you that you are to let the books +alone for a whole month longer, until your health is restored. So just +get your hat and come with us; I am going to show your aunt over the +place." + +Ishmael smiled and obeyed. And all three went out together. And oh! with +how much pride Reuben displayed the treasures of her little place to +his long-loved Hannah. He showed her her cows and pigs and sheep; and +her turkeys and geese and hens; and her beehives and garden and orchard. + +"And this isn't all, either, Hannah, my dear! We can have as much as we +want for family use, of all the rare fruits and vegetables from the +greenhouses and hotbeds up at Tanglewood; and, besides that, we have the +freedom of the fisheries and the oyster beds, too; so you see, my dear, +you will live like any queen! Thank the Lord!" said Reuben, reverently +raising his hat. + +"And oh, Reuben, to think that you should have saved all this happiness +for me, poor, faded, unworthy me!" sighed his wife. + +"Why, law, Hannah, who else should I have saved it for but my own dear +old sweetheart? I never so much as thought of another." + +"With all these comforts about you, you might have married some blooming +young girl." + +"Lord, dear woman, I ha'n't much larnin', nor much religion, more's the +pity; but I hope I have conscience enough to keep me from doing any +young girl so cruel a wrong as to tempt her to throw away her youth and +beauty on an old man like me; and I am sure I have sense enough to +prevent me from doing myself so great an injustice as to buy a young +wife, who, in the very natur' of things, would be looking for'ard to my +death as the beginning of her life; for I've heard as how the very life +of a woman is love, and if the girl-wife cannot love her old +husband--Oh, Hannah, let us drop the veil--the pictur' is too sickening +to look at. Such marriages are crimes. Ah, Hannah, in the way of +sweethearting, age may love youth, but youth can't love age. And another +thing I am sartin' sure of--as a young girl is a much more delicate +cre'tur' than a young man, it must be a great deal harder for her to +marry an old man than it would be for him to marry an old woman, though +either would be horrible." + +"You seem to have found this out somehow, Reuben." + +"Well, yes, my dear; it was along of a rich old fellow, hereaway, as +fell in love with my little Kitty's rosy cheeks and black eyes, and +wanted to make her Mrs. Barnabas Winterberry. And I saw how that girl +was at the same time tempted by his money and frightened by his age; and +how in her bewitched state, half-drawn and half-scared, she fluttered +about him, for all the world like a humming-bird going right into the +jaws of a rattlesnake. Well, I questioned little Kitty, and she answered +me in this horrid way--'Why, brother, he must know I can't love him; for +how can I? But still he teases me to marry him, and I can do that; and +why shouldn't I, if he wants me to?' Then in a whisper--'You know, +brother, it wouldn't be for long; because he is ever so old, and he +would soon die; and then I should be a rich young widow, and have my +pick and choose out of the best young men in the country side.' Such, +Hannah, was the evil state of feeling to which that old man's courtship +had brought my simple little sister! And I believe in my soul it is the +natural state of feeling into which every young girl falls who marries +an old man." + +"That is terrible, Reuben." + +"Sartinly it is." + +"What did you say to your sister?" + +"Why, I didn't spare the feelings of little Kitty, nor her doting +suitor's nyther, and that I can tell you! I talked to little Kitty like +a father and mother, both; I told her well what a young traitress she +was a-planning to be; and how she was fooling herself worse than she was +deceiving her old beau, who had got into the whit-leathar age, and would +be sartin' sure to live twenty-five or thirty years longer, till she +would be an old woman herself, and I so frightened her, by telling her +the plain truth in the plainest words, that she shrank from seeing her +old lover any more, and begged me to send him about his business. And I +did, too, 'with a flea in his ear,' as the saying is; for I repeated to +him every word as little Kitty had said to me, as a warning to him for +the futur' not to go tempting any more young girls to marry him for his +money and then wish him dead for the enjoyment of it." + +"I hope it did him good." + +"Why, Hannah, he went right straight home, and that same day married his +fat, middle-aged housekeeper, who, to tell the solemn truth, he ought to +have married twenty years before! And as for little Kitty, thank Heaven! +she was soon sought as a wife by a handsome young fellow, who was suited +to her in every way, and who really did love her and win her love; and +they were married and went to Californy, as I told you. Well, after I +was left alone, the neighboring small farmers with unprovided daughters, +seeing how comfortable I was fixed, would often say to me--'Gray, you +ought to marry.' 'Gray, why don't you marry?' 'Gray, your nice little +place only needs one thing to make it perfect, a nice little wife.' 'Why +don't you drop in and see the girls some evening, Gray? They would +always be glad to see you.' And all that. I understood it all, Hannah, +my dear; but I didn't want any young girls who would marry me only for a +home. And, besides, the Lord knows I never thought of any woman, young +or old, except yourself, who was my first love and my only one, and +whose whole life was mixed up with my own, as close as ever warp and +woof was woven in your webs, Hannah." + +"You have been more faithful to me than I deserved, Reuben; but I will +try to make you happy," said Hannah, with much emotion. + +"You do make me happy, dear, without trying. And now where is Ishmael?" +inquired Reuben, who never in his own content forgot the welfare of +others. + +Ishmael was walking slowly and thoughtfully at some distance behind +them. Reuben called after him: + +"Walk up, my lad. We are going in to dinner now; we dine at noon, you +know." + +Ishmael, who had lingered behind from the motives of delicacy that +withheld him from intruding on the confidential conversation of the +newly-married pair, now quickened his steps and joined them, saying, +with a smile: + +"Uncle Reuben, when you advised me not to study for a whole month you +did not mean to counsel me to rust in idleness for four long weeks? I +must work, and I wish you would put me to that which will be the most +useful to you." + +"And most benefital to your own health, my boy! What would you say to +fishing? Would that meet your wishes?" + +"Oh, I should like that very much, if I could really be of use in that +way, Uncle Reuben," said the youth. + +"Why, of course you could; now I'll tell you what you can do; you can go +this afternoon with Sam in the sailboat as far down the river as Silver +Sands, where he hopes to hook some fine rock fish. Would that meet your +views?" + +"Exactly," laughed Ishmael, as his eyes danced with the eagerness of +youth for the sport. + +They went into the house, where Phillis had prepared a nice dinner, of +bacon and sprouts and apple dumplings, which the whole party relished. + +Afterwards Ishmael started on his first fishing voyage with Sam. And +though it was a short one, it had for him all the charms of novelty +added to the excitement of sport, and he enjoyed the excursion +excessively. The fishing was very successful, and they filled their +little boat and got back home by sunset. At supper Ishmael gave a full +account of the expedition and received the hearty congratulations of +Reuben. And thus ended the holiday of their first day at home. + +The next morning Reuben Gray went into the fields to resume his +oversight of his employer's estate. + +Hannah turned in to housework, and had all the furniture she had brought +from the hill hut moved into the cottage and arranged in one of the +empty rooms upstairs. + +Ishmael, forbidden to study, employed himself in useful manual labor in +the garden and in the fields. + +And thus in cheerful industry passed the early days of spring. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +ISHMAEL'S STRUGGLES + + Yet must my brow be paler! I have vowed + To clip it with the crown that shall not fade + When it is faded. Not in vain ye cry, + Oh, glorious voices, that survive the tongue + From whence was drawn your separate sovereignty, + For I would stand beside you! + + --_E.B. Browning_. + +Ishmael continued his work, yet resumed his studies. He managed to do +both in this way--all the forenoon he delved in the garden; all the +afternoon he went over the chaotic account-books of Reuben Gray, to +bring them into order; and all the evening he studied in his own room. +He kept up his Greek and Latin. And he read law. + +No time to dream of Claudia now. + +One of the wisest of our modern philosophers says that we are sure to +meet with the right book at the right time. Now whether it were chance, +fate, or Providence that filled the scanty shelves of the old escritoire +with a few law books, is not known; but it is certain that their +presence there decided the career of Ishmael Worth. + +As a young babe, whose sole object in life is to feed, pops everything +it can get hold of into its mouth, so this youthful aspirant, whose +master-passion was the love of learning, read everything he could lay +his hands on. Prompted by that intellectual curiosity which ever +stimulated him to examine every subject that fell under his notice, +Ishmael looked into the law books. They were mere text-books, probably +the discarded property of some young student of the Mervin family, who +had never got beyond the rudiments of the profession; but had abandoned +it as a "dry study." + +Ishmael did not find it so, however. The same ardent soul, strong mind, +and bright spirit that had found "dry history" an inspiring heroic poem, +"dry grammar" a beautiful analysis of language, now found "dry law" the +intensely interesting science of human justice. Ishmael read diligently, +for the love of his subject!--at first it was only for the love of his +subject, but after a few weeks of study he began to read with a fixed +purpose--to become a lawyer. Of course Ishmael Worth was no longer +unconscious of his own great intellectual power; he had measured himself +with the best educated youth of the highest rank, and he had found +himself in mental strength their master. So when he resolved to become a +lawyer, he felt a just confidence that he should make a very able one. +Of course, with his clear perceptions and profound reflections he saw +all the great difficulties in his way; but they did not dismay him. His +will was as strong as his intellect, and he knew that, combined, they +would work wonders, almost miracles. + +Indeed, without strength of will, intellect is of very little effect; +for if intellect is the eye of the soul, will is the hand; intellect is +wisdom, but will is power; intellect may be the monarch, but will is the +executive minister. How often we see men of the finest intellect fail in +life through weakness of will! How often also we see men of very +moderate intellect succeed through strength of will! + +In Ishmael Worth intellect and will were equally strong. And when in +that poor chamber he set himself down to study law, upon his own +account, with the resolution to master the profession and to distinguish +himself in it, he did so with the full consciousness of the magnitude of +the object and of his own power to attain it. Day after day he worked +hard, night after night he studied diligently. + +Ishmael did not think this a hardship; he did not murmur over his +poverty, privations, and toil; no, for his own bright and beautiful +spirit turned everything to light and loveliness. He did not, indeed, in +the pride of the Pharisee, thank God that he was not as other men; but +he did feel too deeply grateful for the intellectual power bestowed upon +him, to murmur at the circumstances that made it so difficult to +cultivate that glorious gift. + +One afternoon, while they were all at tea, Reuben Gray said: + +"Now, Ishmael, my lad, Hannah and me are going over to spend the evening +at Brown's, who is overseer at Rushy Shore; and you might's well go with +us; there's a nice lot o' gals there. What do you say?" + +"Thank you, Uncle Reuben, but I wish to read this evening," said the +youth. + +"Now, Ishmael, what for should you slave yourself to death?" + +"I don't, uncle. I work hard, it is true; but then, you know, youth is +the time for work, and besides I like it," said the young fellow +cheerfully. + +"Well, but after hoeing and weeding and raking and planting in the +garden all the morning, and bothering your brains over them distracting +'count books all the afternoon, what's the good of your going and poring +over them stupid books all the evening?" + +"You will see the good of it some of these days, Uncle Reuben," laughed +Ishmael. + +"You will wear yourself out before that day comes, my boy, if you are +not careful," answered Reuben. + +"I always said the fetched books would be his ruin, and now I know it," +put in Hannah. + +Ishmael laughed good-humoredly; but Reuben sighed. + +"Ishmael, my lad," he said, "if you must read, do, pray, read in the +forenoon, instead of working in the garden." + +"But what will become of the garden?" inquired Ishmael, with gravity. + +"Oh, I can put one of the nigger boys into it." + +"And have to pay for his time and not have the work half done at last." + +"Well, I had rather it be so, than you should slave yourself to death." + +"Oh, but I do not slave myself to death! I like to work in the garden, +and I am never happier than when I am engaged there; the garden is +beautiful, and the care of it is a great pleasure as well as a great +benefit to me; it gives me all the outdoor exercise and recreation that +I require to enable me to sit at my writing or reading all the rest of +the day." + +"Ah, Ishmael, my lad, who would think work was recreation except you? +But it is your goodness of heart that turns every duty into a delight," +said Reuben Gray; and he was not very far from the truth. + +"It is his obstinacy as keeps him everlasting a-working himself to +death! Reuben Gray, Ishmael Worth is one of the obstinatest boys that +ever you set your eyes on! He has been obstinate ever since he was a +baby," said Hannah angrily. And her mind reverted to that old time when +the infant Ishmael would live in defiance of everybody. + +"I do believe as Ishmael would be as firm as a rock in a good cause; but +I don't believe that he could be obstinate in a bad one," said Reuben +decidedly. + +"Yes, he could! else why does he persist in staying home this evening +when we want him to go with us?" complained Hannah. + +Now, strength of will is not necessarily self-will. Firmness of purpose +is not always implacability. The strong need not be violent in order to +prove their strength. And Ishmael, firmly resolved as he was to devote +every hour of his leisure to study, knew very well when to make an +exception to his rule, and sacrifice his inclinations to his duty. So he +answered: + +"Aunt Hannah, if you really desire me to go with you, I will do so of +course." + +"I want you to go because I think you stick too close to your books, you +stubborn fellow; and because I know you haven't been out anywhere for +the last two months; and because I believe it would do you good to go," +said Mrs. Gray. + +"All right, Aunt Hannah. I will run upstairs and dress," laughed +Ishmael, leaving the tea-table. + +"And be sure you put on your gold watch and chain," called out Hannah. + +Hannah also arose and went to her room to change her plain brown calico +gown for a fine black silk dress and mantle that had been Reuben Gray's +nuptial present to her, and a straw bonnet trimmed with blue. + +In a few minutes Ishmael, neatly attired, joined her in the parlor. + +"Have you put on your watch, Ishmael?" + +"Yes, Aunt Hannah; but I'm wearing it on a guard. I don't like to wear +the chain; it is too showy for my circumstances. You wear it, Aunt +Hannah; and always wear it when you go out; it looks beautiful over +your black silk dress," said Ishmael, as he put the chain around Mrs. +Gray's neck and contemplated the effect. + +"What a good boy you are!" said Hannah; but she would not have been a +woman if she had not been pleased with the decoration. + +Reuben Gray came in, arrayed in his Sunday suit, and smiled to see how +splendid Hannah was, and then drawing his wife's arm proudly within his +own, and calling Ishmael to accompany them, set off to walk a mile +farther up the river and spend a festive evening with his brother +overseer. They had a pleasant afternoon stroll along the pebbly beach of +the broad waters. They sauntered at their leisure, watching the ships +sail up or down the river; looking at the sea-fowl dart up from the +reeds and float far away; glancing at the little fish leaping up and +disappearing in the waves; and pausing once in a while to pick up a +pretty shell or stone; and so at last they reached the cottage of the +overseer Brown, which stood just upon the point of a little promontory +that jutted out into the river. + +They spent a social evening with the overseer and his wife and their +half a dozen buxom boys and girls. And about ten o'clock they walked +home by starlight. + +Twice a week Reuben Gray went up the river to a little waterside hamlet +called Shelton to meet the mail. Reuben's only correspondent was his +master, who wrote occasionally to make inquiries or to give orders. The +day after his evening out was the regular day for Reuben to go to the +post office. + +So immediately after breakfast Reuben mounted the white cob which he +usually rode and set out for Shelton. + +He was gone about two hours, and returned with a most perplexed +countenance. Now "the master's" correspondence had always been a great +bother to Reuben. It took him a long time to spell out the letters and a +longer time to indite the answers. So the arrival of a letter was always +sure to unsettle him for a day or two. Still, that fact did not account +for the great disturbance of mind in which he reached home and entered +the family sitting-room. + +"What's the matter, Reuben? Any bad news?" anxiously inquired Hannah. + +"N-n-o, not exactly bad news; but a very bad bother," said Gray, sitting +down in the big arm-chair and wiping the perspiration from his heated +face. + +"What is it, Reuben?" pursued Hannah. + +"Where's Ishmael?" inquired Gray, without attempting to answer her +question. + +"Working in the garden, of course. But why can't you tell me what's the +matter?" + +"Botheration is the matter, Hannah, my dear. Just go call Ishmael to +me." + +Hannah left the house to comply with his request, and Reuben sat and +wiped his face and pondered over his perplexities. Reuben had lately +given to rely very much upon Ishmael's judgment, and to appeal to him in +all his difficulties. So he looked up in confidence as the youth entered +with Hannah. + +"What is it, Uncle Reuben?" inquired the boy cheerfully. + +"The biggest botheration as ever was, Ishmael, my lad!" answered Gray. + +"Well, take a mug of cool cider to refresh yourself, and then tell me +all about it," said Ishmael. + +Hannah ran and brought the invigorating drink, and after quaffing it +Gray drew a long breath and said: + +"Why, I've got the botherationest letter from the judge as ever was. He +says how he has sent down a lot of books, as will be landed at our +landing by the schooner 'Canvas Back,' Capt'n Miller; and wants me to +take the cart and go and receive them, and carry them up to the house, +and ask the housekeeper for the keys of the liber-airy and put them in +there," said Reuben, pausing for breath. + +"Why, that is not much bother, Uncle Reuben. Let me go and get the books +for you," smiled Ishmael. + +"Law, it aint that; for I don't s'pose it's much more trouble to cart +books than it is to cart bricks. You didn't hear me out: After I have +got the botheration things into the liber-airy, he wants me to unpack +them, and also take down the books as is there already, and put the +whole lot on 'em in the middle of the floor, and then pick 'em out and +'range 'em all in separate lots, like one would sort vegetables for +market, and put each sort all together on a different shelf, and then +write all their names in a book, all regular and in exact order! There, +now, that's the work as the judge has cut out for me, as well as I can +make out his meaning from his hard words and crabbed hand; and I no more +fit to do it nor I am to write a sarmon or to build a ship; and if that +aint enough, to bother a man's brains I don't know what is, that's +all." + +"But it is no part of your duty as overseer to act as his librarian," +said Ishmael. + +"I know it aint; but, you see, the judge he pays me liberal, and he +gives me a fust-rate house and garden, and the liberty of his own +orchards and vineyards, and a great many other privileges besides, and +he expects me to 'commodate him in turn by doing of little things as +isn't exactly in the line of my duty," answered Gray. + +"But," demurred Ishmael, "he ought to have known that you were not +precisely fitted for this new task he has set you." + +"Well, my lad, he didn't; 'cause, you see, the gals as I edicated, you +know, they did everything for me as required larning, like writing +letters and keeping 'counts; and as for little Kitty, she used to do +them beautiful, for Kitty was real clever; and I do s'pose the judge +took it for granted as the work was all my own, and so he thinks I can +do this job too. Now, if the parish school wa'n't broke up for the +holidays, I might get the schoolmaster to do it for me and pay him for +it; but, you see, he is gone North to visit his mother and he won't be +back until September, so the mischief knows what I shall do. I thought +I'd just ask your advice, Ishmael, because you have got such a wonderful +head of your own." + +"Thank you, Uncle Reuben. Don't you be the least distressed. I can do +what is required to be done, and do it in a manner that shall give +satisfaction, too," said Ishmael. + +"You! you, my boy! could you do that everlasting big botheration of a +job?" + +"Yes, and do it well, I hope." + +"Why, I don't believe the professor himself could!" exclaimed Gray, in +incredulous astonishment. + +"Nor I, either," laughed Ishmael; "but I know that I can." + +"But, my boy, it is such a task!" + +"I should like it, of all things, Uncle Reuben! You could not give me a +greater treat than the privilege of overhauling all those books and +putting them in order and making the catalogue," said the youth eagerly. + +And besides he was going to Claudia's house! + +Reuben looked more and more astonished as Ishmael went on; but Hannah +spoke up: + +"You may believe him, Reuben! He is book-mad; and it is my opinion, that +when he gets into that musty old library, among the dusty books, he will +fancy himself in heaven." + +Reuben looked from the serious face of Hannah to the smiling eyes of +Ishmael, and inquired doubtfully: + +"Is that the truth, my boy?" + +"Something very near it, Uncle Reuben," answered Ishmael. + +"Very well, my lad," exclaimed the greatly relieved overseer, gleefully +slapping his knees, "very well! as sure as you are horn, you shall go to +your heaven." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + +ISHMAEL IN TANGLEWOOD. + + Into a forest far, they thence him led + Where stood the mansion in a pleasant glade, + With great hills round about environed + And mighty woods which did the valley shade, + And like a stately theater it made, + Spreading itself into a spacious plain, + And in the midst a little river played + Amongst the pumy stones which seemed to 'plain + With gentle murmur that his course they did restrain. + + --_Spenser_. + +The next morning Ishmael Worth went down to the shore, carrying' a +spy-glass to look out for the "Canvas Back." There was no certainty +about the passing of these sailing packets; a dead calm or a head wind +might delay them for days and even weeks; but on this occasion there was +no disappointment and no delay, the wind had been fair and the little +schooner was seen flying before it up the river. Ishmael seated himself +upon the shore and drew a book from his pocket to study while he waited +for the arrival of the schooner. In less than an hour she dropped anchor +opposite the landing, and sent off a large boat laden with boxes, and +rowed by four stout seamen. As they reached the sands Ishmael blew a +horn to warn Reuben Gray of their arrival. + +Three or four times the boat went back and forth between the schooner +and the shore, each time bringing a heavy load. By the time the last +load was brought and deposited upon the beach, Reuben Gray arrived at +the spot with his team. The sailors received a small gratuity from Gray +and returned to the schooner, which immediately raised anchor and +continued her way up the river. + +Ishmael, Reuben, and Sam, the teamster, loaded the wagon with the boxes +and set out for Tanglewood, Sam driving the team, Ishmael and Reuben +walking beside it. + +Through all the fertile and highly cultivated fields that lay along the +banks of the river they went, until they reached the borders of the +forest, where Reuben's cottage stood. They did not pause here, but +passed it and entered the forest. What a forest it was! They had +scarcely entered it when they became so buried in shade that they might +have imagined themselves a thousand miles deep in some primeval +wilderness, where never the foot of man had trod. The road along which +they went was grass-grown. The trees, which grew to an enormous size and +gigantic height, interwove their branches thickly overhead. Sometimes +these branches intermingled so low that they grazed the top of the wagon +as it passed, while men and horses had to bow their heads. + +"Why isn't this road cleared, Uncle Reuben?" inquired Ishmael. + +"Because it is as much as a man's place is worth to touch a tree in this +forest, Ishmael," replied Reuben. + +"But why is that? The near branches of these trees need lopping away +from the roadside; we can scarcely get along." + +"I know it, Ishmael; but the judge won't have a tree in Tanglewood so +much as touched; it is his crochet." + +"True, for you, Marse Gray," spoke up Sam; "last time I trimmed away the +branches from the sides of this here road, ole marse threatened if I cut +off so much as a twig from one of the trees again he'd take off a joint +of one of my fingers to see how I'd like to be 'trimmed', he said." + +Ishmael laughed and remarked: + +"But the road will soon be closed unless the trees are cut away." + +"Sartin it will; but he don't care for consequences; he will have his +way; that's the reason why he never could keep any overseer but me; +there was always such a row about the trees and things, as he always +swore they should grow as they had a mind to, in spite of all the +overseers in the world. I let him have his own will; it's none of my +business to contradict him," said Reuben. + +"But what will you do when the road closes, how will you manage to get +heavy boxes up to the house?" laughed Ishmael. + +"Wheel 'em up in a hand-barrow, I s'pose, and if the road gets too +narrow for that, unpack 'em and let the niggers tote the parcels up +piece-meal." + +Thicker and thicker grew the trees as they penetrated deeper into the +forest; more obstructed and difficult became the road. Suddenly, without +an instant's warning, they came upon the house, a huge, square building +of gray stone, so overgrown with moss, ivy, and creeping vines that +scarcely a glimpse of the wall could be seen. Its colors, therefore, +blended so well with the forest trees that grew thickly and closely +around it, that one could scarcely suspect the existence of a building +there. + +"Here we are," said Reuben, while Sam dismounted and began to take off +the boxes. + +The front door opened and a fat negro woman, apparently startled by the +arrival of the wagon, made her appearance, asking: + +"What de debbil all dis, chillun?" + +"Here are some books that are to be put into the library, Aunt Katie, +and this young man is to unpack and arrange them," answered the +overseer. + +"More books: my hebbinly Lord, what ole marse want wid more books, when +he nebber here to read dem he has got?" exclaimed the fat woman, raising +her hands in dismay. + +"That is none of our business, Katie! What we are to do is to obey +orders; so, if you please, let us have the keys," replied Gray. + +The woman disappeared within the house and remained absent for a few +minutes, during which the men lifted the boxes from the wagon. + +By the time they had set down the last one Katie reappeared with her +heavy bunch of keys and beckoned them to follow her. + +Ishmael obeyed, by shouldering a small box and entering the house, while +Reuben Gray and Sam took up a heavy one between them and came after. + +It was a noble old hall, with its walls hung with family pictures and +rusty arms and trophies of the chase; with doors opening on each side +into spacious apartments; and with a broad staircase ascending from the +center. + +The fat old negro housekeeper, waddling along before the men, led them +to the back of the hall, and opened a door on the right, admitting them +into the library of Tanglewood. + +Here the men set down the boxes. And when they had brought them all in, +and Sam, under the direction of Gray, had forced off all the tops, +laying the contents bare to view, the latter said: + +"Now then, Ishmael, we will leave you to go to work and unpack; but +don't you get so interested in the work as to disremember dinner time at +one o'clock precisely; and be sure you are punctual, because we've got +veal and spinnidge." + +"Thank you, Uncle Reuben, I will not keep you waiting," replied the +youth. + +Gray and his assistant departed, and Ishmael was left alone with the +wealth of books around him. + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + +THE LIBRARY. + + Round the room are shelves of dainty lore, + And rich old pictures hang upon the walls, + Where the slant light falls on them; and wrought gems, + Medallions, rare mosaics and antiques + From Herculaneum, the niches fill; + And on a table of enamel wrought + With a lost art in Italy, do lie + Prints of fair women and engravings rare. + + --_N.P. Willis_. + +It was a noble room; four lofty windows--two on each side--admitting +abundance of light and air; at one end was a marble chimney-piece, over +which hung a fine picture of Christ disputing with the doctors in the +temple; on each side of this chimney-piece were glass cases filled with +rare shells, minerals, and other curiosities; all the remaining spaces +along the walls and between the windows were filled up with book-cases; +various writing tables, reading stands, and easy-chairs occupied the +center of the floor. + +After a curious glance at this scene, Ishmael went to work at unpacking +the boxes. He found his task much easier than he had expected to find +it. Each box contained one particular set of books. On the top of one of +the boxes he found a large strong blank folio, entitled--"Library +Catalogue." + +Ishmael took this book and sat down at one of the tables and divided it +into twelve portions, writing over each portion the name of the subject +to which he proposed to devote it, as "Theology," "Physics," +"Jurisprudence," etc. The last portion he headed "Miscellaneous." Next +he divided the empty shelves into similar compartments, and headed each +with thy corresponding names. Then he began to make a list of the books, +taking one set at a time, writing their names in their proper portion of +the catalogue and then arranging them in their proper compartment of the +library. + +Ishmael had just got through with "Theology," and was about to begin to +arrange the next set of books in rotation, when he bethought himself to +look at the timepiece, and seeing that it was after twelve, he hurried +back to Woodside to keep his appointment with Reuben. + +But he returned in the afternoon and recommenced work; and not only on +this day, but for several succeeding days, Ishmael toiled cheerfully at +this task. To arrange all these books in perfect order and neatness was +to Ishmael a labor of real love; and so when one Saturday afternoon he +had completed his task, it was with a feeling half of satisfaction at +the results of his labor, half of regret at leaving the scene of it, +that he locked up the library, returned the key to Aunt Katie, and took +leave of Tanglewood. + +Walking home through the forest that evening Ishmael thought well over +his future prospects. He had read and mastered all those text-books of +law that he had found in the old escritoire of his bedroom; and now he +wanted more advanced books on the same subject. Such books he had seen +in the library at Tanglewood; and he had been sorely tempted to linger +as long as possible there for the sake of reading them: but honest and +true in thought and act, he resisted the temptation to appropriate the +use of the books, or the time that he felt was not his own. + +On this evening, therefore, he meditated upon the means of obtaining the +books that he wanted. He was now about eighteen years of age, highly +gifted in physical beauty and in moral and intellectual excellence; but +he was still as poor as poverty could make him. He worked hard, much +harder than many who earned liberal salaries; but he earned nothing, +absolutely nothing, beyond his board and clothing. + +This state of things he felt must not continue longer. It was now nearly +nine months since he had left Mr. Middleton's school, and there was no +chance of his ever entering another; so now he felt he must turn the +education he had received to some better account than merely keeping +Reuben Gray's farm books; that he must earn something to support himself +and to enable him to go on with his law studies; and he must earn this +"something" in this neighborhood, too; for the idea of leaving poor +Reuben with no one to keep his accounts never entered the unselfish mind +of Ishmael. + +Various plans of action as to how he should contrive to support himself +and pursue his studies without leaving the neighborhood suggested +themselves to Ishmael. Among the rest, he thought of opening a country +school. True, he was very young, too young for so responsible a post; +but in every other respect, except that of age, he was admirably well +qualified for the duty. While he was still meditating upon this subject, +he unexpectedly reached the end of his walk and the gate of the cottage. + +Reuben and Hannah were standing at the gate. Reuben's left arm was +around Hannah, and his right hand held an open letter, over which both +their heads were bent. Hannah was helping poor Reuben to spell out its +contents. + +Ishmael smiled as he greeted them, smiled with his eyes only, as if his +sweet bright spirit had looked out in love upon them; and thus it was +that Ishmael always met his friends. + +"Glad you've come home so soon, Ishmael--glad as ever I can be! Here's +another rum go, as ever was!" said Gray, looking up from his letter. + +"What is it, Uncle Reuben?" + +"Why, it's a sort of notice from the judge. 'Pears like he's gin up his +v'y'ge to forrin parts; and 'stead of gwine out yonder for two or three +years, he and Miss Merlin be coming down here to spend the +summer--leastways, what's left of it," said Gray. + +Ishmael's face flushed crimson, and then went deadly white, as he reeled +and leaned against the fence for support. Much as he had struggled to +conquer his wild passion for the beautiful and high-born heiress, often +as he had characterized it as mere boyish folly, or moon-struck madness, +closely as he had applied himself to study in the hope of curing his +mania, he was overwhelmed by the sudden announcement of her expected +return: overwhelmed by a shock of equally blended joy and pain--joy at +the prospect of soon meeting her, pain at the thought of the impassable +gulf that yawned them--"so near and yet so far!" + +His extreme agitation was not observed by either Reuben or Hannah, whose +heads were again bent over the puzzling letter. While he was still in +that half-stunned, half-excited and wholly-confused state of feeling, +Reuben went slowly on with his explanations: + +"'Pears like the judge have got another gov'ment 'pointment, or some +sich thing, as will keep him here in his natyve land; so he and Miss +Claudia, they be a-coming down here to stop till the meeting of Congress +in Washington. So he orders me to tell Katie to get the house ready to +receive them by the first of next week; and law! this is Saturday! +Leastways, that is all me and Hannah can make out'n this here letter, +Ishmael; but you take it and read it yourself," said Gray, putting the +missive into Ishmael's hands. + +With a great effort to recover his self-possession, Ishmael took the +letter and read it aloud. + +It proved to be just what Reuben and Hannah had made of it, but +Ishmael's clear reading rendered the orders much plainer. + +"Now, if old Katie won't have to turn her fat body a little faster than +she often does, I don't know nothing!" exclaimed Gray, when Ishmael had +finished the reading. + +"I will go up myself this evening and help her," said Hannah kindly. + +"No, you won't, neither, my dear! Old Katie has lots of young maid +servants to help her, and she's as jealous as a pet cat of all +interference with her affairs. But we will walk over after tea and let +her know what's up," said Gray. + +After tea, accordingly, Reuben, Hannah, and Ishmael took a pleasant +evening stroll through the forest to Tanglewood, and told Katie what was +at hand. + +"And you'll have to stir round, old woman, and that I tell you, for this +is Saturday night, and they may be here on Monday evening," said Gray. + +"Law, Marse Reuben, you needn't tell me nuffin 'tall 'bout Marse Judge +Merlin! I knows his ways too well; I been too long use to his popping +down on us, unexpected, like the Day of Judgment, for me to be +unprepared! The house is all in fust-rate order; only wantin' fires to +be kindled to correct de damp, and windows to be opened to air de rooms; +and time 'nuff for dat o' Monday," grinned old Katie, taking things +easy. + +"Very well, only see to it! Come, Hannah, let us go home," said Gray. + +"But, Uncle Reuben, have you no directions for the coachman to meet the +judge at the landing?" inquired Ishmael. + +"No, my lad. The judge never comes down by any of these little sailing +packets as pass here. He allers comes by the steamboat to Baymouth, and +then from there to here by land." + +"Then had you not better send the carriage to Baymouth immediately, that +it may be there in time to meet him? It will be more comfortable for the +judge and--and Miss--and his daughter to travel in their own easy +carriage than in those rough village hacks." + +"Well, now, Ishmael, that's a rale good idee, and I'll follow it, and +the judge will thank you for it. If he'd took a thought, you see, he'd +a-gin me the order to do just that thing. But law! he's so took up along +of public affairs, as he never thinks of his private comfort, though he +is always pleased as possible when anybody thinks of it for him." + +"Then, Uncle Reuben, had you not better start Sam with the carriage this +evening? It is a very clear night, the roads are excellent, and the +horses are fresh; so he could easily reach Baymouth by sunrise, and put +up at the 'Planter's Rest,' for Sunday, and wait there for the boat." + +"Yes, Ishmael, I think I had better do so; we'll go home now directly +and start Sam. He'll be pleased to death! If there's anything that +nigger likes, it's a journey, particular through the cool of the night; +but he'll sleep all day to-morrow to make up for his lost rest," +returned Reuben, as they turned to walk back to the cottage. + +Sam was found loitering near the front gate. When told what he was to +do, he grinned and started with alacrity to put the horses to the +carriage and prepare the horse feed to take along with him. + +And meanwhile Hannah packed a hamper full of food and drink to solace +the traveler on his night journey. + +In half an hour from his first notice to go, Sam drove the carriage up +to the cottage gate, received his hamper of provisions and his final +orders, and departed. + +Hannah and Reuben, leaning over the gate, watched him out of sight, and +then sat down in front of their cottage door, to enjoy the coolness of +the summer evening, and talk of the judge's expected arrival. + +Ishmael went up to his room, lighted a candle, and sat down to try to +compose his agitated heart and apply his mind to study. But in vain; his +eyes wandered over the pages of his book; his mind could not take in the +meaning. The thought of Claudia filled his whole soul, absorbed his +every faculty to the exclusion of every other idea. + +"Oh, this will never, never do! It is weakness, folly, madness! What +have I to do with Miss Merlin that she takes possession of my whole +being in this manner! I must, I will conquer this passion!" he +exclaimed, at last, starting up, throwing aside his book, and pacing the +floor. + +"Yes, with the Lord's help, I will overcome this infatuation!" he +repeated, as he paused in his hasty walk, bowed his head, and folded his +hands in prayer to God for deliverance from the power of inordinate and +vain affections. + +This done, he returned to his studies with more success. And long after +he heard Hannah and Reuben re-enter the cottage and retire to their +room, he continued to sit up and read. He read on perseveringly, until +he had wearied himself out enough to be able to sleep. And his last +resolution on seeking his bed was: + +"By the Lord's help I will conquer this passion! I will combat it with +prayer, and study, and work!" + + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + +CLAUDIA. + + But she in those fond feelings had no share; + Her sighs were not for him; to her he was + Even as a brother; but no more; 'twas much, + For brotherless she was save in the name + Her girlish friendship had bestowed on him; + Herself the solitary scion left + Of a time-honored race. + + --_Byron's Dream_. + +Ishmael applied himself diligently to active outdoor work during the +morning and to study during the evening hours. + +Thus several days passed. Nothing was heard from Sam, the carriage, or +the judge. + +Reuben Gray expressed great anxiety--not upon account of the judge, or +Miss Merlin, who, he averred, were both capable of taking care of +themselves and each other, but on account of Sam and his valuable charge +that he feared had in some way or other come to harm. + +Ishmael tried to reassure him by declaring his own opinion that all was +right, and that Sam was only waiting at Baymouth for the arrival of his +master. + +Reuben Gray only shook his head and predicted all sorts of misfortunes. + +But Ishmael's supposition was proved to be correct, when late Wednesday +night, or rather--for it was after midnight--early Thursday morning, the +unusual sound of carriage wheels passing the road before the cottage +waked up all its inmates, and announced to them the arrival of the judge +and his daughter. + +Reuben Gray started up and hurried on his clothes. + +Ishmael sprang out of bed and looked forth from the window. But the +carriage without pausing for a moment rolled on its way to Tanglewood +House. + +The startled sleepers finding their services not required returned to +bed again. + +Early that morning, while the family were at the breakfast table, Sam +made his appearance and formally announced the arrival of the judge and +Miss Merlin at Tanglewood. + +"How long did you have to wait for them at Baymouth?" inquired Reuben +Gray. + +"Not a hour, sar. I arrove about sunrise at the 'Planter's,' just the +'Powhatan' was a steaming up to the wharf; and so I druv on to the wharf +to see if de judge and his darter was aboard, and sure nuff dere dey +was! And mightily 'stonished was dey to see me and de carriage and de +horses; and mightily pleased, too. So de judge he put his darter inter +de inside, while I piled on de luggage a-hind and a-top; and so we goes +back to de 'Planters,'" said Sam. + +"But what kept you so long at Baymouth?" + +"Why, law bless you, de judge, he had wisits to pay in de neighborhood; +and having of me an' de carriage dere made it all de more convenienter. +O' Monday we went over to a place called de Burrow, and dined long of +one Marse Commodore Burghe; and o' Tuesday we went and dined at +Brudenell Hall with young Mr. Herman Brudenell." + +At this name Hannah started and turned pale; but almost immediately +recovered her composure. + +Sam continued: + +"And o' Wednesday, that is yesterday morning airly, we started for home. +We laid by during the heat of the day at Horse-head, and started again +late in de arternoon; dat made it one o'clock when we arrove at home +last night, or leastways this morning." + +"Well, and what brought you down here? Has the judge sent any messages +to me?" + +"Yes, he have; he want you to come right up to de house and fetch de +farm books, so he can see how the 'counts stands." + +"Very well; they're all right!" said Reuben confidently, as he arose +from the table, put on his hat, took two account-books from the shelf, +and went out followed by Sam. + +Ishmael as usual went into the garden to work, and tried to keep his +thoughts from dwelling upon Claudia. + +At dinner-time Gray returned, and Ishmael met him at the table. And Gray +could talk of nothing but the improvement, beauty, and the grace of Miss +Merlin. + +"She is just too beautiful for this world, Hannah," he concluded, after +having exhausted all his powers of description upon his subject. + +After dinner Ishmael went upstairs to his books, and Hannah took +advantage of his absence to say to Gray: + +"Reuben, I wish you would never mention Miss Claudia Merlin's name +before Ishmael." + +"Law! why?" inquired Gray. + +"Because I want him to forget her." + +"But why so?" + +"Oh, Reuben, how dull you are! Well, if I must tell you, he likes her." + +"Well, so do I! and so do everyone!" said honest Reuben. + +"But he likes her too well! he loves her, Reuben!" + +"What! Ishmael love Judge Merlin's daughter! L-a-w! Why I should as soon +think of falling in love with a royal princess!" exclaimed the honest +man, in extreme astonishment. + +"Reuben, hush! I hate to speak of it; but it is true. Pray, never let +him know that we even suspect the truth; and be careful not to mention +her name in his presence. I can see that he is struggling to conquer his +feelings; but he can never do it while you continue to ding her name +into his ears foreverlasting." + +"I'll be mum! Ishmael in love with Miss Merlin! I should as soon +suspicion him of being in love with the Queen of Spain! Good gracious! +how angry she'd be if she knew it." + +After this conversation Reuben Gray was very careful to avoid all +mention of Claudia Merlin in the hearing of Ishmael. + +The month of August was drawing to a close. Ishmael had not once set +eyes on Claudia, though he had chanced to see the judge on horseback at +a distance several times. Ishmael busied himself in seeking out a room +in the neighborhood, in which to open a school on the first of +September. He had not as yet succeeded in his object, when one day an +accident occurred that, as he used it, had a signal effect on his future +life. + +It was a rather cool morning in the latter part of August when he, after +spending an hour or two of work in the garden, dressed himself in his +best clothes and set off to walk to Rushy Shore farm, where he heard +there was a small schoolhouse ready furnished with rough benches and +desks, to be had at low rent. His road lay along the high banks of the +river, above the sands. He had gone about a mile on his way when he +heard the sound of carriage wheels behind him, and in a few minutes +caught a glimpse of an open barouche, drawn by a pair of fine, spirited +gray horses, as it flashed by him. Quickly as the carriage passed, he +recognized in the distinguished looking young lady seated within +it--Claudia!--recognized her with an electric shock that thrilled his +whole being, paralyzed him where he stood and bound him to the spot! He +gazed after the flying vehicle until it vanished from his sight. Then he +sank down where he stood and covered his face with his hands and strove +to calm the rising emotion that swelled his bosom. It was minutes before +he recovered self-possession enough to arise and go on his way. + +In due time he reached the farm--Rushy Shore--where the schoolhouse was +for rent. It was a plain little log house close to the river side and +shaded by cedars. It had been built for the use of a poor country master +who had worn out his life in teaching for small pay the humbler class of +country children. He rested from his earthly labors, and the school was +without a teacher. Ishmael saw only the overseer of the farm, who +informed him that he had authority to let the schoolroom only until +Christmas, as the whole estate had just been sold and the new owner was +to take possession at the new year. + +"Who is the new owner?" inquired Ishmael. + +"Well, sir, his name is Middleton--Mr. James Middleton, from St. Mary's +County: though I think I did hear as he was first of all from Virginia." + +"Mr. Middleton! Mr. James Middleton!" exclaimed Ishmael, catching his +breath for joy. + +"Yes, sir; that is the gentleman; did you happen to know him?" + +"Yes: intimately; he is one of the best and most honored friends I have +in the world!" said Ishmael warmly. + +"Then, sir, maybe he wouldn't be for turning you out of the schoolhouse +even when the time we can let it for is up?" + +"No, I don't think he would," said Ishmael, smiling, as he took his +leave and started on his return. He walked rapidly on his way homeward, +thinking of the strange destiny that threw him again among the friends +of his childhood, when he was startled by a sound as of the sudden rush +of wheels. He raised his head and beheld a fearful sight! Plunging madly +towards the brink of the high bank were the horses of Claudia's +returning carriage. The coachman had dropped the reins, which were +trailing on the ground, sprung from his seat and was left some distance +behind. Claudia retained hers, holding by the sides of the carriage; but +her face was white as marble; her eyes were starting from their sockets; +her teeth were firmly set; her lips drawn back; her hat lost and her +black hair streaming behind her! On rushed the maddened beasts towards +the brink of the precipice! another moment, and they would have dashed +down into certain destruction! + +Ishmael saw and hurled himself furiously forward between the rushing +horses and the edge of the precipice, seizing the reins as the horses +dashed up to him, and threw all his strength into the effort to turn +them aside from their fate. + +He did turn them from the brink of destruction, but alas! alas! as they +were suddenly and violently whirled around they threw him down and +passed, dragging the carriage with them, over his prostrate body! + +At the same moment some fishermen on the sands below, who had seen the +impending catastrophe, rushed up the bank, headed the maddened horses +and succeeded in stopping them. + +Then Miss Merlin jumped from the carriage, and ran to the side of +Ishmael. + +In that instant of deadly peril she had recognized him; but all had +passed so instantaneously that she had not had time to speak, scarcely +to breathe. + +Now she kneeled by his side and raised his head. He was mangled, +bleeding, pallid, and insensible. + +"Oh, for the love of God, leave those horses and come here, men! Come +instantly!" cried Claudia, who with trembling hands was seeking on the +boy's face and bosom for some signs of life. + +Two of the men remained with the horses, but three rushed to the side of +the young lady. + +"Oh, Heaven! he is crushed to death, I fear! He was trampled down by the +horses, and the whole carriage seemed to have passed over him! Oh, tell +me! tell me! is he killed? is he quite, quite dead?" cried Claudia +breathlessly, wringing her hands in anguish, as she arose from her +kneeling posture to make room for the man. + +The three got down beside him and began to examine his condition. + +"Is he dead? Oh! is he dead?" cried Claudia. + +"It's impossible to tell, miss," answered one of the men, who had his +hand on Ishmael's wrist; "but he haint got no pulse." + +"And his leg is broken, to begin with," said another, who was busy +feeling the poor fellow's limbs. + +"And I think his ribs be broken, too," added the third man, who had his +hand in the boy's bosom. + +With a piercing scream Claudia threw herself down on the ground, bent +over the fallen body, raised the poor, ghastly head in her arms, +supported it on her bosom, snatched a vial of aromatic vinegar from her +pocket, and began hastily to bathe the blanched face; her tears falling +fast as she cried: + +"He must not die! Oh, he shall not die! Oh, God have mercy on me, and +spare his life! Oh, Saviour of the world, save him! Sweet angels in +heaven, come to his aid! Oh, Ishmael, my brother! my treasure! my own, +dear boy, do not die! Better I had died than you! Come back! come back +to me, my own! my beautiful boy, come back to me! You are mine!" + +Her tears fell like rain; and utterly careless of the eyes gazing in +wonder upon her, she covered his cold, white face with kisses. + +Those warm tears, those thrilling kisses, falling on his lifeless, face, +might have called back the boy's spirit, had it been waiting at the +gates of heaven! + +To Claudia's unutterable joy his sensitive features quivered, his pale +cheeks flushed, his large, blue eyes opened, and with a smile of +ineffable satisfaction he recognized the face that was bending over him. +Then the pallid lips trembled and unclosed with the faintly uttered +inquiry: + +"You are safe, Miss Merlin?" + +"Quite safe, my own dear boy! but oh! at what a cost to you!" she +answered impulsively and fervently. + +He closed his eyes, and while that look of ineffable bliss deepened on +his face, he murmured some faint words that she stooped to catch: + +"I am so happy--so happy--I could wish to die now!" he breathed. + +"But you shall not die, dear Ishmael! God heard my cry and sent you back +to me! You shall live!" + +Then turning to the gaping men, she said: + +"Raise him gently, and lay him in the barouche. Stop a moment!--I will +get in first and arrange the cushions for him." + +And with that she tenderly laid the boy's head back upon the ground, and +entered the carriage, and with her own hands took all the cushions from +the tops of the seats, and arranged them so as to make a level bed for +the hurt boy. Then she placed herself in the back seat, and, as they +lifted him into the carriage, she took his head and shoulders and +supported them upon her lap. + +But Ishmael had fainted from the pain of being moved. And oh! what a +mangled form he seemed, as she held him in her arms upon her bosom, +while his broken limbs lay out upon the pile of cushions. + +"One of you two now take the horses by the head, and lead them slowly, +by the river road, towards Tanglewood House. It is the longest road, but +the smoothest," said Miss Merlin. + +Two of the men started to obey this order, saying that it might take +more than one to manage the horses if they should grow restive again. + +"That is very true; besides, you can relieve each other in leading the +horses. And now one of the others must run directly to the house of the +Overseer Gray, and tell him what has happened, and direct him to ride +off immediately to Shelton and fetch Dr. Jarvis to Tanglewood." + +All three of the remaining men started off zealously upon this errand. +Meanwhile Sam, the craven coachman, came up with a crestfallen air to +the side of the carriage, whimpering: + +"Miss Claudia, I hope nobody was dangerous hurt?" + +"Nobody dangerously hurt? Ishmael Worth is killed for aught I know! Keep +out of my way, you cowardly villain!" exclaimed Claudia angrily, for you +know the heiress was no angel. + +"'Deed and 'deed, Miss Claudia, I didn't know what I was a-doing of no +more than the dead when I jumped out'n the b'rouche! 'Clare to my +Marster in heben I didn't!" whined Sam. + +"Perhaps not; but keep out of my way!" repeated Claudia, with her eyes +kindling. . + +"But please, miss, mayn't I drive you home now?" + +"What? after nearly breaking my neck, which was saved only at the cost +of this poor boy's life, perhaps?" + +"Please, Miss Claudia, I'll be careful another time--" + +"Careful of your own life!" + +"Please, miss, let me drive you home this once." + +"Not to save your soul!" + +"But what'll ole Marse say?" cried Sam, in utter dismay. + +"That is your affair. I advise you to keep out of his way also! Begone +from my sight! Go on, men!" finally ordered Miss Merlin. + +Sam, more ashamed of himself than ever, slunk away. + +And the fishermen started to lead the horses and carriage towards +Tanglewood. + +Meanwhile the messengers dispatched by Claudia hurried on towards Reuben +Gray's cottage. But before they got in sight of the house they came full +upon Reuben, who was mounted on his white cob, and riding as if for a +wager. + +"Hey! hallo! stop!" cried the foremost man, throwing up his arms before +the horse, which immediately started and shied. + +"Hush, can't ye! Don't stop me now! I'm in a desp'at hurry! I'm off for +the doctor! My wife's taken bad, and may die before I get back!" +exclaimed Reuben, with a scared visage, as he tried to pass the +messengers. + +"Going for the doctor! There's just where we were going to send you! Go +as fast as you can, and if your wife isn't very bad indeed, send him +first of all to Tanglewood, where he is wanted immediately." + +"Who is ill there?" inquired Reuben anxiously. + +"Nobody! but your nephew has been knocked down and trampled nearly to +death while stopping Miss Merlin's horses that were running away with +her." + +"Ishmael hurt! Good gracious! there's nothing but trouble in this world! +Where is the poor lad?" + +"Miss Merlin has taken him to Tanglewood. The doctor is wanted there." + +"I'll send him as soon as ever I can; but I must get him to Hannah +first! I must indeed!" And with that Reuben put whip to his horse and +rode away; but in a moment he wheeled again and rode back to the +fishermen, saying: + +"Hallo, Simpson! are you going past our place?" + +"Yes," replied the man. + +"Well, then, mind and don't breathe a word about Ishmael's accident to +Hannah, or to anybody about the place as might tell her; because she's +very ill, and the shock might be her death, you know," said Reuben +anxiously. + +"All right! we'll be careful," replied the man. And Reuben rode off. + +He was so fortunate as to find Dr. Jarvis at his office and get him to +come immediately to Woodside. But not until the doctor had seen Hannah +and had given her a little medicine, and declared that his farther +services would not be required by her for several hours yet, did Reuben +mention to him the other case that awaited his attention at Tanglewood. +And Dr. Jarvis, with a movement of impatience at the unnecessary delay, +hurried thither. + + + + +CHAPTER XLII. + +ISHMAEL AT TANGLEWOOD. + + There was an ancient mansion, and before + Its walls there was a steed caparisoned. + Within an antique oratory lay + The boy of whom I spake; he was alone, + And pale and tossing to and fro.... + + --_Byron_. + +Meanwhile the carriage traveling slowly reached Tanglewood. Slowly +pacing up and down the long piazza in front of the house was Judge +Merlin. He was a rather singular-looking man of about forty-five years +of age. He was very tall, thin, and bony, with high aquiline features, +dark complexion, and iron-gray hair, which he wore long and parted in +the middle. He was habited in a loose jacket, vest, and trousers of +brown linen, and wore a broad-brimmed straw hat on his head, and large +slippers, down at the heel, on his feet. He carried in his hand a +lighted pipe of common clay, and he walked with a slow, swinging gait, +and an air of careless indifference to all around him. Altogether, he +presented the idea of a civilized Indian chief, rather than that of a +Christian gentleman. Tradition said that the blood of King Powhatan +flowed in Randolph Merlin's veins, and certainly his personal +appearance, character, tastes, habits, and manners favored the legend. + +On seeing the carriage approach he had taken the clay pipe from his +mouth and sauntered forward. On seeing the strange burden that his +daughter supported in her arms, he came down to the side of the +carriage, exclaiming: + +"Who have you got there, Claudia?" + +"Oh, papa, it is Ishmael Worth! He has killed himself, I fear, in saving +me! My horses ran away, ran directly towards the steeps above the river, +and would have plunged over if he had not started forward and turned +their heads in time; but the horses, as they turned, knocked him down +and ran over him!" cried Claudia, in almost breathless vehemence. + +"What was Sam doing all this time?" inquired the judge, as he stood +contemplating the insensible boy. + +"Oh, papa, he sprang from the carriage as soon as the horses became +unmanageable and ran away! But don't stop here asking useless questions! +Lift him out and take him into the house! Gently, papa! gently," said +Claudia, as Judge Merlin slipped his long arms under the youth's body +and lifted him from the carriage. + +"Now, then, what do you expect me to do with him?" inquired Judge +Merlin, looking around as if for a convenient place to lay him on the +grass. + +"Oh, papa, take him right into the spare bedroom on the lower floor! and +lay him on the bed. I have sent for a doctor to attend him here," +answered Claudia, as she sprang from the carriage and led the way into +the very room she had indicated. + +"He is rather badly hurt," said the judge, as he laid Ishmael upon the +bed and arranged his broken limbs as easily as he could. + +"'Rather badly!' he is crushed nearly to death! I told you the whole +carriage passed over him!" cried Claudia, with a hysterical sob, as she +bent over the boy. + +"Worse than I thought," continued the judge, as he proceeded to unbutton +Ishmael's coat and loosen his clothes. "Did you say you sent for a +doctor?" + +"Yes! as soon as it happened! He ought to be here in an hour from this!" +replied Claudia, wringing her hands. + +"His clothes must be cut away from him; it might do his fractured limbs +irreparable injury to try to draw off his coat and trousers in the usual +manner. Leave him to me, Claudia, and go and tell old Katie to come +here and bring a pair of sharp shears with her," ordered the judge. + +Claudia stooped down quickly, gave one wistful, longing, compassionate +gaze at the still, cold white face of the sufferer, and then hurried out +to obey her father's directions. She sent old Katie in, and then threw +off her hat and mantle and sat down on the step of the door to watch for +the doctor's approach, and also to be at hand to hear any tidings that +might come from the room of the wounded boy. + +More than an hour Claudia remained on the watch without seeing anyone. +Then, when suspense grew intolerable, she impulsively sprang up and +silently hastened to the door of the sick-room and softly rapped. + +The judge came and opened it. + +"Oh, papa, how is he?" + +"Breathing, Claudia, that is all! I wish to Heaven the doctor would +come! Are you sure the messenger went after him!" + +"Oh, yes, papa, I am sure! Do let me come in and see him!" + +"It is no place for you, Claudia; he is partially undressed; I will take +care of him." + +And with these words the judge gently closed the door in his daughter's +face. + +Claudia went back to her post. + +"Why don't the doctor come! And oh! why don't Reuben Gray or Hannah +come? It is dreadful to sit here and wait!" she exclaimed, as with a +sudden resolution she sprang up again, seized her hat and ran out of the +house with the intention of proceeding directly to the Gray's cottage. + +But a few paces from the house she met the doctor's gig. + +"Oh, Doctor Jarvis, I am so glad you have come at last!" she cried. + +"Who is it that is hurt?" inquired the doctor. + +"Ishmael Worth, our overseer's nephew!" + +"How did it happen?" + +"Didn't they tell you?" + +"No." + +"Oh, poor boy! He threw himself before my horses to stop them as they +were running down the steeps over the river; and he turned them aside, +but they knocked him down and ran over him!" + +"Bad! very bad! poor fellow!" said the doctor, jumping from his gig as +he drew up before the house. + +Claudia ran in before him, leading the way to the sick chamber, at the +door of which she rapped to announce the arrival. This time old Katie +opened the door, and admitted the doctor. + +Claudia, excluded from entrance, walked up and down the hall in a fever +of anxiety. + +Once old Katie came out and Claudia arrested her. + +"What does the doctor say, Katie?" + +"He don't say nothing satisfactory, Miss Claudia. Don't stop me, please! +I'm sent for bandages and things!" + +And Katie hurried on her errand, and presently reappeared with her arms +full of linen and other articles, which she carried into the sick-room. +Later, the doctor came out attended by the judge. + +Claudia waylaid them with the questions: + +"What is the nature of his injuries? are they fatal?" + +"Not fatal; but very serious. One leg and arm are broken; and he is very +badly bruised; but worst of all is the great shock to his very sensitive +nervous system," was the reply of Doctor Jarvis. + +"When will you see him again, sir?" anxiously inquired Claudia. + +"In the course of the evening. I am not going back home for some hours, +perhaps not for the night; I have a case at Gray's." + +"Indeed! that is the reason, then, I suppose, why no one has answered my +message to come up and see Ishmael. But who is sick there?" inquired +Claudia. + +"Mrs. Gray. Good-afternoon, Miss Merlin," said the doctor shortly, as he +walked out of the house attended by the judge. + +Claudia went to the door of Ishmael's room and rapped softly. + +Old Katie answered the summons. + +"Can I come in now, Katie?" asked Miss Merlin, a little impatiently. + +"Oh, yes, I s'pose so; I s'pose you'd die if you didn't!" answered this +privileged old servant, holding open the door for Claudia's admittance. + +She passed softly into the darkened room, and approached the bedside. +Ishmael lay there swathed in linen bandages and extended at full length, +more like a shrouded corpse than a living boy. His eyes were closed and +his face was livid. + +"Is he asleep?" inquired Claudia, in a tone scarcely above her breath. + +"Sort o' sleep. You see, arter de doctor done set his arm an' leg, an' +splintered of 'em up, an' boun' up his wounds an' bruises, he gib him +some'at to 'pose his nerves and make him sleep, an' it done hev him into +dis state; which you see yourse'f is nyder sleep nor wake nor dead nor +libe." + +Claudia saw indeed that he was under the effects of morphia. And with a +deep sigh of strangely blended relief and apprehension, Claudia sank +into a chair beside his bed. + +And old Katie took that opportunity to slip out and eat her "bit of +dinner," leaving Claudia watching. + +At the expiration of an hour Katie returned to her post. But Claudia did +not therefore quit hers. She remained seated beside the wounded boy. All +that day he lay quietly, under the influence of morphia. Once the judge +looked in to inquire the state of the patient, and on being told that +the boy still slept, he went off again. Late in the afternoon the doctor +came again, saw that his patient was at ease, left directions for his +treatment, and then prepared to depart. + +"How is the sick woman at Gray's?" inquired Claudia. + +"Extremely ill. I am going immediately back there to remain until it is +over; if I should be particularly wanted here, send there for me," said +the doctor. + +"Yes; but I am very sorry Mrs. Gray is so ill! She is Ishmael's aunt. +What is the matter with her?" + +"Humph!" answered the doctor. "Good-night, Miss Claudia. You will know +where to send for me, if I am wanted here." + +"Yes; but I am so sorry about Gray's wife! Is she in danger?" persisted +Claudia. + +"Yes." + +"I am very sorry; but what ails her?" persevered Claudia. + +"Good-evening, Miss Merlin," replied the doctor, lifting his hat and +departing. + +"The man is half asleep; he has not answered my question," grumbled +Claudia, as she returned to her seat by the sick-bed. + +Just then the bell rung for the late dinner, and Claudia went out and +crossed the hall to the dining room, where she joined her father. And +while at dinner she gave him a more detailed account of her late danger, +and the manner in which she was saved. + +Once more in the course of that evening Claudia looked in upon the +wounded boy, to ascertain his condition before retiring to her room. He +was still sleeping. + +"If he should wake up, you must call me, no matter what time of night it +is, Katie," said Miss Merlin, as she left the sick-chamber. + +"Yes, miss," answered Katie, who nevertheless made up her mind to use +her own discretion in the matter of obedience to this order. + +Claudia Merlin was not, as Ishmael was, of a religious disposition, yet +nevertheless before she retired to bed she did kneel and pray for his +restoration to life and health; for, somehow, the well-being of the +peasant youth was very precious to the heiress. Claudia could not sleep; +she lay tumbling and tossing upon a restless and feverish couch. The +image of that mangled and bleeding youth as she first saw him on the +river bank was ever before her. The gaze of his intensely earnest eyes +as he raised them to hers, when he inquired, "Are you safe?"--and the +deep smile of joy with which they closed again when she answered, "I am +safe"--haunted her memory and troubled her spirit. Those looks, those +tones, had made a revelation to Claudia!--That the peasant boy presumed +to love her!--her! Claudia Merlin, the heiress, angel-born, who scarcely +deemed there was in all democratic America a fitting match for her! + +During the excitement and terror of the day, while the extent of +Ishmael's injuries was still unknown and his life seemed in extreme +danger, Claudia had not had leisure to receive the fact of Ishmael's +love, much less to reflect upon its consequences. But now that all was +known and suspense was over, now in the silence and solitude of her +bed-chamber, the images and impressions of the day returned to her with +all their revelations and tendencies, and filled the mind of Claudia +with astonishment and consternation! That Ishmael Worth should be +capable of loving her, seemed to Miss Merlin as miraculous as it would +be for Fido to be capable of talking to her! And in the wonder of the +affair she almost lost sight of its presumption! + +But how should she deal with this presuming peasant boy, who had dared +to love her, to risk his life to save hers, and to let the secret of his +love escape him? + +For a long time Claudia could not satisfactorily answer this question, +and this was what kept her awake all night. To neglect him, or to treat +him with marked coldness, would be a cruel return for the sacrifice he +had rendered her; it would be besides making the affair of too much +importance; and finally, it would be "against the grain" of Claudia's +own heart; for in a queenly way she loved this Ishmael very dearly +indeed; much more dearly than she loved Fido, or any four-footed pet she +possessed; and if he had happened to have been killed in her service, +Claudia would have abandoned herself to grief for weeks afterwards, and +she would have had a headstone recording his heroism placed over his +grave. + +After wearying herself out with conjectures as to what would be the +becoming line of conduct in a young princess who should discover that a +brave peasant had fallen in love with her, Claudia at length determined +to ignore the fact that had come to her knowledge and act just as if she +had never discovered or even suspected its existence. + +"My dignity cannot suffer from his presumptuous folly, so long as I do +not permit him to see that I know it; and as for the rest, this love may +do his character good; may elevate it!" And having laid this balm to her +wounded pride, Claudia closed her eyes. + +So near sunrise was it when Miss Merlin dropped off that, once asleep, +she continued to sleep on until late in the day. + +Meanwhile all the rest of the family were up and astir. The doctor came +early and went in to see his patient. The judge breakfasted alone, and +then joined the doctor in the sick-room. Ishmael was awake, but pale, +languid, and suffering. The doctor was seated beside him. He had just +finished dressing his wounds, and had ordered some light nourishment, +which old Katie had left the room to bring. + +"How is your patient getting along, doctor?" inquired the judge. + +"Oh, he is doing very well--very well indeed," replied the doctor, +putting the best face on a bad affair, after the manner of his class. + +"How do you feel, my lad?" inquired the judge, bending over the patient. + +"In some pain; but no more than I can very well bear, thank you, sir," +said Ishmael courteously. But his white and quivering lip betrayed the +extremity of his suffering, and the difficulty he experienced in +speaking at all. + +"I must beg, sir, that you will not talk to him; he must be left in +perfect quietness," whispered the doctor. + +At this moment old Katie returned with a little light jelly on a plate. +The doctor slowly administered a few teaspoonfuls to his patient, and +then returned the plate to the nurse. + +"Miss Claudia ordered me to call her as soon as the young man woke; and +now as his wounds is dressed, and he has had somethin' to eat, I might's +well go call her," suggested Katie. + +At the hearing of Claudia's name Ishmael's eyes flew open, and a hectic +spot blazed upon his pale cheek. The doctor, who had his eye upon his +patient, noticed this, as he replied: + +"Upon no account! Neither Miss Merlin nor anyone else must be permitted +to enter his room for days to come--not until I give leave. You will see +this obeyed, judge?" he inquired, turning to his host. + +"Assuredly," replied the latter. + +At these words the color faded from Ishmael's face and the light from +his eyes. + +The doctor arose and took leave. + +The judge attended him to the door, saw him depart, and was in the act +of turning into his own house when he perceived Reuben Gray approaching. + +Judge Merlin paused to wait for his overseer. Reuben Gray came up, took +off his hat, and stood before his employer with the most comical +blending of emotions on his weather-beaten countenance, where joy, +grief, satisfaction, and anxiety seemed to strive for the mastery. + +"Well, Gray, what is it?" inquired the judge. + +"Please, sir, how is Ishmael?" entreated Reuben, anxiety getting the +upper hand for the moment. + +"He is badly hurt, Gray; but doing very well, the doctor says." + +"Please, sir, can I see him?" + +"Not upon any account for the present; he must be left in perfect quiet. +But why haven't you been up to inquire after him before this?" + +"Ah, sir, the state of my wife." + +"Oh, yes, I heard she was ill; but did not know that she was so ill as +to prevent your coming to see after your poor boy. I hope she is better +now?" + +"Yes, sir, thank Heaven, she is well over it!" said Reuben, satisfaction +now expressed in every lineament of his honest face. + +"What was the matter with her? Was it the cholera morbus, that is so +prevalent at this season?" + +Reuben grinned from ear to ear; but did not immediately reply. + +The judge looked as if he still expected an answer. Reuben scratched his +gray head, and looked up from the corner of his eye, as he at length +replied: + +"It was a boy and a gal, sir!" + +"A what?" questioned the judge--perplexity. + +"A boy and a gal, sir; twins, sir, they is," replied Reuben Gray, joy +getting the mastery over every other expression in his beaming +countenance. + +"Why--you don't mean to tell me that your wife has presented you with +twins?" exclaimed the judge, both surprised and amused at the +announcement. + +"Well, yes, sir," said Reuben proudly. + +"But you are such an elderly couple!" laughed the judge. + +"Well, yes, sir, so we is! And that, I take it, is the very reason on't. +You see, I think, sir, because we married very late in life--poor Hannah +and me--natur' took a consideration on to it, and, as we hadn't much +time before us, she sent us two at once! at least, if that aint the +reason, I can't account for them both in any other way!" said Reuben, +looking up. + +"That's it! You've hit it, Reuben!" said the judge, laughing. "And mind, +if they live, I'll stand godfather to the babies at the christening. Are +they fine healthy children?" + +"As bouncing babies, sir, as ever you set eyes on!" answered Reuben +triumphantly. + +"Count on me, then, Gray." + +"Thank you, sir! And, your honor--" + +"Well, Gray?" + +"Soon as ever Ishmael is able to hear the news, tell him, will you, +please? I think it will set him up, and help him on towards his +recovery." + +"I think so, too," said the judge. + +Reuben touched his hat and withdrew. And the judge returned to the +house. + +Claudia had come down and breakfasted, but was in a state of great +annoyance because she was denied admittance to the bedside of her +suffering favorite. + +The judge, to divert her thoughts, told her of the bountiful present +nature had made to Hannah and Reuben Gray. At which Miss Claudia was so +pleased that she got up and went to hunt through all her finery for +presents for the children. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII. + +THE HEIRESS. + + Trust me, Clara Vere de Vere, + From yon blue heavens above us bent, + The grand old gardener and his wife + Smile at the claims of long descent, + Howe'er it be, it seems to me, + 'Tis only noble to be good; + Kind hearts are more than coronets, + And simple faith than Norman blood. + + --_Tennyson_. + +Almost any other youth than Ishmael Worth would have died of such +injuries as he had sustained. But owing to that indestructible vitality +and irrepressible elasticity of organization which had carried him +safely through the deadly perils of his miserable infancy, he survived. + +About the fourth day of his illness the irritative fever of his wounds +having been subdued, Judge Merlin was admitted to see and converse with +him. + +Up to this morning the judge had thought of the victim only as the +overseer's nephew, a poor, laboring youth about the estate, who had got +hurt in doing his duty and stopping Miss Merlin's runaway horses; and he +supposed that he, Judge Merlin, had done his part in simply taking the +suffering youth into his own house and having him properly attended to. +And now the judge went to the patient with the intention of praising his +courage and offering him some proper reward for his services--as, for +instance, a permanent situation to work on the estate for good wages. + +And so Judge Merlin entered the sick-chamber, which was no longer +darkened, but had all the windows open to admit the light and air. + +He took a chair and seated himself by the bedside of the patient, and +for the first time took a good look at him. + +Ishmael's handsome face, no longer distorted by suffering, was calm and +clear; his eyes were closed in repose but not in sleep, for the moment +the judge "hemmed" he raised his eyelids and greeted his host with a +gentle smile and nod. + +Judge Merlin could not but be struck with the delicacy, refinement, and +intellectuality of Ishmael's countenance. + +"How do you feel yourself this morning, my lad?" he inquired, putting +the usual commonplace question. + +"Much easier, thank you, sir," replied the youth, in the pure, sweet, +modulated tones of a highly-cultivated nature. + +The judge was surprised, but did not show that he was so, as he said: + +"You have done my daughter a great service; but at the cost of much +suffering to yourself, I fear, my lad." + +"I consider myself very fortunate and happy, sir, in having had the +privilege of rendering Miss Merlin any service, at whatever cost to +myself," replied Ishmael, with graceful courtesy. + +More and more astonished at the words and manner of the young workman, +the judge continued: + +"Thank you, young man; very properly spoken--very properly: but for all +that, I must find some way of rewarding you." + +"Sir," said Ishmael, with gentle dignity, "I must beg you will not speak +to me of reward for a simple act of instinctive gallantry that any man, +worthy of the name, would have performed." + +"But with you, young man, the case was different," said the judge +loftily. + +"True, sir," replied our youth, with sweet and courteous dignity, "with +me the case was very different; because, with me, it was a matter of +self-interest; for the service rendered to Miss Merlin was rendered to +myself." + +"I do not understand you, young man," said the judge haughtily. + +"Pardon me, sir. I mean that in saving Miss Merlin from injury I saved +myself from despair. If any harm had befallen her I should have been +miserable; so you perceive, sir, that the act you are good enough to +term a great service was too natural and too selfish to be praised or +rewarded; and so I must beseech you to speak of it in that relation no +more." + +"But what was my daughter to you that you should risk your life for her, +more than for another? or that her maimed limbs or broken neck should +affect you more than others?" + +"Sir, we were old acquaintances; I saw her every day when I went to Mr. +Middleton's, and she was ever exceedingly kind to me," replied Ishmael. + +"Oh! and you lived in that neighborhood?" inquired Judge Merlin, who +immediately jumped to the conclusion that Ishmael had been employed as a +laborer on Mr. Middleton's estate; though still he could not possibly +account for the refinement in Ishmael's manner nor the excellence of his +language. + +"I lived in that neighborhood with my Aunt Hannah until Uncle Reuben +married her, when I accompanied them to this place," answered Ishmael. + +"Ah! and you saw a great deal of Mr. Middleton and--and his family?" + +"I saw them every day, sir; they were very, very kind to me." + +"Every day! then you must have been employed about the house," said the +judge. + +An arch smile beamed in the eyes of Ishmael as he answered: + +"Yes, sir, I was employed about the house--that is to say, in the +schoolroom." + +"Ah! to sweep it out and keep it in order, I suppose; and, doubtless, +there was where you contracted your superior tone of manners and +conversation," thought the judge to himself, but he replied aloud: + +"Well, young man, we will say no more of rewards, since the word is +distasteful to you; but as soon as you can get strong again, I should be +pleased to give you work about the place at fair wages. Our miller wants +a white boy to go around with the grist. Would you like the place?" + +"I thank you, sir, no; my plans for the future are fixed; that is, as +nearly fixed as those of short-sighted mortals can be," smiled Ishmael. + +"Ah, indeed!" exclaimed the judge, raising his eyebrows, "and may I, as +one interested in your welfare, inquire what those plans may be?" + +"Certainly, sir, and I thank you very much for the interest you express, +as well as for all your kindness to me." Ishmael paused for a moment and +then added: + +"On the first of September I shall open the Rushy Shore schoolhouse, for +the reception of day pupils." + +"Whe-ew!" said the judge, with a low whistle, "and do you really mean to +be a schoolmaster?" + +"For the present, sir, until a better one can be found to fill the +place; then, indeed, I shall feel bound in honor and conscience to +resign my post, for I do not believe teaching to be my true vocation." + +"No! I should think not, indeed!" replied Judge Merlin, who of course +supposed the overseer's nephew, notwithstanding the grace and courtesy +of his speech and manner, to be fit for nothing but manual labor. "What +ever induces you to try school-keeping?" he inquired. + +"I am driven to it by my own necessities, and drawn to it by the +necessities of others. In other words, I need employment, and the +neighborhood needs a teacher--and I think, sir, that one who +conscientiously does his best is better than none at all. Those are the +reasons, sir, why I have taken the school, with the intention of keeping +it until a person more competent than myself to discharge its duties +shall be found, when I shall give it up; for, as I said before, teaching +is not my ultimate vocation." + +"What is your 'ultimate vocation,' young man? for I should like to help +you to it," said the judge, still thinking only of manual labor in all +its varieties; "what is it?" + +"Jurisprudence," answered Ishmael. + +"Juris--what?" demanded the judge, as if he had not heard aright. + +"Jurisprudence--the science of human justice; the knowledge of the laws, +customs, and rights of man in communities; the study above all others +most necessary to the due administration of justice in human affairs, +and even in divine, and second only to that of theology," replied +Ishmael, with grave enthusiasm. + +"But--you don't mean to say that you intend to become a lawyer?" +exclaimed the judge, in a state of astonishment that bordered on +consternation. + +"Yes, sir; I intend to be a lawyer, if it please the Lord to bless my +earnest efforts," replied the youth reverently. + +"Why--I am a lawyer!" exclaimed the judge. + +"I am aware that you are a very distinguished one, sir, having risen to +the bench of the Supreme Court of your native State," replied the youth +respectfully. + +The judge remained in a sort of panic of astonishment. The thought in +his mind was this: What--you? you, the nephew of my overseer, have you +the astounding impudence, the madness, to think that you can enter a +profession of which I am a member? + +Ishmael saw that thought reflected in his countenance and smiled to +himself. + +"But--how do you propose ever to become a lawyer?" inquired the judge, +aloud. + +"By reading law," answered Ishmael simply. + +"What! upon your own responsibility?" + +"Upon my own responsibility for a while. I shall try afterwards to +enter the office of some lawyer. I shall use every faculty, try every +means and improve every opportunity that Heaven grants me for this end. +And thus I hope to succeed," said Ishmael gravely. + +"Are you aware," inquired the judge, with a little sarcasm in his tone, +"that some knowledge of the classics is absolutely necessary to the +success of a lawyer?" + +"I am aware that a knowledge of the classics is very desirable in each +and all of what are termed the 'learned professions'; but I did not +know, and I do not think, that it can be absolutely necessary in every +grade of each of these; but if so, it is well for me that I have a fair +knowledge of Latin and Greek," replied Ishmael. + +"What did you say?" inquired the judge, with ever-increasing wonder. + +Ishmael blushed at the perception that while he only meant to state a +fact, he might be suspected of making a boast. + +"Did you say that you knew anything of Latin and Greek?" inquired the +judge, in amazement. + +"Something of both, sir," replied Ishmael modestly. + +"But surely you never picked up a smattering of the classics while +sweeping out Middleton's family schoolroom!" + +"Oh, no, sir!" laughed Ishmael. + +"Where then?" + +Ishmael's reply was lost in the bustling entrance of Doctor Jarvis, whom +Judge Merlin arose to receive. + +The doctor examined the condition of his patient, found him with an +accession of fever, prescribed a complete repose for the remainder of +the day, left some medicine with directions for its administration, and +departed. The judge accompanied the doctor to the door. + +"That is a rather remarkable boy," observed Judge Merlin, as they went +out together. + +"A very remarkable one! Who is he?" asked Doctor Jarvis. + +"The nephew of my overseer, Reuben Gray. That is absolutely all I know +about it." + +"The nephew of Gray? Can it be so? Why, Gray is but an ignorant boor, +while this youth has the manners and education of a gentleman--a +polished gentleman!" exclaimed the doctor, in astonishment. + +"It is true, and I can make nothing of it," said Judge Merlin, shaking +his head. + +"How very strange," mused the doctor, as he mounted his horse, bowed and +rode away. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV. + +CLAUDIA'S PERPLEXITIES. + + Oh, face most fair, shall thy beauty compare + With affection's glowing light? + Oh, riches and pride, how fade ye beside + Love's wealth, serene and bright. + + --_Martin F. Tupper_. + +Judge Merlin went into his well-ordered library, rang the bell, and sent +a servant to call his daughter. + +The messenger found Claudia walking impatiently up and down the +drawing-room floor and turning herself at each wall with an angry jerk. +Claudia had not yet been admitted to see Ishmael. She had just been +refused again by old Katie, who acted upon the doctor's authority, and +Claudia was unreasonably furious with everybody. + +Claudia instantly obeyed the summons. She entered the library with hasty +steps, closed the door with a bang, and stood before her father with +flushed cheeks, sparkling eyes, and heaving bosom. + +"Hey, dey! what's the matter?" asked the judge, taking his pipe from his +mouth and staring at his daughter. + +"You sent for me, papa! I hope it is to take me in to see that poor, +half-crushed boy! What does old Katie mean by forever denying me +entrance? It is not every day that a poor lad risks his life and gets +himself crushed nearly to death in my service, that I should be made to +appear to neglect him in this way! What must the boy think of me? What +does old Katie mean, I ask?" + +"If your nature requires a vehement expression, of course I am not the +one to repress it! Still, in my opinion, vehemency is unworthy of a +rational being, at all times, and especially when, as now, there is not +the slightest occasion for it. You have not willfully neglected the +young man; it is not of the least consequence whether he thinks you +have, or not; and, finally, Katie means to obey the doctor's orders, +which are to keep every living soul out of the sick-room to secure the +patient needful repose. I believe I have answered you, Miss Merlin," +replied the judge, smiling and coolly replacing his pipe in his mouth. + +"Papa, what a disagreeable wet blanket you are, to be sure!" + +"It is my nature to be so, my dear; and I am just what you need to +dampen the fire of your temperament." + +"Are those the orders of the doctor?" + +"What, wet blankets for you?" + +"No; but that everybody must be excluded from Ishmael's room?" + +"Yes; his most peremptory orders, including even me for the present." + +"Then I suppose they must be submitted to?" + +"For the present, certainly." + +Claudia shrugged her shoulders with an impatient gesture, and then said: + +"You sent for me, papa. Was it for anything particular?" + +"Yes; to question you. Have you been long acquainted with this Ishmael +Gray?" + +"Ishmael Worth, papa! Yes, I have known him well ever since you placed +me with my Aunt Middleton," replied Claudia, throwing herself into a +chair. + +The judge was slowly walking up and down the library, and he continued +his walk as he conversed with his daughter. + +"Who is this Ishmael Worth, then?" + +"You know, papa; the nephew of Reuben Gray, or rather of his wife; but +it is the same thing." + +"I know he is the nephew of Reuben Gray; but that explains nothing! Gray +is a rude, ignorant, though well-meaning boor; but this lad is a +refined, graceful, and cultivated young man." + +Claudia made no comment upon this. + +"Now, if you have known him so many years, you ought to be able to +explain this inconsistency. One does not expect to find nightingales in +crows' nests," said the judge. + +Still Miss Merlin was silent. + +"Why don't you speak, my dear?" + +Claudia blushed over her face, neck, and bosom as she answered: + +"Papa, what shall I say? You force me to remember things I would like to +forget. Socially, Ishmael Worth was born the lowest of all the low. +Naturally, he was endowed with the highest moral and intellectual gifts. +He is in a great measure self-educated. In worldly position he is +beneath our feet: in wisdom and goodness he is far, far above our +heads. He is one of nature's princes, but one of society's outcasts." + +"But how has the youth contrived to procure the means of such education +as he has?" inquired the judge, seating himself opposite his daughter. + +"Papa, I will tell you all I know about him," replied Claudia. And she +commenced and related the history of Ishmael's struggles, trials, and +triumphs, from the hour of her first meeting with him in front of +Hamlin's book shop to that of his self-immolation to save her from +death. Claudia spoke with deep feeling. As she concluded her bosom was +heaving, her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes tearful with emotion. + +"And now, papa," she said, as she finished her narrative, "you will +understand why it is that I cannot, must not, will not, neglect him! As +soon as he can bear visitors I must be admitted to his room, to do for +him all that a young sister might do for her brother; no one could +reasonably cavil at that. Papa, Ishmael believes in me more than anyone +else in the world does. He thinks more highly of me than others do. He +knows that there is something better in me than this mere outside beauty +that others praise so foolishly. And I would not like to lose his good +opinion, papa. I could not bear to have him think me cold, selfish, or +ungrateful. So I must and I will help to nurse him." + +"Miss Merlin, you have grown up very much as my trees have, with every +natural eccentricity of growth untrimmed; but I hope you will not let +your branches trail upon the earth." + +"What do you mean, papa?" + +"I hope you do not mean to play Catherine to this boy's Huon in a new +version of the drama of 'Love; or, The Countess and the Serf!" + +"Papa! how can you say such things to your motherless daughter! You know +that I would die first!" exclaimed the imperious girl indignantly, as +she bounced up and flung herself into a passion and out of the room. She +left the door wide open; but had scarcely disappeared before her place +in the doorway was filled up by the tall, gaunt figure, gray head, and +smiling face of Reuben. + +"Well, Gray?" + +"Well, sir, I have brought the farm books all made up to the first of +this month, sir," said the overseer, laying the volumes on the table +before his master. + +"And very neatly and accurately done, too," remarked the judge, as he +turned over the pages and examined the items. "It is not your +handwriting, Gray?" + +"Dear, no, sir! not likely!" + +"Nor little Kitty's?" + +"Why, law, sir! little Kitty has been in Californy a year or more! How +did you like the 'rangement of your liber-airy, sir?" inquired Gray, +with apparent irrelevance, as he glanced around upon the book-lined +walls. + +"Very much, indeed, Gray! I never had my books so well classified. It +was the work of young Ramsey, the schoolmaster, I suppose, and furnished +him with employment during the midsummer holidays. You must tell him +that I am very much pleased with the work and that he must send in his +account immediately." + +"Law bless you, sir; it was not Master Ramsey as did it," said Gray, +with a broad grin. + +"Who, then? Whoever it was, it is all the same to me; I am pleased with +the work, and willing to testify my approval by a liberal payment." + +"It was the same hand, sir, as made out the farm-books." + +"And who was that?" + +"It was my nephew, Ishmael Worth, sir," replied Reuben, with a little +pardonable pride. + +"Ishmael Worth again!" exclaimed the judge. + +"Yes, sir; he done 'em both." + +"That is an intelligent lad of yours, Gray." + +"Well, sir, he is just a wonder." + +"How do you account for his being so different from--from--" + +"From me and Hannah?" inquired the simple Reuben, helping the judge out +of his difficulty. "Well, sir, I s'pose as how his natur' were diff'ent, +and so he growed up diff'ent accordin' to his natur'. Human creeters +differ like wegetables, sir; some one sort and some another. Me and +Hannah, sir, we's like plain 'tatoes; but Ishmael, sir, is like a rich, +bright blooming peach! That's the onliest way as I can explain it, sir." + +"A very satisfactory explanation, Gray! How are Hannah and those +wonderful twins?" + +"Fine, sir; fine, thank Heaven! Miss Claudia was so good as to send word +as how she would come to see Hannah as soon as she was able to see +company. Now Hannah is able to-day, sir, and would be proud to see Miss +Claudia and to show her the babbies." + +"Very well, Gray! I will let my daughter know," said the judge, rising +from his chair. + +Reuben took this as a hint that his departure was desirable, and so he +made his bow and his exit. + +In another moment, however, he reappeared, holding his hat in his hand +and saying: + +"I beg your pardon, sir." + +"Well, what now? what is it, Gray? What's forgotten?" + +"If you please, sir, to give my duty to Miss Claudia, and beg her not to +let poor Hannah know as Ishmael has been so badly hurt. When she missed +him we told her how he was staying up here long of your honor, and she +naturally thinks how he is a-doing some more liber-airy work for you; +and we dar'n't tell her any better or how the truth is, for fear of +heaving of her back, sir." + +"Very well; I will caution Miss Merlin." + +"And I hope, sir, as you and Miss Claudia will pardon the liberty I take +in mentioning of the matter; which I wouldn't go for to do it, if poor +Hannah's safety were not involved." + +"Certainly, certainly, Gray, I can appreciate your feelings as a husband +and father." + +"Thank your honor," said Reuben, as he departed. + +The judge kept his word to the overseer, and the same hour conveyed to +his daughter the invitation and the caution. + +Claudia was moped half to death, and desired nothing better than a +little amusement. So the same afternoon she set out on her walk to +Woodside, followed by her own maid Mattie, carrying a large basket +filled with fine laces, ribbons, and beads to deck the babies, and +wines, cordials, and jellies to nourish the mother. + +On arriving at Woodside Cottage Miss Merlin was met by Sally, the +colored maid of all work, and shown immediately into a neat bedroom on +the ground floor, where she found Hannah sitting in state in her +resting-chair beside her bed, and contemplating with maternal +satisfaction the infant prodigies that lay in a cradle at her feet. + +"Do not attempt to rise! I am so glad to see you looking so well, Mrs. +Gray! I am Miss Merlin," was Claudia's frank greeting, as she approached +Hannah, and held out her hand. + +"Thank you, miss; you are very good to come; and I am glad to see you," +said the proud mother, heartily shaking the hand offered by the visitor. + +"I wish you much joy of your fine children, Mrs. Gray." + +"Thank you very much, miss. Pray sit down. Sally, hand a chair." + +The maid of all work brought one, which Claudia took, saying: + +"Now let me see the twins." + +Hannah stooped and raised the white dimity coverlet, and proudly +displayed her treasures--two fat, round, red-faced babies, calmly +sleeping side by side. + +What woman or girl ever looked upon sleeping infancy without pleasure? +Claudia's face brightened into beaming smiles as she contemplated these +children, and exclaimed: + +"They are beauties! I want you to let me help to dress them up fine, +Mrs. Gray! I have no little brothers and sisters, nor nephews and +nieces; and I should like so much to have a part property in these!" + +"You are too good, Miss Merlin." + +"I am not good at all. I like to have my own way. I should like to pet +and dress these babies. I declare, for the want of a little brother or +sister to pet, I could find it in my heart to dress a doll! See, now, +what I have brought for these babies! Let the basket down, Mattie, and +take the things out." + +Miss Merlin's maid obeyed, and displayed to the astonished eyes of +Hannah yards of cambric, muslin, and lawn, rolls of lace, ribbon, and +beads, and lots of other finery. + +Hannah's eyes sparkled. That good woman had never been covetous for +herself, but for those children she could become so. She had too much +surly pride to accept favors for herself, but for those children she +could do so; not, however, without some becoming hesitation and +reluctance. + +"It is too much, Miss Merlin. All these articles are much too costly for +me to accept, or for the children to wear," she began. + +But Claudia silenced her with: + +"Nonsense! I know very well that you do not in your heart think that +there is anything on earth too fine for those babies to wear. And as for +their being costly, that is my business. Mattie, lay these things on +Mrs. Gray's bureau." + +Again Mattie obeyed her mistress, and then set the empty basket down on +the floor. + +"Now, Mattie, the other basket." + +Mattie brought it. + +"Mrs. Gray, these wines, cordials, and jellies are all of domestic +manufacture--Katie's own make; and she declares them to be the best +possible supports for invalids in your condition," said Miss Merlin, +uncovering the second basket. + +"But really and indeed, miss, you are too kind. I cannot think of +accepting all these good things from you." + +"Mattie, arrange all those pots, jars, and bottles on the mantel shelf, +until somebody comes to take them away," said Claudia, without paying +the least attention to Hannah's remonstrances. + +When this order was also obeyed, and Mattie stood with both baskets on +her arms, waiting for further instructions, Miss Merlin arose, saying: + +"And now, Mrs. Gray, I must bid you good-afternoon. I cannot keep papa +waiting dinner for me. But I will come to see you again to-morrow, if +you will allow me to do so." + +"Miss Merlin, I should be proud and happy to see you as often as you +think fit to come." + +"And, mind, I am to stand god-mother to the twins." + +"Certainly, miss, if you please to do so." + +"By the way, what is to be their names?" + +"John and Mary, miss--after Reuben's father and my mother." + +"Very well; I will be spiritually responsible for John and Mary! +Good-by, Mrs. Gray." + +"Good-by, and thank you, Miss Merlin." + +Claudia shook hands and departed. She had scarcely got beyond the +threshold of the chamber door when she heard the voice of Hannah calling +her back: + +"Miss Merlin!" + +Claudia returned. + +"I beg your pardon, miss; but I hear my nephew, Ishmael Worth, is up at +the house, doing something for the judge." + +"He is up there," answered Claudia evasively. + +"Well, do pray tell him, my dear Miss Merlin, if you please, that I want +to see him as soon as he can possibly get home. Oh! I beg your pardon a +thousand times for taking the liberty of asking you, miss." + +"I will tell him," said Claudia, smiling and retiring. + +When Miss Merlin had gone Hannah stooped and contemplated her own two +children with a mother's insatiable pride and love. Suddenly she burst +into penitential tears and wept. + +Why? + +She was gazing upon her own two fine, healthy, handsome babies, that +were so much admired, so well beloved, and so tenderly cared for; and +she was remembering little Ishmael in his poor orphaned infancy--so +pale, thin, and sickly, so disliked, avoided, and neglected! At this +remembrance her penitent heart melted in remorseful tenderness. The +advent of her own children had shown to Hannah by retrospective action +all the cruelty and hardness of heart she had once felt and shown +towards Ishmael. + +"But I will make it all up to him--poor, dear boy! I will make it all up +to him in the future! Oh, how hard my heart was towards him! as if he +could have helped being born, poor fellow! How badly I treated him! +Suppose now, as a punishment for my sin, I was to die and leave my babes +to be despised, neglected, and wished dead by them as had the care of +'em! How would I feel? although my children are so much healthier and +stronger, and better able to bear neglect than ever Ishmael was, poor, +poor fellow! It is a wonder he ever lived through it all. Surely, only +God sustained him, for he was bereft of nearly all human help. Oh, Nora! +Nora! I never did my duty to your boy; but I will do it now, if God will +only forgive and spare me for the work!" concluded Hannah, as she raised +both her own children to her lap. + +Meanwhile, attended by her maid, Miss Merlin went on her way homeward. +She reached Tanglewood in time for dinner, at six o'clock. + +At table the judge said to her: + +"Well, Claudia! the doctor has been here on his evening visit, and he +says that you may see our young patient in the morning, after he has had +his breakfast; but that no visitor must be admitted to his chamber at +any later hour of the day." + +"Very well, papa. I hope you will give old Katie to understand that, so +she may not give me any trouble when I apply at the door," smiled +Claudia. + +"Katie understands it all, my dear," said the judge. + +And so it was arranged that Claudia should visit her young preserver on +the following morning. + + + + +CHAPTER XLV. + +THE INTERVIEW. + + The lady of his love re-entered there; + She was serene and smiling then, and yet + She knew she was by him beloved--she knew, + For quickly comes such knowledge, that his heart + Was darken'd by her shadow; and she saw + That he was wretched; but she saw not all. + He took her hand, a moment o'er his face + A tablet of unutterable thoughts + Was traced, and then it faded as it came. + + --_Byron_. + +It was as yet early morning; but the day promised to be sultry, and all +the windows of Ishmael's chamber were open to facilitate the freest +passage of air. Ishmael lay motionless upon his cool, white bed, letting +his glances wander abroad, whither his broken limbs could no longer +carry him. + +His room, being a corner one, rejoiced in four large windows, two +looking east and two north. Close up to these windows grew the +clustering woods. Amid their branches even the wildest birds built +nests, and their strange songs mingled with the rustle of the golden +green leaves as they glimmered in the morning sun and breeze. + +It was a singular combination, that comfortable room, abounding in all +the elegancies of the highest civilization, and that untrodden +wilderness in which the whip-poor-will cried and the wild eagle +screamed. + +And Ishmael, as he looked through the dainty white-draped windows into +the tremulous shadows of the wood, understood how the descendant of +Powhatan, weary of endless brick walls, dusty streets, and crowded +thoroughfares, should, as soon as he was free from official duties, fly +to the opposite extreme of all these--to his lodge in this unbroken +forest, where scarcely a woodman's ax had sounded, where scarcely a +human foot had fallen. He sympathized with the "monomania" of Randolph +Merlin in not permitting a thicket to be thinned out, a road to be +opened, or a tree to be trimmed on his wild woodland estate; so that +here at least, nature should have her own way, with no hint of the +world's labor and struggle to disturb her vital repose. + +As these reveries floated through the clear, active brain of the invalid +youth, the door of his chamber softly opened. + +Why did Ishmael's heart bound in his bosom, and every pulse throb? + +She stood within the open doorway! How lovely she looked, with her soft, +white muslin morning dress floating freely around her graceful form, and +her glittering jet black ringlets shading her snowy forehead, shadowy +eyes, and damask cheeks! + +She closed the door as softly as she had opened it, and advanced into +the room. + +Old Katie arose from some obscure corner and placed a chair for her near +the head of Ishmael's bed on his right side. + +Claudia sank gently into this seat and turned her face towards Ishmael, +and attempted to speak; but a sudden, hysterical rising in her throat +choked her voice. + +Her eyes had taken in all at a glance!--the splintered leg, the bandaged +arm, the plastered chest, the ashen complexion, the sunken cheeks and +the hollow eyes of the poor youth; and utterance failed her! + +But Ishmael gently and respectfully pressed the hand she had given him, +and smiled as he said: + +"It is very kind of you to come and see me, Miss Merlin. I thank you +earnestly." For, however strong Ishmael's emotions might have been, he +possessed the self-controlling power of an exalted nature. + +"Oh, Ishmael!" was all that Claudia found ability to say; her voice was +choked, her bosom heaving, her face pallid. + +"Pray, pray, do not disturb yourself, Miss Merlin; indeed I am doing +very well," said the youth, smiling. The next instant he turned away his +face; it was to conceal a spasm of agony that suddenly sharpened all his +features, blanched his lips, and forced the cold sweat out on his brow. +But Claudia had seen it. + +"Oh, I fear you suffer very much," she said. + +The spasm had passed as quickly as it came. He turned to her his smiling +eyes. + +"I fear you suffer very, very much," she repeated, looking at him. + +"Oh, no, not much; see how soon the pain passed away." + +"Ah! but it was so severe while it lasted! I saw that it caught your +breath away! I saw it, though you tried to hide it! Ah! you do suffer, +Ishmael! and for me! me," she cried, forgetting her pride in the excess +of her sympathy. + +The smile in Ishmael's dark blue eyes deepened to ineffable tenderness +and beauty as he answered softly: + +"It is very, very sweet to suffer for--one we esteem and honor." + +"I am not worth an hour of your pain!" exclaimed Claudia, with something +very like self-reproach. + +"Oh, Miss Merlin, if you knew how little I should value my life in +comparison with your safety." Ishmael paused; for he felt that perhaps +he was going too far. + +"I think that you have well proved how ready you are to sacrifice your +life for the preservation, not only of your friends, but of your very +foes! I have not forgotten your rescue of Alf and Ben Burghe," said the +heiress emphatically, yet a little coldly, as if, while anxious to give +him the fullest credit and the greatest honor for courage, generosity, +and magnanimity, she was desirous to disclaim any personal interest he +might feel for herself. + +"There is a difference, Miss Merlin," said Ishmael, with gentle dignity. + +"Oh, I suppose there is; one would rather risk one's life for a friend +than for an enemy," replied Claudia icily. + +"I have displeased you, Miss Merlin; I am very sorry for it. Pray, +forgive me," said Ishmael, with a certain suave and stately courtesy, +for which the youth was beginning to be noted. + +"Oh, you have not displeased me, Ishmael! How could you, you who have +just risked and almost sacrificed your life to save mine! No, you have +not displeased; but you have surprised me! I would not have had you run +any risk for me, Ishmael, that you would not have run for the humblest +negro on my father's plantation; that is all." + +"Miss Merlin, I would have run any risk to save anyone at need; but I +might not have borne the after consequences in all cases with equal +patience--equal pleasure. Ah, Miss Merlin, forgive me, if I am now happy +in my pain! forgive me this presumption, for it is the only question at +issue between us," said the youth, with a pleading glance. + +"Oh, Ishmael, let us not talk any more about me! Talk of yourself. Tell +me how you are, and where you feel pain." + +"Nowhere much, Miss Merlin." + +"Papa told me that two of your limbs were broken and your chest injured, +and now I see all that for myself." + +"My injuries are doing very well. My broken bones are knitting together +again as fast as they possibly can, my physician says." + +"But that is a very painful process I fear," said Claudia +compassionately. + +"Indeed, no; I do not find it so." + +"Ah! your face shows what you endure. It is your chest, then, that hurts +you?" + +"My chest is healing very rapidly. Do not distress your kind heart, Miss +Merlin; indeed, I am doing very well." + +"You are very patient, and therefore you will do well, if you are not +doing so now. Ishmael, now that I am permitted to visit you, I shall +come every day. But they have limited me to fifteen minutes' stay this +morning, and my time is up. Good-morning, Ishmael." + +"Good-morning, Miss Merlin. May the Lord bless you," said Ishmael, +respectfully pressing the hand she gave him. + +"I will come again to-morrow; and then if you continue to grow better, I +may be allowed to remain with you for half an hour," she said, rising. + +"Thank you, Miss Merlin; I shall try to grow better; you have given me a +great incentive to improvement." + +Claudia's face grew grave again. She bowed coldly and left the room. + +As soon as the door had closed behind her Ishmael's long-strained nerves +became relaxed, and his countenance changed again in one of those awful +spasms of pain to which he was now so subject. The paroxysm, kept off by +force of will, for Claudia's sake, during her stay, now took its revenge +by holding the victim longer in its grasp. A minute or two of mortal +agony and then is was past, and the patient was relieved. + +"I don't know what you call pain; but if dis'ere aint pain, I don't want +to set no worser de longest day as ever I live!" exclaimed Katie, who +stood by the bedside wiping the deathly dew from the icy brow of the +sufferer. + +"But you see--it lasts so short a time--it is already gone," gasped +Ishmael faintly. "It is no sooner come than gone," he added, with a +smile. + +"And no sooner gone, nor come again! And a-most taking of your life when +it do come!" said Katie, placing a cordial to the ashen lips of the +sufferer. + +The stimulant revived his strength, brought color to his cheeks and +light to his eyes. + +Ishmael's next visitor was Reuben Gray, who was admitted to see him for +a few minutes only. This was Reuben's first visit to the invalid, and +as under the transient influence of the stimulant Ishmael looked +brighter than usual, Reuben thought that he must be getting on +remarkably well, and congratulated him accordingly. + +Ishmael smilingly returned the compliment by wishing Gray joy of his son +and daughter. + +Reuben grinned with delight and expatiated on their beauty, until it was +time for him to take leave. + +"Your Aunt Hannah don't know as you've been hurt, my boy; we dar'n't +tell her, for fear of the consequences. But now as you really do seem to +be getting on so well, and as she is getting strong so fast, and +continually asking arter you, I think I will just go and tell her all +about it, and as how there is no cause to be alarmed no more," said +Reuben, as he stood, hat in hand, by Ishmael's bed. + +"Yes, do, Uncle Reuben, else she will think I neglect her," pleaded +Ishmael. + +Reuben promised, and then took his departure. + +That was the last visit Ishmael received that day. + +Reuben kept his word, and as soon as he got home he gradually broke to +Hannah the news of Ishmael's accident, softening the matter as much as +possible, softening it out of all truth, for when the anxious woman +insisted on knowing exactly the extent of her nephew's injuries, poor +Reuben, alarmed for the effect upon his wife's health, boldly affirmed +that there was nothing worse in Ishmael's case than a badly sprained +ankle, that confined him to the house! And it was weeks longer before +Hannah heard the truth of the affair. + +The next day Claudia Merlin repeated her visit to Ishmael, and remained +with him for half an hour. + +And from that time she visited his room daily, increasing each day the +length of her stay. + +Ishmael's convalescence was very protracted. The severe injuries that +must have caused the death of a less highly vitalized human creature +really confined Ishmael for weeks to his bed and for months to the +house. It was four weeks before he could leave his bed for a sofa. And +it was about that time that Hannah got out again; and incredulous, +anxious, and angry all at once, walked up to Tanglewood to find out for +herself whether it was a "sprained ankle" only that kept her nephew +confined there. + +Mrs. Gray was shown at once to the convalescent's room, where Ishmael, +whose very breath was pure truth, being asked, told her all about his +injuries. + +Poor Hannah wept tears of retrospective pity; but did not in her inmost +heart blame Gray for the "pious fraud" he had practiced with the view of +saving her own feelings at a critical time. She would have had Ishmael +conveyed immediately to Woodside, that she might nurse him herself; but +neither the doctor, the judge, nor the heiress would consent to his +removal; and so Hannah had to submit to their will and leave her nephew +where he was. But she consoled herself by walking over every afternoon +to see Ishmael. + +Claudia usually spent several hours of the forenoon in Ishmael's +company. He was still very weak, pale, and thin. His arm was in a sling, +and as it was his right arm, as well as his right leg that had been +broken, he could not use a crutch; so that he was confined all day to +the sofa or the easy-chair, in which his nurse would place him in the +morning. + +Claudia devoted herself to his amusement with all a sister's care. She +read to him; sung to him, accompanying her song with the guitar; and she +played chess--Ishmael using his left hand to move the pieces. + +Claudia knew that this gifted boy worshiped her with a passionate love +that was growing deeper, stronger, and more ardent every day. She knew +that probably his peace of mind would be utterly wrecked by his fatal +passion. She knew all this, and yet she would not withdraw herself, +either suddenly or gradually. The adoration of this young, pure, exalted +soul was an intoxicating incense that had become a daily habit and +necessity to the heiress. But she tacitly required it to be a silent +offering. So long as her lover worshiped her only with his eyes, tones, +and manners, she was satisfied, gracious, and cordial; but the instant +he was betrayed into any words of admiration or interest in her, she +grew cold and haughty, she chilled and repelled him. + +And yet she did not mean to trifle with his affections or destroy his +peace; but--it was very dull in the country, and Claudia had nothing +else to occupy and interest her mind and heart. Besides, she really did +appreciate and admire the wonderfully endowed peasant boy as much as she +possibly could in the case of one so immeasurably far beneath her in +rank. And she really did take more pride and delight in the society of +Ishmael than in that of any other human being she had ever met. And +yet, had it been possible that Ishmael should have been acknowledged by +his father and invested with the name, arms, and estate of Brudenell, +Claudia Merlin, in her present mood of mind, would have died and seen +him die, before she would have given her hand to one upon whose birth a +single shade of reproach was even suspected to rest. + +Meanwhile Ishmael reveled in what would have been a fool's paradise to +most young men in similar circumstances,--but which really was not such +to him, dreaming those dreams of youth, the realization of which would +have been impossible to nine hundred and ninety-nine in a thousand +situated as he was, but which intellect and will made quite probable for +him. With his master mind and heart he read Claudia Merlin thoroughly, +and understood her better than she understood herself. In his secret +soul he knew that every inch of progress made in her favor was a +permanent conquest never to be yielded up. And loving her as loyally as +ever knight loved lady, he let her deceive herself by thinking she was +amusing herself at his expense, for he was certain of ultimate victory. + +Other thoughts also occupied Ishmael. The first of September, the time +for opening the Rushy Shore school, had come, and the youth was still +unable to walk. Under these circumstances, he wrote a note to the agent, +Brown, and told him that it would be wrong to leave the school shut up +while the children of the neighborhood remained untaught, and requested +him to seek another teacher. + +It cost the youth some self-sacrifice to give up this last chance of +employment; but we already know that Ishmael never hesitated a moment +between duty and self-interest. + +September passed. Those who have watched surgical cases in military +hospitals know how long it takes a crushed and broken human body to +recover the use of its members. It was late in October before Ishmael's +right arm was strong enough to support the crutch that was needed to +relieve the pressure upon his right leg when he attempted to walk. + +It was about this time that Judge Merlin was heard often to complain of +the great accumulation of correspondence upon his hands. + +Ishmael, ever ready to be useful, modestly tendered his services to +assist. + +After a little hesitation, the judge thanked the youth and accepted his +offer. And the next day Ishmael was installed in a comfortable leather +chair in the library, with his crutch beside him and a writing table +covered with letters to be read and answered before him. These letters +were all open, and each had a word or a line penciled upon it indicating +the character of the answer that was to be given. Upon some was simply +written the word "No"; upon others, "Yes"; upon others again, "Call on +me when I come to town"; and so forth. All this, of course, Ishmael had +to put into courteous language, using his own judgment after reading the +letters. + +Of course it was the least important part of his correspondence that +Judge Merlin put into his young assistant's hands; but, notwithstanding +that, the trust was a very responsible one. Even Ishmael doubted whether +he could discharge such unfamiliar duties with satisfaction to his +employer. + +He worked diligently all that day, however, and completed the task that +had been laid out for him before the bell rung for the late dinner. Then +he arose and respectfully called the judge's attention to the finished +work, and bowed and left the room. + +With something like curiosity and doubt the judge went up to the table +and opened and read three or four of the letters written for him by his +young amanuensis. And as he read, surprise and pleasure lighted up his +countenance. + +"The boy is a born diplomatist! I should not wonder if the world should +hear of him some day, after all!" he said, as he read letter after +letter that had been left unsealed for his optional perusal. In these +letters he found his own hard "No's" expressed with a courtesy that +softened them even to the most bitterly disappointed; his arrogant +"Yes's," with a delicacy that could not wound the self-love of the most +sensitive petitioner; and his intermediate, doubtful answers rendered +with a clearness of which by their very nature they seemed incapable. + +"The boy is a born diplomatist," repeated the judge in an accession of +astonishment. + +But he was wrong in his judgment of Ishmael. If the youth's style of +writing was gracious, courteous, delicate, it was because his inmost +nature was pure, refined, and benignant. If his letters denying favors +soothed rather than offended the applicant, and of those granting favors +flattered rather than humiliated the petitioner, it was because of that +angelic attribute of Ishmael's soul that made it so painful to him to +give pain, so delightful to impart delight. There was no thought of +diplomatic dealing in all Ishmael's truthful soul. + +The judge was excessively pleased with his young assistant. Judge Merlin +was an excellent lawyer, but no orator, and never had been, nor could be +one. He had not himself the gift of eloquence either in speaking or +writing; and, therefore, perhaps he was the more astonished and pleased +to find it in the possession of his letter-writer. He was pleased to +have his correspondence well written, for it reflected credit upon +himself. + +Under the influence of his surprise and pleasure he took up his hand +full of letters and went directly to Ishmael's room. He found the youth +seated in his arm-chair engaged in reading. + +"What have you there?" inquired Judge Merlin. + +Ishmael smiled and turned the title-page to his questioner. + +"Humph! 'Coke upon Lyttleton.' Lay it down, Ishmael, and attend to me," +said the judge, drawing a chair and seating himself beside the youth. + +Ishmael immediately closed the book and gave the most respectful +attention. + +"I am very much pleased with the manner in which you have accomplished +your task, Ishmael. You have done your work remarkably well! So well +that I should like to give you longer employment," he said. + +Ishmael's heart leaped in his bosom. + +"Thank you, sir; I am very glad you are satisfied with me," he replied. + +"Let us see now, this is the fifteenth of October; I shall remain here +until the first of December, when we go to town; a matter of six weeks; +and I shall be glad, Ishmael, during the interval of my stay here, to +retain you as my assistant. What say you?" + +"Indeed, sir, I shall feel honored and happy in serving you." + +"I will give you what I consider a fair compensation for so young a +beginner. By the way, how old are you?" + +"I shall be nineteen in December." + +"Very well; I will give you twenty dollars a month and your board." + +"Judge Merlin," said Ishmael, as his pale face flushed crimson, "I shall +feel honored and happy in serving you; but from you I cannot consent to +receive any compensation." + +The judge stared at the speaker with astonishment that took all power of +reply away; but Ishmael continued: + +"Consider, sir, the heavy obligations under which I already rest towards +you, and permit me to do what I can to lighten the load." + +"What do you mean? What the deuce are you talking about?" at last asked +the judge. + +"Sir, I have been an inmate of your house for nearly three months, +nursed, tended, and cared for as if I had been a son of the family. What +can I render you for all these benefits? Sir, my gratitude and services +are due to you, are your own. Pray, therefore, do not mention +compensation to me again," replied the youth. + +"Young man, you surprise me beyond measure. Your gratitude and services +due to me? For what, pray? For taking care of you when you were +dangerously injured in my service? Did you not receive all your injuries +in saving my daughter from a violent death? After that, who should have +taken care of you but me? 'Taken care of you?' I should take care of all +your future! I should give you a fortune, or a profession, or some other +substantial compensation for your great service, to clear accounts +between us!" exclaimed the judge. + +Ishmael bowed his head. Oh, bitterest of all bitter mortifications! To +hear her father speak to him of reward for saving Claudia's life! To +think how everyone was so far from knowing that in saving Claudia he had +saved himself! He had a right to risk his life for Claudia, and no one, +not even her father, had a right to insult him by speaking of reward! +Claudia was his own; Ishmael knew it, though no one on earth, not even +the heiress herself, suspected it. + +The judge watched the youth as he sat with his fine young forehead bowed +thoughtfully upon his hand; and Judge Merlin understood Ishmael's +reluctance to receive pay; but did not understand the cause of it. + +"Come, my boy," he said; "you are young and inexperienced. You cannot +know much of life. I am an old man of the world, capable of advising +you. You should follow my advice." + +"Indeed, I will gratefully do so, sir," said Ishmael, raising his head, +glad, amid all his humiliation, to be advised by Claudia's father. + +"Then, my boy, you must reflect that it would be very improper for me to +avail myself of your really valuable assistance without giving you a +reasonable compensation; and that, in short, I could not do it," said +the judge firmly. + +"Do you regard the question in that light, sir?" inquired Ishmael +doubtingly. + +"Most assuredly. It is the only true light in which to regard it." + +"Then I have no option but to accept your own terms, sir. I will serve +you gladly and gratefully, to the best of my ability," concluded the +youth. + +And the affair was settled to their mutual satisfaction. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVI. + +NEW LIFE. + + Oh, mighty perseverance! + Oh, courage, stern and stout! + That wills and works a clearance + Of every troubling doubt, + That cannot brook denial + And scarce allows delay, + But wins from every trial + More strength for every day! + + --_M.F. Tupper_. + +When the judge met his daughter at dinner that evening, he informed her +of the new arrangement affected with Ishmael Worth. + +Miss Merlin listened in some surprise, and then asked: + +"Was it well done, papa?" + +"What, Claudia?" + +"The making of that engagement with Ishmael." + +"I think so, my dear, as far as I am interested, at least, and I shall +endeavor to make the arrangement profitable also to the youth." + +"And he is to remain with us until we go to town?" + +"Yes, my dear; but you seem to demur, Claudia. Now what is the matter? +What possible objection can there be to Ishmael Worth remaining here as +my assistant until we go to town?" + +"Papa, it will be accustoming him to a society and style that will make +it very hard for him to return to the company of the ignorant men and +women who have hitherto been his associates," said Claudia. + +"But why should he return to them? Young Worth is very talented and well +educated. He works to enable him to study a profession. There is no +reason on earth why he should not succeed. He looks like a gentleman, +talks like a gentleman, and behaves like a gentleman! And there is +nothing to prevent his becoming a gentleman." + +"Oh, yes, there is, papa! Yes, there is!" exclaimed Claudia, with +emotion. + +"To what do you allude, my dear?" + +"To his--low birth, papa!" exclaimed Claudia, with a gasp. + +"His low birth? Claudia! do we live in a republic or not? If we do, what +is the use of our free institutions, if a deserving young man is to be +despised on account of his birth? Claudia, in the circle of my +acquaintance there are at least half-a-dozen prosperous men who were the +sons of poor but respectable parents." + +"Yes! poor, but--respectable!" ejaculated Claudia, with exceeding +bitterness. + +"My daughter, what do you mean by that? Surely young Worth's family are +honest people?" inquired the judge. + +"Ishmael's parents were not respectable! his mother was never married! I +heard this years ago, but did not believe it. I heard it confirmed +to-day!" cried Claudia, with a gasp and a sob, as she sank back in her +chair and covered her burning face with her hands. + +The judge laid down his knife and fork and gazed at his daughter, +muttering: + +"That is unfortunate; very unfortunate! No, he will never get over that +reproach; so far, you are right, Claudia." + +"Oh, no, I am wrong; basely wrong! He saved my life, and I speak these +words of him, as if he were answerable for the sins of others--as if his +great misfortune was his crime! Poor Ishmael! Poor, noble-hearted boy! +He saved my life, papa, at the price of deadly peril and terrible +suffering to himself. Oh, reward him well, lavishly, munificently; but +send him away! I cannot bear his presence here!" exclaimed the excited +girl. + +"Claudia, it is natural that you should be shocked at hearing such a +piece of news; which, true or false, certainly ought never to have been +brought to your ear. But, my dear, there is no need of all this +excitement on your part. I do not understand its excess. The youth is a +good, intelligent, well-mannered boy, when all is said. Of course he can +never attain the position of a gentleman; but that is no reason why he +should be utterly cast out. And as to sending him away, now, there are +several reasons why I cannot do that: In the first place, he is not able +to go; in the second, I need his pen; in the third, I have made an +engagement with him which I will not break. As for the rest, Claudia, +you need not be troubled with a sight of him; I will take care that he +does not intrude upon your presence," said the judge, as he arose from +the table. + +Claudia threw on her garden hat and hurried out of the house to bury +herself in the shadows of the forest. That day she had learned, from the +gossip of old Mrs. Jones, who was on a visit to a married daughter in +the neighborhood, Ishmael's real history, or what was supposed to be his +real history. She had struggled for composure all day long, and only +utterly lost her self-possession in the conversation with her father at +the dinner-table. Now she sought the depths of the forest, because she +could not bear the sight of a human face. Her whole nature was divided +and at war with itself. All that was best in Claudia Merlin's heart and +mind was powerfully and constantly attracted by the moral and +intellectual excellence of Ishmael Worth; but all the prejudices of her +rank and education were revolted by the circumstances attending his +birth, and were up in arms against the emotions of her better nature. + +In what consists the power of the quiet forest shades to calm fierce +human passions? I know not; but it is certain that, after walking two or +three hours through their depths communing with her own spirit, Claudia +Merlin returned home in a better mood to meet her father at the +tea-table. + +"Papa," she said, as she seated herself at the head of the table and +made tea, "you need not trouble yourself to keep Ishmael out of my way. +Dreadful as this discovery is, he is not to blame, poor boy. And I think +we had better not make any change in our treatment of him; he would be +wounded by our coldness; he would not understand it and we could not +explain. Besides, the six weeks will soon be over, and then we shall be +done with him." + +"I am glad to hear you say so, my dear; especially as I had invited +Ishmael to join us at tea this evening, and forgotten to tell you of it +until this moment. But, Claudia, my little girl," said the judge, +scrutinizing her pale cheeks and heavy eyes, "you must not take all the +sin and sorrows of the world as much to heart as you have this case; +for, if you do, you will be an old woman before you are twenty years of +age." + +Claudia smiled faintly; but before she could reply the regular +monotonous thump of a crutch, was heard approaching the door, and in +another moment Ishmael stood within the room. + +There was nothing in that fine intellectual countenance, with its fair, +broad, calm forehead, thoughtful eyes, and finely curved lips, to +suggest the idea of an ignoble birth. With a graceful bow and sweet +smile and a perfectly well-bred manner, Ishmael approached and took his +seat at the table. The judge took his crutch and set it up in the +corner, saying: + +"I see you have discarded one crutch, my boy! You will be able to +discard the other in a day or so." + +"Yes, sir; I only retain this one in compliance with the injunctions of +the doctor, who declares that I must not bear full weight upon the +injured limb yet," replied Ishmael courteously. + +No one could have supposed from the manner of the youth that he had not +been accustomed to mingle on equal terms in the best society. + +Claudia poured out the tea. She was not deficient in courtesy; but she +could not bring herself, as yet, to speak to Ishmael with her usual ease +and freedom. When tea was over she excused herself and retired. Claudia +was not accustomed to seek Divine help. And so, in one of the greatest +straits of her moral experience, without one word of prayer, she threw +herself upon her bed, where she lay tossing about, as yet too agitated +with mental conflict to sleep. + +Ishmael improved in health and grew in favor with his employer. He +walked daily from his chamber to the library without the aid of a +crutch. He took his meals with the family. And oh! ruinous extravagance, +he wore his Sunday suit every day! There was no help for it, since he +must sit in the judge's library and eat at the judge's table. + +Claudia treated him well; with the inconsistency of girlish nature, +since she had felt such a revulsion towards him, and despite of it +resolved to be kind to him, she went to the extreme and treated him +better than ever. + +The judge was unchanged in his manner to the struggling youth. + +And so the time went on and the month of November arrived. + +Ishmael kept the Rushy Shore schoolhouse in mind. Up to this time no +schoolmaster had been found to undertake its care. And Ishmael resolved +if it should remain vacant until his engagement with the judge should be +finished, he would then take it himself. + +All this while Ishmael, true to the smallest duty, had not neglected +Reuben Gray's account-books. They had been brought to him by Gray every +week to be posted up. But it was the second week in November before +Ishmael was able to walk to Woodside to see Hannah's babes, now fine +children of nearly three months of age. Of course Ishmael, in the +geniality of his nature, was delighted with them; and equally, of +course, he delighted their mother with their praises. + +The last two weeks in November were devoted by the judge and his family +to preparations for their departure. + +As the time slipped and the interval of their stay grew shorter and +shorter, Ishmael began to count the days, treasuring each precious day +that still gave him to the sight of Claudia. + +On the last day but one before their departure, all letters having been +finished, the judge was in his library, selecting books to be packed and +sent off to his city residence. Ishmael was assisting him. When their +task was completed, the judge turned to the youth and said: + +"Now, Ishmael, I will leave the keys of the library in your possession. +You will come occasionally to see that all is right here; and you will +air and dust the books, and in wet weather have a fire kindled to keep +them from molding, for in the depths of this forest it is very damp in +winter. In recompense for your care of the library, Ishmael, I will give +you the use of such law books as you may need to continue your studies. +Here is a list of works that I recommend you to read in the order in +which they are written down," said the judge, handing the youth a folded +paper. + +"I thank you, sir; I thank you very much," answered Ishmael fervently. + +"You can either read them here, or take them home with you, just as you +please," continued the judge. + +"You are very kind, and I am very grateful, sir." + +"It seems to me I am only just, and scarcely that, Ishmael! The county +court opens at Shelton on the first of December. I would strongly +recommend you to attend its sessions and watch its trials; it will be a +very good school for you, and a great help to the progress of your +studies." + +"Thank you, sir, I will follow your advice." + +"And after a while I hope you will be able to go for a term or two to +one of the good Northern law schools." + +"I hope so, sir; and for that purpose I must work hard." + +"And if you should ever succeed in getting admitted to the bar, +Ishmael, I should advise you to go to the Far West. It may seem +premature to give you this counsel now, but I give it, while I think of +it, because after parting with you I may never see you again." + +"Again I thank you, Judge Merlin; but if ever that day of success should +come for me, it will find me in my native State. I have an especial +reason for fixing my home here; and here I must succeed or fail!" said +Ishmael earnestly, as he thought of his mother's early death and +unhonored grave, and his vow to rescue her memory from reproach. + +"It appears to me that your native place would be the last spot on earth +where you, with your talents, would consent to remain," said the judge +significantly. + +"I have a reason--a sacred reason, sir," replied Ishmael earnestly, yet +with some reserve in his manner. + +"A reason 'with which the stranger intermeddleth not,' I suppose?" + +Ishmael bowed gravely, in assent. + +"Very well, my young friend; I will not inquire what it may be," said +Judge Merlin, who was busying himself at his writing bureau, among some +papers, from which he selected one, which he brought forward to the +youth, saying: + +"Here, Ishmael--here is a memorandum of your services, which I have +taken care to keep; for I knew full well that if I waited for you to +present me a bill, I might wait forever. You will learn to do such +things, however, in time. Now I find by my memorandum that I owe you +about sixty dollars. Here is the money. There, now, do not draw back and +flush all over your face at the idea of taking money you have well +earned. Oh, but you will get over that in time, and when you are a +lawyer you will hold out your hand for a thumping fee before you give an +opinion on a case!" laughed the judge, as he forced a roll of banknotes +into Ishmael's hands, and left the library. + +The remainder of the day was spent in sending off wagon loads of boxes +to the landing on the river side, where they were taken off by a +rowboat, and conveyed on board the "Canvas Back," that lay at anchor +opposite Tanglewood, waiting for the freight, to transport it to the +city. + +On the following Saturday morning the judge and his daughter left +Tanglewood for Washington. They traveled in the private carriage, driven +by the heroic Sam, and attended by a mounted groom. The parting, which +shook Ishmael's whole nature like a storm, nearly rending soul and body +asunder, seemed to have but little effect upon Miss Merlin. She went +through it with great decorum, shaking hands with Ishmael, wishing him +success, and hoping to see him, some fine day, on the bench! + +This Claudia said laughing, as with good-humored raillery. + +But Ishmael bowed very gravely, and though his heart was breaking, +answered calmly: + +"I hope so too, Miss Merlin. We shall see." + +"Au revoir!" said Claudia, her eyes sparkling with mirth. + +"Until we meet!" answered Ishmael solemnly, as he closed the carriage +door and gave the coachman the word to drive off. + +As the carriage rolled away the beautiful girl, who was its sole +passenger, and whose eyes had been sparkling with mirth but an instant +before, now threw her hands up to her face, fell back in her seat, and +burst into a tempest of sobs and tears. + +Ignorant of what was going on within its curtained inclosure, Ishmael +remained standing and gazing after the vanishing carriage, which was +quickly lost to view in the deep shadows of the forest road, until Judge +Merlin, who at the last moment had decided to travel on horseback, rode +up to take leave of him and follow the carriage. + +"Well, good-by, my young friend! Take care of yourself," were the last +adieus of the judge, as he shook hands with Ishmael, and rode away. + +"I wish you a pleasant journey, sir," were the final words of Ishmael, +sent after the galloping horse. + +Then the young man, with desolation in his heart, turned into the house +to set the library in order, lock it up, and remove his own few personal +effects from the premises. + +Reuben Gray, who had come up to assist the judge, receive his final +orders, and see him off, waited outside with his light wagon to take +Ishmael and his luggage home to Woodside. Reuben helped Ishmael to +transfer his books, clothing, etc., to the little wagon. And then +Ishmael, after having taken leave of Aunt Katie, and left a small +present in her hand, jumped into his seat and was driven off by Reuben. + +The arrangement at Tanglewood had occupied nearly the whole of the short +winter forenoon, so that it was twelve o'clock meridian when they +reached Woodside. + +They found a very comfortable sitting room awaiting them. Reuben in the +pride of paternity had refurnished it. There was a warm red carpet on +the floor; warm red curtains at the windows; a bright fire burning in +the fireplace; a neat dinner-table set out, and, best of all, Hannah +seated in a low rocking chair, with one rosy babe on her lap and another +in the soft, white cradle bed by her side. Hannah laid the baby she held +beside its brother in the cradle, and arose and went to Ishmael, warmly +welcoming him home again, saying: + +"Oh, my dear boy, I am so glad you have come back! I will make you +happier with us, lad, than you have ever been before." + +"You have always been very good to me, Aunt Hannah," said Ishmael +warmly, returning her embrace. + +"No, I haven't, Ishmael, no, I haven't, my boy; but I will be. Sally, +bring in the fish directly. You know very well that Ishmael don't like +rock-fish boiled too much," she said by way of commencement. + +The order was immediately obeyed, and the family sat down to the table. +The thrifty overseer's wife had provided a sumptuous dinner in honor of +her nephew's return. The thriving overseer could afford to be +extravagant once in a while. Ah! very different were those days of +plenty at Woodside to those days of penury at the Hill hut. And Hannah +thought of the difference, as she dispensed the good things from the +head of her well-supplied table. The rock-fish with egg sauce was +followed by a boiled ham and roast ducks with sage dressing, and the +dinner was finished off with apple pudding and mince pies and new cider. + +Ishmael tried his best to do justice to the luxuries affection had +provided for him; but after all he could not satisfy the expectation of +Hannah, who complained bitterly of his want of appetite. + +After dinner, when the young man had gone upstairs to arrange his books +and clothes in his own room, and had left Hannah and Reuben alone, +Hannah again complained of Ishmael's derelictions to the duty of the +dinner-table. + +"It's no use talking, Hannah; he can't help it. His heart is so full--so +full, that he aint got room in his insides for no victuals! And that's +just about the truth on't. 'Twas the same with me when I was young and +in love long o' you! And wa'n't you contrairy nyther? Lord, Hannah, why +when you used to get on your high horse with me, I'd be offen my feed +for weeks and weeks together. My heart would be swelled up to my very +throat, and my stomach wouldn't be nowhar!" + +"Reuben, don't be a fool, it's not becoming in the father of a family," +said Mrs. Hannah, proudly glancing at the twins. + +"Law, so it isn't, so it isn't, Hannah, woman. But surely I was only +a-telling of you what ailed Ishmael, as he was off his feed." + +"But what foolishness and craziness and sottishness for Ishmael to be in +love with Miss Merlin!" exclaimed Hannah impatiently. + +"Law, woman, who ever said love was anything else but craziness and the +rest of it," laughed Gray. + +"But Miss Merlin thinks no more of Ishmael than she does of the dirt +under her feet," said Hannah bitterly. + +"Begging your pardon, she thinks a deal more of him than she'd like +anybody to find out," said honest Reuben, winking. + +"How did you find it out then?" inquired his wife. + +"Law, Hannah, I haven't been fried and froze, by turn, with all sorts of +fever and ague love fits, all the days of my youth, without knowing of +the symptoms. And I tell you as how the high and mighty heiress, Miss +Claudia Merlin, loves the very buttons on our Ishmael's coat better nor +she loves the whole world and all the people in it besides. And no +wonder! for of all the young men as ever I seed, gentlemen or +workingmen, Ishmael Worth is the handsomest in his looks, and his +manners, and his speech, and all. And I believe, though I am not much of +a judge, as he is the most intelligentest and book-larnedest. I never +seed his equal yet. Why, Hannah, I don't believe as there is e'er a +prince a-livin' as has finer manners--I don't!" + +"But, Reuben, do you mean what you say? Do you really think Miss Claudia +Merlin condescends to like Ishmael? I have heard of ladies doing such +strange things sometimes; but Miss Claudia Merlin!" + +"I told you, and I tell you again, as she loves the very buttons offen +Ishmael's coat better nor she loves all the world besides. But she is as +proud as Lucifer, and ready to tear her own heart out of her bosom for +passion and spite, because she can't get Ishmael out of it! She'll never +marry him, if you mean that; though I know sometimes young ladies will +marry beneath them for love; but Miss Merlin will never do that. She +would fling herself into burning fire first!" + +The conversation could go no farther, for the subject of it was heard +coming down the stairs, and the next moment he opened the door and +entered the room. + +He took a seat near Hannah, smiling and saying: + +"For this one afternoon I will take a holiday, Aunt Hannah, and enjoy +the society of yourself and the babies." + +"So do, Ishmael," replied the pleased and happy mother. And in the very +effort to shake off his gloom and please and be pleased, Ishmael found +his sadness alleviated. + +He was never weary of wondering at Hannah and her children. To behold +his maiden aunt in the character of a wife had been a standing marvel to +Ishmael. To contemplate her now as a mother was an ever-growing delight +to the genial boy. She had lost all her old-maidish appearance. She was +fleshier, fairer, and softer to look upon. And she wore a pretty +bobbinet cap and a bright-colored calico wrapper, and she busied herself +with needlework while turning the cradle with her foot, and humming a +little nursery song. As for Reuben, he arose as Ishmael sat down, stood +contemplating his domestic bliss for a few minutes, and then took his +hat and went out upon his afternoon rounds among the field laborers. A +happy man was Reuben Gray! + + + + +CHAPTER XLVII. + +RUSHY SHORE. + + He feels, he feels within him + That courage self-possessed,-- + That force that ye shall win him, + The brightest and the best,-- + The stalwarth Saxon daring + That steadily steps on, + Unswerving and unsparing + Until the goal be won! + + --_M.F. Tupper_. + +The first thing Ishmael did when he found himself again settled at +Woodside, and had got over the anguish of his parting with Claudia and +the excitement of his removal from Tanglewood, was to walk over to Rushy +Shore and inquire of Overseer Brown whether a master had yet been heard +of for the little school. + +"No, nor aint a-gwine to be! There aint much temptation to anybody as +knows anything about this 'ere school to take it. The chillun as comes +to it,--well there, they are just the dullest, headstrongest, forwardest +set o' boys and gals as ever was; and their fathers and mothers, take +'em all together, are the bad-payingest! The fact is, cansarning this +school, one may say as the wexation is sartain and the wages +un-sartain," answered Brown, whom Ishmael found, as usual, sauntering +through the fields with his pipe in his mouth. + +"Well, then, as I am on my feet again, and no other master can be found, +I will take it myself--that is to say, if I can have it," said Ishmael. + +"Well, I reckon you can. Mr. Middleton, he sent his lawyer down here to +settle up affairs arter he had bought the property, and the lawyer, he +told me, as I had been so long used to the place as I was to keep on +a-managing of it for the new master; and as a-letting out of this +schoolhouse was a part of my business, I do s'pose as I can let you have +it, if you like to take it." + +"Yes, I should, and I engage it from the first of January. There are now +but two weeks remaining until the Christmas holidays. So it is not worth +while to open the school until these shall be over. But meanwhile, +Brown, you can let your friends and neighbors know that the schoolhouse +will be ready for the reception of pupils on Monday, the third of +January." + +"Very well, sir; I'll let them all know." + +"And now, Brown, tell me, is Mr. Middleton's family coming in at the +first of the year?" inquired Ishmael anxiously. + +"Oh, no, sir! the house is a deal too damp. In some places it leaks +awful in rainy weather. There be a lot of repairs to be made. So it +won't be ready for the family much afore the spring, if then." + +"I am sorry to hear that. Will you give me Mr. Middleton's address?" + +"His--which, sir?" + +"Tell me where I can write to him." + +"Oh! he is at Washington, present speaking; Franklin Square, Washington +City; that will find him." + +"Thank you." And shaking hands with the worthy overseer Ishmael +departed. + +And the same day he wrote and posted a letter to Mr. Middleton. + +The intervening two weeks between that day and Christmas were spent by +Ishmael, as usual, in work and study. He made up the whole year's +accounts for Reuben Gray, and put his farm books in perfect order. While +Ishmael was engaged in this latter job, it occurred to him that he could +not always be at hand to assist Reuben, and that it would be much +better for Gray to learn enough of arithmetic and bookkeeping to make +him independent of other people's help in keeping his accounts. + +So when Ishmael brought him his books one evening and told him they were +all in order up to that present day, and Reuben said: + +"Thank you, Ishmael! I don't know what I should do without you, my lad!" +Ishmael answered him, saying very earnestly: + +"Uncle Reuben, all the events of life are proverbially very uncertain; +and it may happen that you may be obliged to do without me; in which +case, would it not be well for you to be prepared for such a +contingency?" + +"What do you mean, Ishmael?" inquired Gray, in alarm. + +"I mean--had you not better learn to keep your books yourself, in case +you should lose me?" + +"Oh, Ishmael, I do hope you are not going to leave us!" exclaimed +Reuben, in terror. + +"Not until duty obliges me to do so, and that may not be for years. It +is true that I have taken the Rushy Shore schoolhouse, which I intend to +open on the third of January; but then I shall continue to reside here +with you, and walk backward and forward between this and that." + +"What! every day there and back, and it such a distance!" + +"Yes, Uncle Reuben; I can manage to do so, by rising an hour earlier +than usual," said Ishmael cheerfully. + +"You rise airly enough now, in all conscience! You're up at daybreak. If +you get up airlier nor that, and take that long walk twice every day, it +will wear you out and kill you--that is all." + +"It will do me good, Uncle Reuben! It will be just the sort of exercise +in the open air that I shall require to antidote the effect of my +sedentary work in the schoolroom," said Ishmael cheerfully. + +"That's you, Ishmael! allers looking on the bright side of everything, +and taking hold of all tools by the smooth handle! I hardly think any +hardship in this world as could be put upon you, would be took amiss by +you, Ishmael." + +"I am glad you think so well of me, Uncle Reuben; I must try to retain +your good opinion; it was not of myself I wished to speak, however, but +of you. I hope you will learn to keep your own accounts, so as to be +independent of anybody else's assistance. If you would give me a half +an hour's attention every night, I could teach you to do it well in the +course of a few weeks or months." + +"Law, Ishmael, that would give you more trouble than keeping the books +yourself." + +"I can teach you, and keep the books besides, until you are able to do +it yourself." + +"Law, Ishmael, how will you ever find the time to do all that, and keep +school, and read law, and take them long walks besides?" + +"Why, Uncle Reuben, I can always find time to do every, duty I +undertake," replied the persevering boy. + +"One would think your days were forty-eight hours long, Ishmael, for you +to get through all the work as you undertake." + +"But how about the lessons, Uncle Reuben?" + +"Oh, Ishmael, I'm too old to larn; it aint worth while now; I'm past +fifty, you know." + +"Well, but you are a fine, strong, healthy man, and may live to be +eighty or ninety. Now, if I can teach you in two or three months an art +which will be useful to you every day of your life, for thirty or forty +years, don't you think that it is quite worth while to learn it?" + +"Well, Ishmael, you have got a way of putting things as makes people +think they're reasonable, whether or no, and convinces of folks agin' +their will. I think, after all, belike you oughter be a lawyer, if so be +you'd turn a judge and jury round your finger as easy as you turn other +people. I'll e'en larn of you, Ishmael, though it do look rum like for +an old man like me to go to school to a boy like you." + +"That is right, Uncle Reuben. You'll be a good accountant yet before the +winter is over," laughed Ishmael. + +Christmas came; but it would take too long to tell of the rustic +merry-makings in a neighborhood noted for the festive style in which it +celebrates its Christmas holidays. There were dinner, supper, and +dancing parties in all the cottages during the entire week. Reuben Gray +gave a rustic ball on New Year's evening. And all the country beaus and +belles of his rank in society came and danced at it. And Ishmael, in the +geniality of his nature, made himself so agreeable to everybody that he +unconsciously turned the heads of half the girls in the room, who +unanimously pronounced him "quite the gentleman." + +This was the last as well as the gayest party of the holidays. It broke +up at twelve midnight, because the next day was Sunday. + +On Monday Ishmael arose early and walked over to Rushy Shore, opened his +schoolhouse, lighted a fire in it, and sat down at his teacher's desk to +await the arrival of his pupils. + +About eight or nine o'clock they began to come, by ones, twos, and +threes; some attended by their parents and some alone. Rough-looking +customers they were, to be sure; shock-headed, sun-burned, and +freckle-faced girls and boys of the humblest class of "poor whites," as +they were called in the slave States. + +Ishmael received them, each and all, with that genial kindness which +always won the hearts of all who knew him. + +In arranging his school and classifying his pupils, Ishmael found the +latter as ignorant, stubborn, and froward as they had been represented +to him. + +Sam White would not go into the same class with Pete Johnson because +Pete's father got drunk and was "had up" for fighting. Susan Jones would +not sit beside Ann Bates because Ann's mother "hired out." Jem Ellis, +who was a big boy that did not know his ABC's, insisted on being put at +the head of the highest class because he was the tallest pupil in the +school. And Sarah Brown refused to go into any class at all, because her +father was the overseer of the estate, and she felt herself above them +all! + +These objections and claims were all put forth with loud voices and rude +gestures. + +But Ishmael, though shocked, was not discouraged. "In patience he +possessed his soul" that day. And after a while he succeeded in calming +all these turbulent spirits and reducing his little kingdom to order. + +It was a very harassing day, however, and after he had dismissed his +school and walked home, and given Reuben Gray his lesson, and posted the +account-book, and read a portion of his "Coke," he retired to bed, +thoroughly wearied in mind and body and keenly appreciative of the +privilege of rest. From this day forth Ishmael worked harder and +suffered more privations than, perhaps, he had ever done at any former +period of his life. + +He rose every morning at four o'clock, before any of the family were +stirring; dressed himself neatly, read a portion of the Holy Scriptures +by candle-light, said his prayers, ate a cold breakfast that had been +laid out for him the night before, and set off to walk five miles to his +schoolhouse. + +He usually reached it at half-past six; opened and aired the room, and +made the fire; and then sat down to read law until the arrival of the +hour for the commencement of the studies. + +He taught diligently until twelve o'clock; then he dismissed the pupils +for two hours to go home and get their dinners; he ate the cold luncheon +of bread and cheese or meat that he had brought with him; and set off to +walk briskly the distance of a mile and a half to Shelton, where the +court was in session, and where he spent an hour watching their +proceedings and taking notes. He got back to his school at two o'clock; +called in his pupils for the afternoon session, and taught diligently +until six o'clock in the afternoon, when he dismissed them for the day, +shut up the schoolhouse, and set off to walk home. + +He usually reached Woodside at about seven o'clock, where he found them +waiting tea for him. As this was the only meal Ishmael could take home, +Hannah always took care that it should be a comfortable and abundant +one. After tea he would give Reuben his lesson in bookkeeping, post up +the day's accounts, and then retire to his room to study for an hour or +two before going to bed. This was the history of five days out of every +week of Ishmael's life. + +On Saturdays, according to custom, the school had a holiday; and Ishmael +spent the morning in working in the garden. As it was now the depth of +winter, there was but little to do, and half a day's work in the week +sufficed to keep all in order. Saturday afternoons Ishmael went over to +open and air the library at Tanglewood, and to return the books he had +read and bring back new ones. Saturday evenings he spent very much as he +did the preceding ones of the week--in giving Reuben his lesson, in +posting up the week's accounts, and in reading law until bed time. + +On Sundays Ishmael rested from worldly labors and went to church to +refresh his soul. But for this Sabbath's rest, made obligatory upon him +by the Christian law, Ishmael must have broken down under his severe +labors. As it was, however, the benign Christian law of the Sabbath's +holy rest proved his salvation. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII. + +ONWARD. + + The boldness and the quiet, + That calmly go ahead, + In spite of wrath and riot, + In spite of quick and dead-- + Warm energy to spur him, + Keen enterprise to guide. + And conscience to upstir him, + And duty by his side, + And hope forever singing + Assurance of success, + And rapid action springing + At once to nothing less! + + --_M.F. Tupper_. + +In this persevering labor Ishmael cheerfully passed the winter months. + +He had not heard one word of Claudia, or of her father, except such +scant news as reached him through the judge's occasional letters to the +overseer. + +He had received an encouraging note from Mr. Middleton in answer to the +letter he had written to that gentleman. About the first of April +Ishmael's first quarterly school bills began to be due. + +Tuition fees were not high in that poor neighborhood, and his pay for +each pupil averaged about two dollars a quarter. His school numbered +thirty pupils, about one-third of whom never paid, consequently at the +end of the first three months his net receipts were just forty-two +dollars. Not very encouraging this, yet Ishmael was pleased and happy, +especially as he felt that he was really doing the little savages +intrusted to his care a great deal of good. + +Half of this money Ishmael would have forced upon Hannah and Reuben; but +Hannah flew into a passion and demanded if her nephew took her for a +money-grub; and Reuben quietly assured the young man that his services +overpaid his board, which was quite true. + +One evening about the middle of April Ishmael sat at his school desk +mending pens, setting copies, and keeping an eye on a refractory boy who +had been detained after school hours to learn a lesson he had failed to +know in his class. + +Ishmael had just finished setting his last copy and was engaged in +piling the copy-books neatly, one on top of another, when there came a +soft tap at the door. + +"Come in," said Ishmael, fully expecting to see some of the refractory +boy's friends come to inquire after him. + +The door opened and a very young lady, in a gray silk dress, straw hat, +and blue ribbons entered the schoolroom. + +Ishmael looked up, gave one glance at the fair, sweet face, serious blue +eyes, and soft light ringlets, and dropped his copy-books, came down from +his seat and hurried to meet the visitor, exclaiming: + +"Bee! Oh, dear, dear Bee, I am so glad to see you!" + +"So am I you, Ishmael," said Beatrice Middleton, frankly giving her hand +to be shaken. + +"Bee! oh, I beg pardon! Miss Middleton I mean! it is such a happiness to +me to see you again!" + +"So it is to me to see you, Ishmael," frankly answered Beatrice. + +"You will sit down and rest, Bee?--Miss Middleton!" exclaimed Ishmael, +running to bring his own school chair for her accommodation. + +"I will sit down, Bee. None of my old schoolmates call me anything else, +Ishmael, and I should hardly know my little self by any other name," +said Bee, taking the offered seat. + +"I thank you very much for letting me call you so! It really went +against all old feelings of friendship to call you otherwise." + +"Why certainly it did." + +"I hope your father and all the family are well?" + +"All except mamma, who, you know, is very delicate." + +"Yes, I know. They are all down here, of course?" + +"No; no one but myself and one man- and maid-servant." + +"Indeed!" + +"Yes; I came down to see to the last preparations, so as to have +everything in order and comfortable for mamma when she comes." + +"Still 'mamma's right-hand woman,' Bee!" + +"Well, yes; I must be so. You know her health is very uncertain, and +there are so many children--two more since you left us, Ishmael! And +they are all such a responsibility! And as mamma is so delicate and I am +the eldest daughter, I must take much of the care of them all upon +myself," replied the girl-woman very gravely. + +"Yes, I suppose so; and yet--" Ishmael hesitated and Bee took up the +discourse: + +--"I know what you are thinking of, Ishmael! That some other than myself +ought to have been found to come down to this uninhabited house to make +the final preparations for the reception of the family; but really now, +Ishmael, when you come to think of it, who could have been found so +competent as myself for this duty? To be sure, you know, we sent an +upholsterer down with the new furniture, and with particular +instructions as to its arrangement: every carpet, set of curtains, and +suit of furniture marked with the name of the room for which it was +destined. But then, you know, there are a hundred other things to be +done, after the upholsterer has quitted the house, that none but a woman +and a member of the family would know how to do--cut glass and china and +cutlery to be taken out of their cases and arranged in sideboards and +cupboards; and bed and table linen to be unpacked and put into drawers +and closets; and the children's beds to be aired and made up; and +mamma's own chamber and nursery made ready for her; and, last of all, +for the evening that they are expected to arrive, a nice delicate supper +got. Now, who was there to attend to all this but me?" questioned +Beatrice, looking gravely into Ishmael's face. And as she waited for an +answer, Ishmael replied: + +"Why--failing your mamma, your papa might have done it, without any +derogation from his manly dignity. When General Washington was in +Philadelphia, during his first Presidential term, with all the cares of +the young nation upon his shoulders, he superintended the fitting up of +his town house for the reception of Mrs. Washington; descending even to +the details of hanging curtains and setting up mangles!" + +Beatrice laughed, as she said: + +"Law, Ishmael! haven't you got over your habit of quoting your heroes +yet? And have you really faith enough to hope that modern men will come +up to their standard? Of course, George Washington was equal to every +human duty from the conquering of Cornwallis to--the crimping of a +cap-border, if necessary! for he was a miracle! But my papa, God bless +him, though wise and good, is but a man, and would no more know how to +perform a woman's duties than I should how to do a man's! What should he +know of china-closets and linen chests? Why, Ishmael, he doesn't know +fi'penny bit cotton from five shilling linen, and would have been as +apt as not to have ordered the servants' sheets on the children's beds +and vice versa; and for mamma's supper he would have been as likely to +have fried pork as the broiled spring chickens that I shall provide! No, +Ishmael; gentlemen may be great masters in Latin and Greek; but they are +dunces in housekeeping matters." + +"As far as your experience goes, Bee." + +"Of course, as far as my experience goes." + +"When did you reach Rushy Shore, Bee?" + +"Last night about seven o'clock. Matty came with me in the carriage, and +Jason drove us. We spent all day in unpacking and arranging the things +that had been sent down on the 'Canvas Back' a week or two ago. And this +afternoon I thought I would walk over here and see what sort of a school +you had. Papa read your letter to us, and we were all interested in your +success here." + +"Thank you, dear Bee; I know that you are all among my very best +friends; and some of these days, Bee, I hope, I trust, to do credit to +your friendship." + +"That you will, Ishmael! What do you think my papa told my uncle +Merlin?--that 'that young man (meaning you) was destined to make his +mark on this century.'" + +A deep blush of mingled pleasure, bashfulness, and aspiration mantled +Ishmael's delicate face. He bowed with sweet, grave courtesy, and +changed the subject of conversation by saying: + +"I hope Judge Merlin and his daughter are quite well?" + +"Quite. They are still at Annapolis. Papa visited them there for a few +days last week. The judge is stopping at the Stars and Stripes hotel, +and Claudia is a parlor boarder at a celebrated French school in the +vicinity. Claudia will not 'come out' until next winter, when her father +goes to Washington. For next December Claudia will be eighteen years of +age, and will enter upon her mother's large property, according to the +terms of the marriage settlement and the mother's will. I suppose she +will be the richest heiress in America, for the property is estimated at +more than a million! Ah! it is fine to be Claudia Merlin--is it not, +Ishmael?" + +"Very," answered the young man, scarcely conscious amid the whirl of his +emotions what he was saying. + +"And what a sensation her entree into society will make! I should like +to be in Washington next winter when she comes out. Ah, but after +all--what a target for fortune-hunters she will be, to be sure!" sighed +Bee. + +"She is beautiful and accomplished, and altogether lovely enough to be +sought for herself alone!" exclaimed Ishmael, in the low and faltering +tones of deep feeling. + +"Ah, yes, if she were poor; but who on earth could see whether the +heiress of a million were pretty or plain, good or bad, witty or +stupid?" + +"So young and so cynical!" said Ishmael sadly. + +"Ah, Ishmael, whoever reads and observes must feel and reflect; and +whoever feels and reflects must soon lose the simple faith of childhood. +We shall see!" said Bee, rising and drawing her gray silk scarf around +her shoulders. + +"You are not going?" + +"Yes; I have much yet to do." + +"Can I not help you?" + +"Oh, no; there is nothing that I have to do that a classical and +mathematical scholar and nursling lawyer could understand." + +"Then, at least, allow me to see you safely home. The nursling-lawyer +can do that, I suppose? If you will be pleased to sit down until I hear +this young hopeful say his lesson, I will close up the schoolroom and be +at your service." + +"Thank you very much; but I have to call at Brown's, the overseer's, and +I would much rather you would not trouble yourself, Ishmael. Good-by. +When we all get settled up at the house, which must be by next Saturday +night, at farthest, you must come often to see us. It was to say this +that I came here." + +"Thank you, dearest Bee! I shall esteem it a great privilege to come." + +"Prove it," laughed Bee, as she waved adieu, and tripped out of the +schoolroom. + +Ishmael called up his pupil for recitation. + +The little savage could not say his lesson, and began to weep and rub +his eyes with the sleeve of his jacket. + +"You mought let me off this once, anyways," he sobbed. + +"But why should I?" inquired Ishmael. + +"A-cause of the pretty lady a-coming." + +Ishmael laughed, and for a moment entertained the thought of admitting +this plea and letting the pleader go. But Ishmael was really too +conscientious to suffer himself to be lured aside from the strict line +of duty by any passing fancy or caprice; so he answered: + +"Your plea is an ingenious one, Eddy; and since you have wit enough to +make it, you must have sense enough to learn your lesson. Come, now, let +us sit down and put our heads together, and try again, and see what we +can do." + +And with the kindness for which he was ever noted, the young master sat +down beside his stupid pupil and patiently went over and over the lesson +with him, until he had succeeded in getting it into Eddy's thick head. + +"There, now! now you know the difference between a common noun and a +proper one! are you not glad?" asked Ishmael, smiling. + +"Yes; but they'll all be done supper, and the hominy'll be cold!" said +the boy sulkily. + +"Oh, no, it will not. I know all about the boiling of hominy. They'll +keep the pot hanging over the fire until bed-time, so you can have yours +hot as soon as you get home. Off with you, now!" laughed Ishmael. + +His hopeful pupil lost no time in obeying the order, but set off on a +run. + +Ishmael arranged his books, closed up his schoolroom, and started to +walk home. + +There he delighted Hannah with the news that her former friend and +patron, Mrs. Middleton, was soon expected at Rushy Shore. And he +interested both Reuben and Hannah with the description of beautiful +Bee's visit to the school. + +"I wonder why he couldn't have fallen in love with her?" thought Hannah. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIX. + +STILL ONWARD. + + His, all the mighty movements + That urge the hero's breast, + The longings and the lovings, + The spirit's glad unrest, + That scorns excuse to tender, + Or fortune's favor ask, + That never will surrender + Whatever be the task! + + --_M.F. Tupper_. + +Beatrice did not come again to the schoolroom to see Ishmael. The memory +of old school-day friendship, as well as the prompting of hospitality +and benevolence, had brought her there on her first visit. She had not +thought of the lapse of time, or the change that two years must have +made in him as well as in herself, and so, where she expected to find a +mere youth, she found a young man; and maiden delicacy restrained her +from repeating her visit. + +On Thursday\morning, however, as Ishmael was opening his schoolroom he +heard a brisk step approaching, and Mr. Middleton was at his side. Their +hands flew into each other and shook mutually before either spoke. Then, +with beaming eyes and hearty tones, both exclaimed at once: + +"I am so glad to see you!" + +"Of course you arrived last night! I hope you had a pleasant journey, +and that Mrs. Middleton has recovered her fatigue," said Ishmael, +placing a chair for his visitor. + +"A very pleasant journey. The day was delightfully cool, and even my +wife did not suffer from fatigue. She is quite well this morning, and +quite delighted with her new home. But, see here, Ishmael, how you have +changed! You are taller than I am! You must be near six feet in +height--are you not?" + +"I suppose so," smiled Ishmael. + +"And your hair is so much darker. Altogether, you are so much improved." + +"There was room for it." + +"There always is, my boy. Well, I did not come here to pay compliments, +my young friend. I came to tell you that, thanks to my little Bee's +activity, we are all comfortably settled at home now; and we should be +happy if you would come on Friday evening and spend with us Saturday and +Sunday, your weekly holidays." + +"I thank you, sir; I thank you very much. I should extremely like to +come, but--" + +"Now, Ishmael, hush! I do not intend to take a denial. When I give an +invitation I am very much in earnest about it; and to show you how much +I am in earnest about this, I will tell you that I reflected that this +was Thursday, and that if I asked you to-day you could tell your friends +when you get home this evening, and come to-morrow morning prepared to +remain over till Monday. Otherwise if I had not invited you till +to-morrow morning, you would have had to walk all the way back home +to-morrow evening to tell your friends before coming to see us. So you +see how much I wished to have you come, Ishmael, and how I studied ways +and means. Mrs. Middleton and all your old schoolmates are equally +anxious to see you, so say no more about it, but come!" + +"Indeed, I earnestly thank you, Mr. Middleton, and I was not about to +decline your kind invitation in toto, but only to say that I am occupied +with duties that I cannot neglect on Friday evenings and Saturday +mornings; but on Saturday evening I shall be very happy to come over and +spend Sunday." + +"Very well, then, Ishmael; so be it; I accept so much of your pleasant +company, since no more of it is to be had. By the way, Ishmael!" + +"Yes, sir." + +"That was a gallant feat and a narrow escape of yours as it was +described to me by my niece Claudia. Nothing less than the preservation +of her life could have justified you in such a desperate act." + +"I am grateful to Miss Merlin for remembering it, sir." + +"As if she could ever forget it! Good Heaven! Well, Ishmael, I see that +your pupils are assembling fast. I will not detain you from your duties +longer. Good-morning; and remember that we shall expect you on Saturday +evening." + +"Good-morning, sir! I will remember; pray give my respects to Mrs. +Middleton and all the family." + +"Certainly," said Mr. Middleton, as he walked away. + +Ishmael re-entered the schoolroom, rang the bell to call the pupils in, +and commenced the duties of the day. + +On Saturday afternoon, all his weekly labors being scrupulously +finished, Ishmael walked over to Rushy Shore Beacon, as Mr. Middleton's +house was called. + +It was a very large old edifice of white stone, and stood upon the +extreme point of a headland running out into the river. There were many +trees behind it, landward; but none before it, seaward; so that really +the tall white house, with its many windows, might well serve as a +beacon to passing vessels. + +Around the headland upon which it was situated the waters swept with a +mighty impetus and a deafening roar that gave the place its descriptive +name of Rushy Shore. As the air and water here were mildly salt, the +situation was deemed very healthy and well suited to such delicate lungs +as required a stimulating atmosphere, and yet could not bear the full +strength of the sea breezes. As such the place had been selected by Mr. +Middleton for the residence of his invalid wife. + +When Ishmael approached the house he found the family all assembled in +the long front porch to enjoy the fine view. + +Walter Middleton, who was the first to spy Ishmael's approach, ran down +the steps and out to meet him, exclaiming, as he caught and shook his +hand: + +"How are you, old boy, how are you? Looking in high health and +handsomeness, at any rate! I should have come down to school to see you, +Ishmael, only, on the very morning after our arrival, I had to mount my +horse and ride down to Baymouth to attend to some business for my +father, and I did not get back until late last night. Come, hurry on to +the house! My mother is anxious to see her old favorite." + +And so, overpowering Ishmael with the cordiality of his greeting, Walter +drew his friend's arm within his own, and took him upon the porch in the +midst of the family group, that immediately surrounded and warmly +welcomed him. + +"How handsome and manly you have grown, my dear," said Mrs. Middleton, +with almost motherly pride in her favorite. + +Ishmael blushed and bowed in reply to this direct compliment. And soon +he was seated among them, chatting pleasantly. + +This was but the first of many delightful visits to Bushy Shore enjoyed +by Ishmael. Mr. Middleton liked to have him there, and often pressed him +to come. And Ishmael, who very well knew the difference between +invitations given from mere politeness and those prompted by a sincere +desire for his company, frequently accepted them. + +One day Mr. Middleton, who took a deep interest in the struggles of +Ishmael, said to him: + +"You should enter some law school, my young friend." + +"I intend to do so, sir, as soon as I have accomplished two things." + +"And what are they?" + +"Saved money enough to defray my expenses and found a substitute for +myself as master of this little school." + +"Oh, bother the school! you must not always be sacrificing yourself to +the public welfare, Ishmael," laughed Mr. Middleton, who sometimes +permitted himself to use rough words. + +"But to duty, sir?" + +"Oh, if you make it a question of duty, I have no more to say," was the +concluding remark of Ishmael's friend. + +Thus, in diligent labor and intellectual intercourse, the young man +passed the summer months. + +One bright hope burned constantly before Ishmael's mental vision--of +seeing Claudia; but, ah! this hope was destined to be deferred from week +to week, and finally disappointed. + +Judge Merlin did not come to Tanglewood as usual this summer. He took +his daughter to the seaside instead, where they lived quietly at a +private boarding house, because it was not intended that Miss Merlin +should enter society until the coming winter at Washington. + +To Ishmael this was a bitter disappointment, but a bitter tonic, too, +since it served to give strength to his mind. + +Late in September his friend Walter Middleton, who was a medical +student, left them to attend the autumn and winter course of lectures in +Baltimore. Ishmael felt the loss of his society very much; but as usual +consoled himself by hard work through all the autumn months. + +He heard from Judge Merlin and his daughter through their letters to the +Middletons. They were again in Annapolis, where Miss Merlin was passing +her last term at the finishing school, but they were to go to Washington +at the meeting of Congress in December. + +As the month of November drew to a close Ishmael began to compute the +labors, progress, and profits of the year. He found that he had brought +his school into fine working order; he had brought his pupils on well; +he had made Reuben Gray a very good reader, penman, arithmetician, and +bookkeeper; and lastly, he had advanced himself very far in his chosen +professional studies. But he had made but little money, and saved less +than a hundred dollars. This was not enough to support him, even by the +severest economy, at any law school. Something else, he felt, must be +done for the next year, by which more money might be made. So after +reflecting upon the subject for some time, he wrote out two +advertisements--one for a teacher, competent to take charge of a small +country school, and the other for a situation as bookkeeper, clerk, or +amanuensis. In the course of a week the first advertisement was answered +by a Methodist preacher living in the same neighborhood, who proposed to +augment the small salary he received for preaching on Sundays, by +teaching a day school all the week. Ishmael had an interview with this +gentleman, and finding him all that could be desired in a clergyman and +country schoolmaster, willingly engaged to relinquish his own post in +favor of the new candidate on the first of the coming year. + +His second advertisement was not yet answered; but Ishmael kept it on +and anxiously awaited the result. + +At length his perseverance was crowned with a success greater than he +could have anticipated. It was about the middle of December, a few days +before the breaking up of his school for the Christmas holidays, that he +called at the Shelton post office to ask if there were any letters for +"X.Y.Z.," those being the initials he had signed to his second +advertisement. A letter was handed him; at last, then, it had come! +Without scrutinizing the handwriting or the superscription, Ishmael tore +it open and read: + +"Washington, December 14. + +"Mr. 'X.Y.Z.'--I have seen your advertisement in the Intelligencer. I am +in want of an intelligent and well-educated young man to act as my +confidential secretary and occasional amanuensis. If you will write to +me, enclosing testimonials and references as to your character and +competency, and stating the amount of salary you will expect to receive, +I hope we may come to satisfactory arrangement. + + "Respectfully yours, + + "RANDOLF MERLIN." + +It was from Claudia's father, then! It was a stroke of fate, or so it +seemed to the surprised and excited mind of Ishmael. + +Trembling with joy, he retired to the private parlor of the quiet little +village inn to answer the letter, so that it might go off to Washington +by the mail that started that afternoon. He smiled to himself as he +wrote that Judge Merlin himself had had ample opportunity of personally +testing the character and ability of the advertiser, but that if further +testimony were needed, he begged to refer to Mr. James Middleton, of +Rushy Shore. Finally, he left the question of the amount of salary to be +settled by the judge himself. He signed, sealed, and directed this +letter, and hurried to the post office to post it before the closing of +the mail. + +And then he went home in a maze of delight. + +Three anxious days passed, and then Ishmael received his answer. It was +a favorable and a conclusive one. The judge told him that from the post +office address given in the advertisement, as well as from other +circumstances, he had supposed the advertiser to be Ishmael himself, but +could not be sure until he had received his letter, when he was glad to +find his supposition correct, as he should much rather receive into his +family, in a confidential capacity, a known young man like Mr. Worth +than any stranger, however well recommended the latter might be; he +would fix the salary at three hundred dollars, with board and lodging, +if that would meet the young gentleman's views; if the terms suited, he +hoped Mr. Worth would lose no time in joining him in Washington, as he, +the writer, was overwhelmed with correspondence that was still +accumulating. + +Ishmael answered this second letter immediately, saying that he would be +in Washington on the following Tuesday. + +After posting his letter he walked rapidly homeward, calling at Rushy +Shore on his way to inform his friends, the Middletons, of his change of +fortune. As Ishmael was not egotistical enough to speak of himself and +his affairs until it became absolutely needful for him to do so, he had +never told Mr. Middleton of his plan of giving up the school to the +Methodist minister and seeking another situation for himself. And during +the three days of his correspondence with Judge Merlin he had not even +seen Mr. Middleton, whom he only took time to visit on Saturday +evenings. + +Upon this afternoon he reached Rushy Shore just as the family were +sitting down to dinner. They were as much surprised as pleased to see +him at such an unusual time as the middle of the week. Mr. Middleton got +up to shake hands with him; Mrs. Middleton ordered another plate +brought; Bee saw that room was made for another chair; and so Ishmael +was welcomed by acclamation, and seated among them at the table. + +"And now, young gentleman, tell us what it all means. For glad as we are +to see you, and glad as you are to see us, we know very well that you +did not take time to come here in the middle of the week merely to +please yourself or us; pleasure not being your first object in life, +Ishmael," said Mr. Middleton. + +"I regret to say, sir, that I came to tell you, I am going away on +Monday morning," replied Ishmael gravely, for at the moment he felt a +very real regret at the thought of leaving such good and true friends. + +"Going away!" exclaimed all the family in a breath, and in +consternation; for this boy, with his excellent character and charming +manners had always deeply endeared himself to all his friends. "Going +away!" they repeated. + +"I am sorry to say it," said Ishmael. + +"But this is so unexpected, so sudden!" said Mrs. Middleton. + +"What the grand deuce is the matter? Have you enlisted for a soldier, +engaged as a sailor, been seized with the gold fever?" + +"Neither, sir; I will explain," said Ishmael. And forthwith he told all +his plans and prospects, in the fewest possible words. + +"And so you are going to Washington, to be Randolph Merlin's clerk! +Well, Ishmael, as he is a thorough lawyer, though no very brilliant +barrister, I do not know that you could be in a better school. Heaven +prosper you, my lad! By the way, Ishmael, just before you came in, we +were all talking of going to Washington ourselves." + +"Indeed! and is there really a prospect of your going?" inquired +Ishmael, in pleased surprise. + +"Well, yes. You see the judge wishes a chaperone for his daughter this +winter, and has invited Mrs. Middleton, and in fact all the family, to +come and spend the season with them in Washington. He says that he has +taken the old Washington House, which is large enough to accommodate our +united families, and ten times as many." + +"And you will go?" inquired Ishmael anxiously. + +"Well, yes--I think so. You see, this place, so pre-eminently healthy +during eight months of the year, is rather too much exposed and too +bleak in the depth of winter to suit my wife. She begins to cough +already. And as Claudia really does need a matronly friend near her, and +as the judge is very anxious for us to come, I think all interests will +be best served by our going." + +"I hope you will go very soon," said Ishmael. + +"In a week or ten days," replied Mr. Middleton. + +Ishmael soon after arose and took his leave, for he had a long walk +before him, and a momentous interview with Hannah to brave at the end of +it. + +After tea that evening Ishmael broke the news to Reuben and Hannah. Both +were considerably startled and bewildered, for they, no more than the +Middletons, had received any previous hint of the young man's +intentions. And now they really did not know whether to congratulate +Ishmael on going to seek his fortune or to condole with him for leaving +home. Reuben heartily shook hands with Ishmael and said how sorry he +should be to part with him, but how glad he was that the young man was +going to do something handsome for himself. + +Hannah cried heartily, but for the life of her, could not have told +whether it was for joy or sorrow. To her apprehension, to go to +Washington and be Judge Merlin's clerk seemed to be one of the greatest +honors that any young man could attain; so she was perfectly delighted +with that part of the affair. But, on the other hand, Ishmael had been +to her like the most affectionate and dearest of sons, and to part with +him seemed more than she could bear; so she wept vehemently and clung to +her boy. + +Reuben sought to console her. + +"Never mind, Hannah, woman, never mind. It is the law of nature that the +young bird must leave his nest and the young man his home. But never you +mind! Washing-town-city aint out'n the world, and any time as you want +to see your boy very bad, I'll just put Dobbin to the wagon and cart you +and the young uns up there for a day or two. Law, Hannah, my dear, you +never should shed a tear if I could help it. 'Cause I feel kind o' +guilty when you cry, Hannah, as if I ought to help it somehow!" said the +good fellow. + +"As if you could, Reuben! But it is I myself who do wrong to cry for +anything when I am blessed with the love of such a heart as yours, +Reuben! There, I will not cry any more. Of course, Ishmael must go to +the city and make his fortune, and I ought to be glad, and I am glad, +only I am sich a fool. Ishmael, my dear, this is Wednesday night, and +you say you are going o' Monday morning; so there aint no time to make +you no new shirts and things before you go, but I'll make a lot of 'em, +my boy, and send 'em up to you," said Hannah, wiping her eyes. + +Ishmael opened his mouth to reply; but Reuben was before him with: + +"So do, Hannah, my dear; that will be one of the best ways of comforting +yourself, making up things for the lad; and you shan't want for money, +for the fine linen nyther, Hannah, my dear! And when you have got them +all done, you and I can take them up to him when we go to see him! So +think of that, and you won't be fretting after him. And now, childun, it +is bedtime!" + +On Friday evening Ishmael, in breaking up his school for the Christmas +holidays, also took a final leave of his pupils. The young master had so +endeared himself to his rough pupils that they grieved sincerely at the +separation. The girls wept, and even rude boys sobbed. Our stupid +little friend, Eddy, who could not learn grammar, had learned to love +his kind young teacher, and at the prospect of parting with him and +having the minister for a master roared aloud, saying: + +"Master Worth have allers been good to us, so he have; but the +minister--he'll lick us, ever so much!" + +Ishmael distributed such parting gifts as his slender purse would +afford, and so dismissed his pupils. + +On Sunday evening he took leave of his friends, the Middletons, who +promised to join him in Washington in the course of a week. + +And on Monday morning he took leave of Hannah and Reuben, and walked to +Baymouth to meet the Washington steamboat. + + + + +CHAPTER L. + +CLAUDIA'S CITY HOME. + + How beautiful the mansion's throned + Behind its elm tree's screen, + With simple attic cornice crowned + All graceful and serene. + + --_Anon_. + +Just north of the Capitol park, upon a gentle eminence, within its own +well-shaded and well-cultivated grounds, stood a fine, old, family +mansion that had once been the temporary residence of George Washington. + +The house was very large, with many spacious rooms and broad passages +within, and many garden walks and trellised arbors around it. + +In front were so many evergreen trees and in the rear was so fine a +conservatory of blooming flowers, that even in the depth, of winter it +seemed like summer there. + +The house was so secluded within its many thick trees and high garden +walls that the noise of the city never reached its inmates, though they +were within five minutes' walk of the Capitol and ten minutes' drive of +the President's mansion. + +Judge Merlin had been very fortunate in securing for the season this +delightful home, where he could be within easy reach of his official +business and at the same time enjoy the quiet so necessary to his +temperament. + +That winter he had been appointed one of the judges of the Supreme Court +of the United States, and it was very desirable to have so pleasant a +dwelling place within such easy reach of the Capitol, where the court +was held. At the head of this house his young daughter had been placed +as its mistress. She had not yet appeared anywhere in public. She was +reserving herself for two events: the arrival of her chaperone and the +first evening reception of the President. Her presence in the city was +not even certainly known beyond her own domestic circle; though a vague +rumor, started no one knew by whom, was afloat, to the effect that Miss +Merlin, the young Maryland heiress and beauty, was expected to come out +in Washington during the current season. + +Meanwhile she remained in seclusion in her father's house. + +It was to this delightful town house, so like the country in its +isolation, that Ishmael Worth was invited. + +It was just at sunrise on Tuesday morning that the old steamer +"Columbia," having Ishmael on board, landed at the Seventh Street wharf, +and the young man, destined some future day to fill a high official +position in the Federal government, took his humble carpetbag in his +hand and entered the Federal city. + +Ah! many thousands had entered the National capital before him, and many +more thousands would enter it after him, only to complain of it, to carp +over it, to laugh at it, for its "magnificent distances," its unfinished +buildings, its muddy streets, and its mean dwellings. + +But Ishmael entered within its boundaries with feelings of reverence and +affection. It was the City of Washington, the sacred heart of the +nation. + +He had heard it called by shallow-brained and short-sighted people a +sublime failure! It was a sublime idea, indeed, he thought, but no +failure! Failure? Why, what did those who called it so expect? Did they +expect that the great capital of the great Republic should spring into +full-grown existence as quickly as a hamlet around a railway station, or +village at a steamboat landing? Great ideas require a long time for +their complete embodiment. And those who sneered at Washington were as +little capable of foreseeing its future as the idlers about the +steamboat wharf were of foretelling the fortunes of the modest-looking +youth, in country clothes, who stood there gazing thoughtfully upon the +city. + +"Can you tell me the nearest way to Pennsylvania Avenue?" at length he +asked of a bystander. + +"Just set your face to the north and follow your nose for about a mile, +and you'll fetch up to the broadest street as ever you see; and that +will be it," was the answer. + +With this simple direction Ishmael went on until he came to the avenue, +which he recognized at once from the description. + +The Capitol, throned in majestic grandeur upon the top of its wooded +hill at the eastern extremity of the Avenue, and gleaming white in the +rays of the morning sun, seeming to preside over the whole scene, next +attracted Ishmael's admiration. As his way lay towards it, he had ample +time to contemplate its imposing magnificence and beauty. + +As he drew near it, however, he began to throw his eyes around the +surrounding country in search of Judge Merlin's house. He soon +identified it--a large old family mansion, standing in a thick grove of +trees on a hill just north of the Capitol grounds. He turned to the +left, ascended the hill, and soon found himself at the iron gate leading +to the grounds. + +Here his old acquaintance, Sam, being on duty as porter, admitted him, +and, taking him by a winding gravel walk that turned and twisted among +groves and parterres, led him up to the house and delivered him into the +charge of a black footman, who was at that early hour engaged in opening +the doors and windows. + +He was the same Jim who used to wait on the table at Tanglewood. + +"Good-morning, Mr. Ishmael, sir," he said, advancing in a friendly and +respectful manner, to receive the new arrival. + +"The judge expected me this morning, Jim?" inquired Ishmael, when he had +returned the greeting of the man. + +"Oh, yes, sir; and ordered your room got ready for you. The family aint +down yet, sir; but I can show you your room," said Jim, taking Ishmael's +carpetbag from him, and leading the way upstairs. + +They went up three flights of stairs, to a small front room in the third +story, with one window, looking west. + +Here Jim sat down the carpetbag, saying: + +"It's rather high up, sir; but you see we are expecting Mrs. Middleton +and all her family, and of course the best spare rooms has to be given +up to the ladies. I think you will find everything you could wish for at +hand, sir; but if there should be anything else wanted, you can ring, +and one of the men servants will come up." And with this, Jim bowed and +left the room. + +Ishmael looked around upon his new domicile. + +It was a very plain room with simple maple furniture, neatly arranged; a +brown woolen carpet on the floor; white dimity curtains at the window; +and a small coal fire in the grate. Yet it was much better than Ishmael +had been accustomed to at home, and besides, the elevated position of +the room, and the outlook from the only window, compensated for all +deficiencies. + +Ishmael walked up to this window, put aside the dainty white curtain, +and looked forth: the whole city of Washington, Georgetown, the winding +of the Potomac and Anacostia rivers, Anacostia Island, and the +undulating hills of the Virginia and Maryland shores lay spread like a +vast panorama before him. + +As the thicket was a necessity to Judge Merlin's nature, so the widely +extended prospect was a need of Ishmael's spirit; his eyes must travel +when his feet could not. + +Feeling perfectly satisfied with his quarters, Ishmael at last left the +window and made his toilet, preparatory to meeting the judge +and--Claudia! + +"Oh, beating heart, be still! be still!" he said to himself, as the +anticipation of that latter meeting, with all its disturbing influences, +sent the blood rioting through his veins. + +Without being the very least dandyish, Ishmael was still fastidiously +nice in his personal appointments; purity and refinement pervaded his +presence. + +He had completed his toilet, and was engaged in lightly brushing some +lint from his black coat, when a knock at his door attracted his +attention. + +It was Jim, who had come to announce breakfast and show him the way to +the morning room. + +Down the three flights of stairs they went again, and across the central +hall to a front room on the left that looked out upon the winter garden +of evergreen trees. Crimson curtained and crimson carpeted, with a +bright coal fire in the polished steel grate, and a glittering silver +service on the white draped breakfast table, this room had a very +inviting aspect on this frosty December morning. + +The judge stood with his back to the fire, and a damp newspaper open in +his hand. Claudia was nowhere visible--a hasty glance around the room +assured Ishmael that she had not yet entered it. Ishmael's movements +were so noiseless that his presence was not observed until he actually +went up to the judge, and, bowing, accosted him with the words: + +"I am here according to appointment, Judge Merlin; and hope I find you +well." + +"Ah, yes; good-morning! how do you do, Ishmael?" said the judge laying +aside his paper and cordially shaking hands with the youth. "Punctual, I +see. Had a pleasant journey?" + +"Thank you, sir; very pleasant," returned Ishmael. + +"Feel like setting to work this morning? There is quite an accumulation +of correspondence groaning to be attended to." + +"I am ready to enter upon my duties whenever you please, sir." + +"All right," said the judge, touching a bell that presently summoned Jim +to his presence. + +"Let us have breakfast immediately. Where is Miss Merlin? Let her know +that we are waiting for her." + +"'Miss Merlin' is here, papa," said a rich voice at the door. + +Ishmael's heart bounded and throbbed, and Claudia entered the breakfast +room. + +Such a picture of almost Oriental beauty, luxury, and splendor as she +looked! She wore a morning robe of rich crimson foulard silk, fastened +up the front with garnet buttons, each a spark of fire. The dress was +open at the throat and wrists, revealing glimpses of the delicate +cambric collar and cuffs confined by the purest pearl studs. Her +luxuriant hair was carried away from her snowy temples and drooped in +long, rich, purplish, black ringlets from the back of her stately head. +But her full, dark eyes and oval crimson cheeks and lips glowed with a +fire too vivid for health as she advanced and gave her father the +morning kiss. + +"I am glad you have come, my dear! I have been waiting for you!" said +the judge. + +"You shall not have to do so another morning, papa,'" she answered. + +"Here is Ishmael, Claudia," said her father, directing her attention to +the youth, who had delicately withdrawn into the background; but who, at +the mention of his own name, came forward to pay his respects to the +heiress. + +"I am glad to see you, Mr. Worth," she said, extending her hand to him +as he bowed before her; and then quickly detecting a passing shade of +pain in his expressive face, she added, smiling: + +"You know we must begin to call you Mr. Worth some time, and there can +be no better time than this, when you make your first appearance in the +city and commence a new career in life." + +"I had always hoped to be 'Ishmael' with my friends," he replied. + +"'Times change and we change with them,' said one of the wisest of +sages," smiled Claudia. + +"And coffee and muffins grow cold by standing; which is more to the +present purpose," laughed Judge Merlin, handing his daughter to her seat +at the head of the table, taking his own at the foot, and pointing his +guest to one at the side. + +When all were seated, Claudia poured out the coffee and the breakfast +commenced. But to the discredit of the judge's consistency, it might +have been noticed that, after he had helped his companion to steak, +waffles, and other edibles, he resumed his newspaper; and, regardless +that coffee and muffins grew cold by standing, recommenced reading the +debates in Congress. + +At length, when he finished reading and saw that his companions had +finished eating, he swallowed his muffin in two bolts, gulped his coffee +in two draughts, and started up from the table, exclaiming: + +"Now, then, Ishmael, if you are ready?" + +Ishmael arose, bowed to Claudia, and turned to follow his employer. + +The judge led him upstairs to a sort of office or study, immediately +over the breakfast room, having an outlook over the Capitol grounds, and +fitted up with a few book-cases, writing desks, and easy-chairs. + +The judge drew a chair to the central table, which was covered with +papers, and motioned Ishmael to take another seat at the same table. As +soon as Ishmael obeyed, Judge Merlin began to initiate him into his new +duties, which, in fact, were so much of the same description with those +in which he had been engaged at Tanglewood, that he very soon understood +and entered upon them. + +The first few days of Ishmael's sojourn were very busy ones. There was a +great arrearage of correspondence; and he worked diligently, day and +night, until he had brought up all arrears to the current time. + +When this was done, and he had but two mails to attend to in one day, +he found that five hours in the morning and five in the evening sufficed +for the work, and left him ample leisure for the pursuit of his legal +studies, and he devoted himself to them, both by diligent reading and by +regular attendance upon the sessions of the circuit court, where he +watched, listened, and took notes, comparing the latter with the +readings. Of course he could not do all this without reducing his labors +to a perfect system, and he could not constantly adhere to this system +without practicing the severest self-denial. I tell you, young reader of +this story, that in this republic there is no "royal road" to fame and +honor. The way is open to each and all of you; but it is steep and +rugged, yes, and slippery; and you must toil and sweat and watch if you +would reach the summit. + +Would you know exactly how Ishmael managed this stage of his toilsome +ascent? I will tell you. He arose at four o'clock those winter mornings, +dressed quickly and went into the judge's study, where he made the fire +himself, because the servants would not be astir for hours; then he sat +down with the pile of letters that had come by the night's mail; he +looked over the judge's hints regarding them, and then went to work and +answered letters or copied documents for four hours, or until the +breakfast bell rung, when he joined Claudia and her father at table. +After breakfast he attended the judge in his study; submitted to his +inspection the morning's work; then took them to the post office, posted +them, brought back the letters that arrived by the morning's mail, and +left them with the judge to be read. This would bring him to about +eleven o'clock, when he went to the City Hall, to watch the proceedings +of the circuit court, making careful notes and comparing them with his +own private readings of law. He returned from the circuit court about +two o'clock; spent the afternoon in answering the letters left for him +by the judge; dined late with the family; took the second lot of letters +to the post office, and returned with those that came by the evening +mail; gave them to the judge for examination, and then went up to his +room to spend the evening in reading law and comparing notes. He allowed +himself no recreation and but little rest. His soul was sustained by +what Balzac calls "the divine patience of genius." And the more he was +enabled to measure himself with other men, the more confidence he +acquired in his own powers. This severe mental labor took away much of +the pain of his "despised love." Ishmael was one to love strongly, +ardently, constantly. But he was not one to drivel over a hopeless +passion. He loved Claudia: how deeply, how purely, how faithfully, all +his future life was destined to prove. And he knew that Claudia loved +him; but that all the prejudices of her rank, her character, and her +education were warring in her bosom against this love. He knew that she +appreciated his personal worth, but scorned his social position. He felt +that she had resolved never, under any circumstances whatever, to marry +him; but he trusted in her honor never to permit her, while loving him, +to marry another. And in the meantime years of toil would pass; he would +achieve greatness; and when the obscurity of his origin should be lost +in the light of his fame, then he would woo and win Miss Merlin! + +Such were the young man's dreams, whenever in his busy, crowded, useful +life he gave himself time to dream. + +And meanwhile, what was the conduct of the heiress to her presumptuous +lover? Coldly proud, but very respectful. For, mark you this: No one who +was capable of appreciating Ishmael Worth could possibly treat him +otherwise than with respect. + + + + +CHAPTER LI. + +HEIRESS AND BEAUTY. + + 'Tis hard upon the dawn, and yet + She comes not from the ball. + The night is cold and bleak and wet, + And the snow lies over all. + + I praised her with her diamonds on! + And as she went she smiled, + And yet I sighed when she was gone, + I sighed like any child. + + --_Meredith_. + +Meanwhile all Claudia Merlin's time was taken up with milliners, mantua +makers, and jewelers. She was to make her first appearance in society at +the President's first evening reception, which was to be held on Friday, +the sixth of January. It was now very near the New Year, and all her +intervening time was occupied in preparations for the festivities that +were to attend it. + +On the twenty-third of December, two days before Christmas, Mr. and +Mrs. Middleton and all their family arrived. They came up by the +"Columbia," and reached Judge Merlin's house early in the morning. +Consequently they were not fatigued, and the day of their arrival was a +day of unalloyed pleasure and of family jubilee. + +Ishmael took sympathetic part in all the rejoicings, and was caressed by +Mr. and Mrs. Middleton and all their younger children as a sort of +supplementary son and brother. + +On Christmas Eve, also, Reuben Gray, Hannah, and her children came to +town in their wagon. Honest Reuben had brought a load of turkeys for the +Christmas market, and had "put up" at a plain, respectable inn, much +frequented by the farmers, near the market house; but in the course of +the day he and his wife, leaving the children in the care of their +faithful Sally, who had accompanied them in the character of nurse, +called on Ishmael and brought him his trunk of wearing apparel. + +The judge, in his hearty, old-fashioned, thoughtless hospitality, would +have had Reuben and his family come and stop at his own house. But +Reuben Gray, with all his simplicity, had the good sense firmly to +decline this invitation and keep to his tavern. + +"For you know, Hannah, my dear," he said to his wife, when they found +themselves again, at the Plow, "we would bother the family more'n the +judge reckoned on. What could they do with us? Where could they put us? +As to axing of us in the drawing room or sitting of us down in the +dining room, with all his fine, fashionable friends, that wasn't to be +thought on! And as to you being put into the kitchen, along of the +servants, that I wouldn't allow! Now the judge, he didn't think of all +these things: but I did; and I was right to decline the invitation, +don't you think so?" + +"Of course you were, Reuben, and if you hadn't declined it, I would, and +that I tell you," answered Mrs. Gray. + +"And so, Hannah, my dear, we will just keep our Christmas where we are! +We won't deprive Ishmael of his grand Christmas dinner with his grand +friends; but we will ax him to come over and go to the playhouse with us +and see the play, and then we'll all come back and have a nice supper +all on us together. We'll have a roast turkey and mince pie and egg-nog +and apple toddy, my dear, and make a night of it, once in a way! What do +you think?" + +"I think that will be all very well, Reuben, so that you don't take too +much of that same egg-nog and apple toddy," replied Mrs. Gray. + +"Now, Hannah, did you ever know me to do such a thing?" inquired Reuben, +with an injured air. + +"No, Reuben, I never did. But I think that a man that even so much as +touches spiritable likkers is never safe until he is in his grave," said +Mrs. Gray solemnly. + +"Where he can never get no more," sighed Reuben; and as he had to attend +the market to sell his turkeys that night, he left Hannah and went to +put his horses to the wagon. + +So fine a trade did Reuben drive with his fat turkeys that he came home +at ten with an empty wagon and full pocketbook, and told Hannah that she +might have a new black silk "gownd," and Sally should have a red calico +"un," and as for the children, they should have an outfit from head to +foot. + +Christmas morning dawned gloriously. All the little Middleton's were +made happy by the fruit of the Christmas tree. In the many kind +interchanges of gifts Ishmael was not entirely forgotten. Some loving +heart had remembered him. Some skillful hand had worked for him. When he +went up to his room after breakfast on Christmas morning, he saw upon +his dressing table a packet directed to himself. On opening it he found +a fine pocket-handkerchief neatly hemmed and marked, a pair of nice +gloves, a pair of home-knit socks, and a pair of embroidered slippers. +Here was no useless fancy trumpery; all were useful articles; and in the +old-fashioned, housewifely present Ishmael recognized the thoughtful +heart and careful hand of Bee, and grateful, affectionate tears filled +his eyes. He went below stairs to a back parlor, where he felt sure he +should find Bee presiding over the indoor amusements of her younger +brothers and sisters. + +And, sure enough, there the pretty little motherly maiden was among the +children. + +Ishmael went straight up to her, saying, in fervent tones: + +"I thank you, Bee; I thank you for remembering me." + +"Why, who should remember you if not I, Ishmael? Are you not like one of +ourselves? And should I forget you any sooner than I should forget +Walter, or James, or John?" said Bee, with a pleasant smile. + +"Ah, Bee! I have neither mother nor sister to think of me at festive +times; but you, dear Bee, you make me forget the need of either." + +"You have 'neither mother nor sister,' Ishmael? Now, do not think so, +while my dear mother and myself live; for I am sure she loves you as a +son, Ishmael, and I love you--as a brother," answered Bee, speaking +comfort to the lonely youth from the depths of her own pure, kind heart. +But ah! the intense blush that followed her words might have revealed to +an interested observer how much more than any brother she loved Ishmael +Worth. + +Judge Merlin, Claudia, Mr. and Mrs. Middleton, and Ishmael went to +church. + +Bee stayed home to see that the nurses took proper care of the children. + +They had a family Christmas dinner. + +And after that Ishmael excused himself, and went over to the Plow to +spend the evening with Reuben and Hannah. That evening the three friends +went to the theater, and saw their first play, "the Comedy of Errors," +together. And it did many an old, satiated play-goer good to see the +hearty zest with which honest Reuben enjoyed the fun. Nor was Hannah or +Ishmael much behind him in their keen appreciation of the piece; only, +at those passages at which Hannah and Ishmael only smiled, Reuben rubbed +his knees, and laughed aloud, startling all the audience. + +"It's a good thing I don't live in the city, Hannah, my dear, for I +would go to the play every night!" said Reuben, as they left the theater +at the close of the performance. + +"And it is a good thing you don't, Reuben, for it would be the ruination +of you!" admitted Hannah. + +They went back to the Plow, where the Christmas supper was served for +them in the plain little private sitting room. After partaking +moderately of its delicacies, Ishmael bade them good-night, and returned +home. + +Reuben and Hannah stayed a week in the city. Reuben took her about to +see all the sights and to shop in all the stores. And on New Year's day, +when the President received the public, Reuben took Hannah to the White +House, to "pay their duty" to the chief magistrate of the nation. And +the day after New Year's day they took leave of Ishmael and of all their +friends, and returned home, delighted with the memory of their pleasant +visit to the city. + +Ishmael, after all these interruptions, returned with new zest to his +duties, and, as before, worked diligently day and night. + +Claudia went deeper into her preparations for her first appearance in +society at the President's first drawing room of the season. + +The night of nights for the heiress came. After dinner Claudia indulged +herself in a long nap, so that she might be quite fresh in the evening. +When she woke up she took a cup of tea, and immediately retired to her +chamber to dress. + +Mrs. Middleton superintended her toilet. + +Claudia wore a rich point-lace dress over a white satin skirt. The +wreath that crowned her head, the necklace that reposed upon her bosom, +the bracelets that clasped her arms, the girdle that enclosed her waist, +and the bunches of flowers that festooned her upper lace dress, were all +of the same rich pattern--lilies of the valley, whose blossoms were +formed of pearl, whose leaves were of emeralds, and whose dew was of +diamonds. Snowy gloves and snowy shoes completed this toilet, the effect +of which was rich, chaste, and elegant beyond description. Mrs. +Middleton wore a superb dress of ruby-colored velvet. + +When they were both quite ready, they went down into the drawing room, +where Judge Merlin, Mr. Middleton, and Ishmael were awaiting them, and +where Claudia's splendid presence suddenly dazzled them. Mr. Middleton +and Judge Merlin gazed upon the radiant beauty with undisguised +admiration. And Ishmael looked on with a deep, unuttered groan. How +dared he love this stately, resplendent queen? How dared he hope she +would ever deign to notice him? But the next instant he reproached +himself for the groan and the doubt--how could he have been so fooled +by a mere shimmer of satin and glitter of jewels? + +Judge Merlin and Mr. Middleton were in the conventional evening dress of +gentlemen, and were quite ready to attend the ladies. They had nothing +to do, therefore, but to hand them to the carriage, which they +accordingly did. The party of four, Mr. and Mrs. Middleton, Judge +Merlin, and Claudia, drove off. + +Ishmael and Beatrice remained at home. Ishmael to study his law books; +Beatrice to give the boys their supper and see that the nurses took +proper care of the children. + + + + +CHAPTER LII. + +AN EVENING AT THE PRESIDENT'S. + + There was a sound of revelry by night-- + "Columbia's" capital had gathered then + Her beauty and her chivalry: and bright + The lamps shone o'er fair women and brave men. + A thousand hearts beat happily; and when + Music arose with its voluptuous swell, + Soft eyes looked love to eyes that spoke again, + And all went merry as a marriage bell. + + --_Byron_. + +The carriage rolled along Pennsylvania Avenue. The weather had changed +since sunset, and the evening was misty with a light, drizzling rain. +Yet still the scene was a gay, busy, and enlivening one; the gas lamps +that lighted the Avenue gleamed brightly through the rain drops like +smiles through tears; the sidewalks were filled with pedestrians, and +the middle of the street with vehicles, all going in one direction, to +the President's palace. + +A decorously slow drive of fifteen minutes brought our party through +this gay scene to a gayer one at the north gate of the President's park, +where a great crowd of carriages were drawn up, waiting their turn to +drive in. + +The gates were open and lighted by four tall lamps placed upon the +posts, and which illuminated the whole scene. + +Judge Merlin's carriage drew up on the outskirts of this crowd of +vehicles, to wait his turn to enter; but he soon found himself enclosed +in the center of the assemblage by other carriages that had come after +his own. He had to wait full fifteen minutes before he could fall into +the procession that was slowly making its way through the right-hand +gate, and along the lighted circular avenue that led up to the front +entrance of the palace. Even on this misty night the grounds were gayly +illuminated and well filled. But crowded as the scene was, the utmost +order prevailed. The carriages that came up the right-hand avenue, full +of visitors, discharged them at the entrance hall and rolled away empty +down the left-hand avenue, so that there was a continuous procession of +full carriages coming up one way and empty carriages going down the +other. + +At length Judge Merlin's carriage, coming slowly along in the line, drew +up in its turn before the front of the mansion. The whole facade of the +White House was splendidly illuminated, as if to express in radiant +light a smiling welcome. The halls were occupied by attentive officers, +who received the visitors and ushered them into cloakrooms. Within the +house also, great as the crowd of visitors was, the most perfect order +prevailed. + +Judge Merlin and his party were received by a civil, respectable +official, who directed them to a cloakroom, and they soon found +themselves in a close, orderly crowd moving thitherward. When the +gentlemen had succeeded in conveying their ladies safely to this bourne +and seen them well over its threshold, they retired to the receptacle +where they were to leave their hats and overcoats before coming back to +take their parties into the saloon. + +In the ladies' cloakroom Claudia and her chaperone found themselves in a +brilliant, impracticable crowd. There were about half-a-dozen tall +dressing glasses in the place, and about half-a-hundred young ladies +were trying to smooth braids and ringlets and adjust wreaths and +coronets by their aid. And there were about half-a-hundred more in the +center of the room; some taking off opera cloaks, shaking out flounces, +and waiting their turns to go to the mirrors; and some, quite ready and +waiting the appearance of their escort at the door to take them to the +saloon; and beside these some were coming in and some were passing out +continually; and through the open doors the crowds of those newly +arriving and the crowds of those passing on to the reception rooms, were +always visible. + +Claudia looked upon this seething multitude with a shudder. + +"What a scene!" she exclaimed. + +"Yes, but with it all, what order! There has never been such order and +system in these crowded receptions as now under the management of Mrs. +----," said Mrs. Middleton, naming the accomplished lady who, that +season, ruled the domestic affairs of the White House. + +As Mrs. Middleton and Claudia had finished their toilets, to the +sticking of the very last pin, before leaving their dressing rooms at +home, they had now nothing to do but to give their opera cloaks to a +woman in attendance, and then stand near the door to watch for the +appearance of Judge Merlin and Mr. Middleton. They had but a few minutes +to wait. The gentlemen soon came and gave their arms to their ladies and +led them to join the throng that were slowly making its way through the +crowded halls and anterooms towards the audience chamber, where the +President received his visitors. It was a severe ordeal, the passage of +those halls. Our party, like all their companions, were pressed forward +in the crowd until they were fairly pushed into the presence chamber, +known as the small crimson drawing room, in which the President and his +family waited to receive their visitors. + +Yes, there he stood, the majestic old man, with his kingly gray head +bared, and his stately form clothed in the republican citizen's dress of +simple black. There he stood, fresh from the victories of a score of +well-fought fields, receiving the meed of honor won by his years, his +patriotism, and his courage. A crowd of admirers perpetually passed +before him; by the orderly arrangement of the ushers they came up on the +right-hand side, bowed or courtesied before him, received a cordial +shake of the hand, a smile, and a few kind words, and then passed on to +the left towards the great saloon commonly known as the East Room. +Perhaps never has any President since Washington made himself so much +beloved by the people as did General ---- during his short +administration. Great love-compelling power had that dignified and +benignant old man! Fit to be the chief magistrate of a great, free +people he was! At least so thought Judge Merlin's daughter, as she +courtesied before him, received the cordial shake of his hand, heard the +kind tones of his voice say, "I am very glad to see you, my dear," and +passed on with the throng who were proceeding toward the East Room. + +Once arrived in that magnificent room, they found space enough even for +that vast crowd to move about in. This room is too well known to the +public to need any labored description. For the information of those who +have never seen it, it is sufficient to say that its dimensions are +magnificent, its decorations superb, its furniture luxurious, and its +illuminations splendid. Three enormous chandeliers, like constellations, +flooded the scene with light, and a fine brass band, somewhere out of +sight, filled the air with music. A brilliant company enlivened, but did +not crowd, the room. There were assembled beautiful girls, handsome +women, gorgeous old ladies; there were officers of the army and of the +navy in their full-dress uniforms; there were the diplomatic corps of +all foreign nations in the costumes of their several ranks and +countries; there were grave senators and wise judges and holy divines; +there were Indian chiefs in their beads and blankets; there were +adventurous Poles from Warsaw; exiled Bourbons from Paris; and Comanche +braves from the Cordilleras! There was, in fact, such a curious +assemblage as can be met with nowhere on the face of the earth but in +the east drawing room of our President's palace on a great reception +evening! + +Into this motley but splendid assemblage Judge Merlin led his beautiful +daughter. At first her entrance attracted no attention; but when one, +and then another, noticed the dazzling new star of beauty that had so +suddenly risen above their horizon, a whisper arose that soon grew into +a general buzz of admiration that attended Claudia in her progress +through the room and heralded her approach to those at the upper end. +And-- + +"Who is she?" "Who can she be?" were the low-toned questions that +reached her ear as her father led her to a sofa and rested her upon it. +But these questions came only from those who were strangers in +Washington. Of course all others knew the person of Judge Merlin, and +surmised the young lady on his arm to be his daughter. + +Soon after the judge and his party were seated, his friends began to +come forward to pay their respects to him, and to be presented to his +beautiful daughter. + +Claudia received all these with a self-possession, grace, and +fascination peculiarly her own. + +There was no doubt about it--Miss Merlin's first entrance into society +had been a great success; she had made a sensation. + +Among those presented to Miss Merlin on that occasion was the Honorable +---- ----, the British minister. He was young, handsome, accomplished, +and a bachelor. Consequently he was a target for all the shafts of Cupid +that ladies' eyes could send. + +He offered his arm to Miss Merlin for a promenade through the room. She +accepted it, and became as much the envy of every unmarried lady present +as if the offer made and accepted had been for a promenade through life. + +No such thought, however, was in the young English minister's mind; for +after making the circuit of the room two or three times, he brought his +companion back, and, with a smile and a bow, left her in the care of her +father. + +But if the people were inclined to feed their envy, they found plenty of +food for that appetite. A few minutes after Miss Merlin had resumed her +seat a general buzz of voices announced some new event of interest. It +turned out to be the entrance of the President and his family into the +East Room. + +For some good reason or other, known only to his own friendly heart, the +President, sauntering leisurely, dispensing bows, smiles, and kind words +as he passed, went straight up to the sofa whereon his old friend, Judge +Merlin, sat, took a seat beside him, and entered into conversation. + +Ah! their talk was not about state affairs, foreign or domestic policy, +duties, imports, war, peace--no! their talk was of their boyhood's days, +spent together; of the holidays they had had; of the orchards they had +robbed; of the well-merited thrashings they had got; and of the good old +schoolmaster, long since dust and ashes, who had lectured and flogged +them! + +Claudia listened, and loved the old man more, that he could turn from +the memory of his bloody victories, the presence of his political cares, +and the prospects of a divided cabinet, to refresh himself with the +green reminiscences of his boyhood's days. It was impossible for the +young girl to feel so much sympathy without betraying it and attracting +the attention of the old man. He looked at her. He had shaken hands with +her, and said that he was glad to see her, when she was presented to him +in his presence chamber; but he had not really seen her; she had been +only one of the passing crowd of courtesiers for whom he felt a +wholesale kindness and expressed a wholesale good-will; now, however, he +looked at her--now he saw her. + +Sixty-five years had whitened the hair of General ----, but he was not +insensible to the charms of beauty; nor unconscious of his own power of +conferring honor upon beauty. + +Rising, therefore, with all the stately courtesy of the old school +gentleman, he offered his arm to Miss Merlin for a promenade through the +rooms. + +With a sweet smile, Claudia arose, and once more became the cynosure of +all eyes and the envy of all hearts. A few turns through the rooms, and +the President brought the beauty back, seated her, and took his own seat +beside her on the sofa. + +But the cup of bitterness for the envious was not yet full. Another hum +and buzz went around the room, announcing some new event of great +interest; which seemed to be a late arrival of much importance. + +Presently the British minister and another gentleman were seen +approaching the sofa where sat the President, Judge Merlin, Miss +Merlin, and Mr. and Mrs. Middleton. They paused immediately before the +President, when the minister said: + +"Your Excellency, permit me to present to you the Viscount Vincent, late +from London." + +The President arose and heartily shook hands with the young foreigner, +cordially saying: + +"I am happy to see you, my lord; happy to welcome you to Washington." + +The viscount bowed low before the gray-haired old hero, saying, in a low +tone: + +"I am glad to see the President of the United States; but I am proud to +shake the hand of the conqueror of--of--" + +The viscount paused, his memory suddenly failed him, for the life and +soul of him he could not remember the names of those bloody fields where +the General had won his laurels. + +The President gracefully covered the hesitation of the viscount and +evaded the compliment at the same time by turning to the ladies of his +party and presenting his guest, saying: + +"Mrs. Middleton, Lord Vincent. Miss Merlin, Lord Vincent." + +The viscount bowed low to these ladies, who courtesied in turn and +resumed their seats. + +"My old friend, Judge Merlin, Lord Vincent," then said the plain, +matter-of-fact old President. + +The judge and the viscount simultaneously bowed, and then, these +formalities being over, seats were found for the two strangers, and the +whole group fell into an easy chat--subject of discussion the old +question that is sure to be argued whenever the old world and the new +meet--the rival merits of monarchies and republics. The discussion grew +warm, though the disputants remained courteous. The viscount grew bored, +and gradually dropped out of the argument, leaving the subject in the +hands of the President and the minister, who, of course, had taken +opposite sides, the minister representing the advantages of a +monarchical form of government, and the President contending for a +republican one. The viscount noticed that a large portion of the company +were promenading in a procession round and round the room to the music +of one of Beethoven's grand marches. It was monotonous enough; but it +was better than sitting there and listening to the vexed question +whether "the peoples" were capable of governing themselves. So he turned +to Miss Merlin with a bow and smile, saying: + +"Shall we join the promenade? Will you so far honor me?" + +"With pleasure, my lord," replied Miss Merlin. + +And he rose and gave her his arm, and they walked away. And for the +third time that evening Claudia became the target of all sorts of +glances--glances of admiration, glances of hate. She had been led out by +the young English minister; then by the old President; and now she was +promenading with the lion of the evening, the only titled person at this +republican court, the Viscount Vincent. And she a newcomer, a mere girl, +not twenty years old! It was intolerable, thought all the ladies, young +and old, married or single. + +But if the beautiful Claudia was the envy of all the women, the handsome +Vincent was not less the envy of all the men present. "Puppy"; +"coxcomb"; "Jackanape"; "swell"; "Viscount, indeed! more probably some +foreign blackleg or barber"; "It is perfectly ridiculous the manner in +which American girls throw themselves under the feet of these titled +foreign paupers," were some of the low-breathed blessings bestowed upon +young Lord Vincent. And yet these expletives were not intended to be +half so malignant as they might have sounded. They were but the +impulsive expressions of transient vexation at seeing the very pearl of +beauty, on the first evening of her appearance, carried off by an alien. + +In truth, the viscount and the heiress were a very handsome couple; and +notwithstanding all the envy felt for them, all eyes followed them with +secret admiration. The beautiful Claudia was a rare type of the young +American girl--tall, slender, graceful, dark-haired, dark-eyed, with a +rich, glowing bloom on cheeks and lips. And her snow white dress of +misty lace over shining satin, and her gleaming pearls and sparkling +diamonds, set off her beauty well. Vincent was a fine specimen of the +young English gentleman--tall, broad-chouldered, deep-chested; with a +stately head; a fair, roseate complexion; light-brown, curling hair and +beard; and clear, blue eyes. And his simple evening dress of speckless +black became him well. His manners were graceful, his voice pleasant, +and his conversation brilliant; but, alas, for Claudia! the greatest +charm he possessed for her was--his title! Claudia knew another, +handsomer, more graceful, more brilliant than this viscount; but that +other was unknown, untitled, and unnamed in the world. The viscount was +so engaged with his beautiful companion that it was some time before he +observed that the company was dropping off and the room was half empty. +He then led Miss Merlin back to her party, took a slight leave of them +all, bowed to the President, and departed. + +Judge Merlin, who had only waited for his daughter, now arose to go. His +party made their adieus and left the saloon. As so many of the guests +had already gone, they found the halls and anterooms comparatively free +of crowds, and easily made their way to the gentlemen's cloakroom and +the ladies' dressing room, and thence to the entrance hall. Mr. +Middleton went out to call the carriage, which was near at hand. And the +whole party entered and drove homeward. The sky had not cleared, the +drizzle still continued; but the lamps gleamed brightly through the +raindrops, and the Avenue was as gay at midnight as it had been at +midday. As the carriage rolled along, Judge Merlin and Mr. and Mrs. +Middleton discussed the reception, the President, the company, and +especially the young English viscount. + +"He is the son and heir of the Earl of Hurstmonceux, whose estates lie +somewhere in the rich county of Sussex. The title did not come to the +present earl in the direct line of descent. The late earl died +childless, at a very advanced age; and the title fell to his distant +relation, Lord Banff, the father of this young man, whose estates lie +away up in the north of Scotland somewhere. Thus the Scottish Lord Banff +became Earl of Hurstmonceux, and his eldest son, our new acquaintance, +took the second title in the family, and became Lord Vincent," said +Judge Merlin. + +"The English minister gave you this information?" inquired Mr. +Middleton. + +"Yes, he did; I suppose he thought it but right to put me in possession +of all such facts in relation to a young foreigner whom he had been +instrumental in introducing to my family. But, by the way, +Middleton--Hurstmonceux? Was not that the title of the young dowager +countess whom Brudenell married, and parted with, years ago?" + +"Yes; and I suppose that she was the widow of that very old man, the +late Earl of Hurstmonceux, who died childless; in fact, she must have +been." + +"I wonder whatever became of her?" + +"I do not know; I know nothing whatever about the last Countess of +Hurstmonceux; but I know very well who has a fair prospect of becoming +the next Countess of Hurstmonceux, if She pleases!" replied Mr. +Middleton, with a merry glance at his niece. + +Claudia, who had been a silent, thoughtful, and attentive listener to +their conversation, did not reply, but smothered a sigh and turned to +look out of the window. The carriage was just drawing up before their +own gate. + +The whole face of the house was closed and darkened except one little +light that burned in a small front window at the very top of the house. + +It was Ishmael's lamp; and, as plainly as if she had been in the room, +Claudia in imagination saw the pale young face bent studiously over the +volume lying open before him. + +With another inward sigh Claudia gave her hand to her uncle, who had +left the carriage to help her out. And then the whole party entered the +house, where they were admitted by sleepy Jim. + +And in another half hour they were all in repose. + + + + +CHAPTER LIII. + +THE VISCOUNT VINCENT. + + A king may make a belted knight, + A marquis, duke and a' that, + But an honest man's aboon his might + Gude faith he mauna fa' that! + For a' that and a' that, + Their dignities and a' that, + The pith o' sense and pride o' worth + Are higher ranks than a' that. + + --_Robert Burns_. + +The next morning Ishmael and Bee, the only hard workers in the family, +were the first to make their appearance in the breakfast room. They had +both been up for hours--Ishmael in the library, answering letters, and +Bee in the nursery, seeing that the young children were properly washed, +dressed, and fed. And now, at the usual hour, they came down, a little +hungry, and impatient for the morning meal. But for some time no one +joined them. All seemed to be sleeping off the night's dissipation. Bee +waited nearly an hour, and then said: + +"Ishmael, I will not detain you longer. I know that you wish to go to +the courthouse, to watch the Emerson trial; so I will ring for +breakfast. Industrious people must not be hindered by the tardiness of +lazy ones," she added, with a smile, as she put her hand to the +bell-cord. + +Ishmael was about to protest against the breakfast being hurried on his +account, when the matter was settled by the entrance of Judge Merlin, +followed by Mr. Middleton and Claudia. After the morning salutations had +passed, the judge said: + +"You may ring for breakfast, Claudia, my dear. We will not wait for your +aunt, since your uncle tells us that she is too tired to rise this +morning." + +But as Bee had already rung, the coffee and muffins were soon served, +and the family gathered around the table. + +Beside Claudia's plate lay a weekly paper, which, as soon as she had +helped her companions to coffee, she took up and read. It was a lively +gossiping little paper of that day, published every Saturday morning, +under the somewhat sounding title of "The Republican Court Journal," and +it gave, in addition to the news of the world, the doings of the +fashionable circles. This number of the paper contained a long +description of the President's drawing room of the preceding evening. +And as Claudia read it, she smiled and broke in silvery laughter. + +Everyone looked up. + +"What is it, my dear?" inquired the judge. + +"Let us have it, Claudia," said Mr. Middleton. + +"Oh, papa! oh, uncle! I really cannot read it out--it is too absurd! Is +there no way, I wonder, of stopping these reporters from giving their +auction-book schedule of one's height, figure, complexion, and all that? +Here, Bee--you read it, my dear," said Claudia, handing it to her +cousin. + +Bee took the paper and cast her eyes over the article in question; but +as she did so her cheek crimsoned with blushes, and she laid the paper +down. + +"Read it, Bee," said Claudia. + +"I cannot," answered Beatrice coldly. + +"Why not?" + +"It makes my eyes burn even to see it! Oh, Claudia, how dare they take +such liberties with your name?" + +"Why, every word of it is praise--high praise." + +"It is fulsome, offensive flattery." + +"Oh, you jealous little imp!" said Miss Merlin, laughing. + +"Yes, Claudia, I am jealous! not of you; but for you--for your delicacy +and dignity," said Beatrice gravely. + +"And you think, then, I have been wronged by this public notice?" +inquired the heiress, half wounded and half offended by the words of her +cousin. + +"I do," answered Beatrice gravely. + +"As if I cared! Queens of society, like other sovereigns, must be so +taxed for their popularity, Miss Middleton!" said Claudia, half +laughingly and half defiantly. + +Bee made no reply. + +But Mr. Middleton extended his hand, saying: + +"Give me the paper. Claudia is a little too independent, and Bee a +little too fastidious, for either to be a fair judge of what is right +and proper in this matter; so we will see for ourselves." + +Judge Merlin nodded assent. + +Mr. Middleton read the article aloud. It was really a very lively +description of the President's evening reception--interesting to those +who had not been present; more interesting to those who had; and most +interesting of all to those who found themselves favorably noticed. To +the last-mentioned the notice was fame--for a day. The article was two +or three columns in length; but we will quote only a few lines. One +paragraph said: + +"Among the distinguished guests present was the young Viscount Vincent, +eldest son and heir of the earl of Hurstmonceux and Banff. He was +presented by the British minister." + +Another paragraph alluded to Claudia in these terms: + +"The belle of the evening, beyond all competition, was the beautiful +Miss M----n, only daughter and heiress of Judge M----n, of the Supreme +Court. It will be remembered that the blood of Pocahontas runs in this +young beauty's veins, giving luster to her raven black hair, light to +her dusky eyes, fire to her brown cheeks, and majesty and grace to all +her movements. She is truly an Indian princess." + +"Well!" said Mr. Middleton, laying down the paper, "I agree with Bee. It +is really too bad to be trotted out in this way, and have all your +points indicated, and then be dubbed with a fancy name besides. Why, +Miss Merlin, they will call you the 'Indian' Princess' to the end of +time, or of your Washington campaign." + +Claudia tossed her head. + +"What odds?" she asked. "I am rather proud to be of the royal lineage of +Powhatan. They may call me Indian princess, if they like. I will accept +the title." + +"Until you get a more legitimate one!" laughed Mr. Middleton. + +"Until I get a more legitimate one," assented Claudia. + +"But I will see McQuill, the reporter of the 'Journal,' and ask him as a +particular favor to leave my daughter's name out of his next balloon +full of gas!" laughed the judge, as he arose from the table. + +The other members of the family followed. And each went about his or her +own particular business. This day being the next following the first +appearance of Miss Merlin in society, was passed quietly in the family. + +The next day, being Sunday, they all attended church. + +But on Monday a continual stream of visitors arrived, and a great number +of cards were left at Judge Merlin's door. + +In the course of a week Claudia returned all these calls, and thus she +was fairly launched into fashionable life. + +She received numerous invitations to dinners, evening parties, and +balls; but all these she civilly excused herself from attending; for it +was her whim to give a large party before going to any. To this end, she +forced her Aunt Middleton to issue cards and make preparations on a +grand scale for a very magnificent ball. + +"It must eclipse everything else that has been done, or can be done, +this season!" said Claudia. + +"Humph!" answered Mrs. Middleton. + +"We must have Dureezie's celebrated band for the music, you know!" + +"My dear, he charges a thousand dollars a night to leave New York and +play for anyone!" + +"Well? what if it were two thousand--ten thousand? I will have him. Tell +Ishmael to write to him at once." + +"Very well, my dear. You are spending your own money, remember." + +"Who cares? I will be the only one who engages Dureezie's famous music. +And, Aunt Middleton?" + +"Well, my dear?" + +"Vourienne must decorate the rooms." + +"My dear, his charges are enormous." + +"So is my fortune, Aunt Middleton," laughed Claudia. + +"Very well," sighed the lady. + +"And--aunt?" + +"Yes, dear?" + +"Devizac must supply the supper." + +"Claudia, you are mad! Everything that man touches turns to gold--for +his own pocket." + +Claudia shrugged her shoulders. + +"Aunt, what do I care for all that. I can afford it. As long as he can +hold out to charge, I can hold out to pay. I mean to enjoy my fortune, +and live while I live." + +"Ah, my dear, wealth was given for other purposes than the enjoyment of +its possessor!" sighed Mrs. Middleton. + +"I know it, aunty. It was given for the advancement of its possessor. I +have another object besides enjoyment in view. I say, aunty!" + +"Well, my child?" + +"We must be very careful whom we have here." + +"Of course, my dear." + +"We must have the best people." + +"Certainly." + +"We must invite the diplomatic corps." + +"By all means." + +"And--all foreigners of distinction, who may be present in the city." + +"Yes, my love." + +"We must not forget to invite--" + +"Who, my dear?" + +"Lord Vincent." + +"Humph! Has he called here?" + +"He left his card a week ago." + +The day succeeding this conversation the cards of invitation to the +Merlin ball were issued. + +And in ten days the ball came off. + +It was--as Miss Merlin had resolved it should be--the most splendid +affair of the kind that has ever been seen in Washington, before or +since. It cost a small fortune, of course, but it was unsurpassed and +unsurpassable. Even to this day it is remembered as the great ball. As +Claudia had determined, Vourienne superintended the decorations of the +reception, dancing, and supper rooms; Devizac furnished the refreshment, +and Dureezie the music. The elite of the city were present. The guests +began to assemble at ten o'clock, and by eleven the rooms were crowded. + +Among the guests was he for whom all this pageantry had been got up--the +Viscount Vincent. + +With excellent taste, Claudia had on this occasion avoided display in +her own personal appointments. She wore a snow-white, mist-like tulle +over white glace silk, that floated cloud-like around her with every +movement of her graceful form. She wore no jewelry, but upon her head a +simple withe of the cypress vine, whose green leaves and crimson buds +contrasted well with her raven black hair. Yet never in all the splendor +of her richest dress and rarest jewels had she looked more beautiful. +The same good taste that governed her unassuming toilet withheld her +from taking any prominent part in the festivities of the evening. She +was courteous to all, solicitous for the comfort of her guests, yet not +too officious. As if only to do honor to the most distinguished stranger +present, she danced with the Viscount Vincent once; and after that +declined all invitations to the floor. Nor did Lord Vincent dance again. +He seemed to prefer to devote himself to his lovely young hostess for +the evening. The viscount was the lion of the party, and his exclusive +attention to the young heiress could not escape observation. Everyone +noticed and commented upon it. Nor was Claudia insensible to the honor +of being the object of this exclusive devotion from his lordship. She +was flattered, and when Claudia was in this state her beauty became +radiant. + +Among those who watched the incipient flirtation commencing between the +viscount and the heiress was Beatrice Middleton. She had come late. She +had had all the children to see properly fed and put to bed before she +could begin to dress herself. And one restless little brother had kept +her by his crib singing songs and telling stories until ten o'clock +before he finally dropped off to sleep, and left her at liberty to go to +her room and dress herself for the ball. Her dress was simplicity +itself--a plain white tarletan with white ribbons; but it well became +the angelic purity of her type of beauty. Her golden ringlets and +sapphire eyes were the only jewels she wore, the roses on her cheeks the +only flowers. When she entered the dancing room she saw four quadrilles +in active progress on the floor; and about four hundred spectators +crowded along the walls, some sitting, some standing, some reclining, +and some grouped. She passed on, greeting courteously those with whom +she had a speaking acquaintance, smiling kindly upon others, and +observing all. In this way she reached the group of which Claudia Merlin +and Lord Vincent formed the center. A cursory glance showed her that one +for whom she looked was not among them. With a bow and a smile to the +group she turned away and went up to where Judge Merlin stood for the +moment alone. + +"Uncle," she said, in a tone slightly reproachful, "is not Ishmael to be +with us this evening?" + +"My dear, I invited him to join us, but he excused himself." + +"Of course, naturally he would do so at first, thinking doubtless that +you asked him as a mere matter of form. Uncle, considering his position, +you ought to have pressed him to come. You ought not to have permitted +him to excuse himself, if you really were in earnest with your +invitation. Were you in earnest, sir?" + +"Why, of course I was, my dear! Why shouldn't I have been? I should have +been really glad to see the young man here enjoying himself this +evening." + +"Have I your authority for saying so much to Ishmael, even now, uncle?" +inquired Bee eagerly. + +"Certainly, my love. Go and oust him from his den. Bring him down here, +if you like--and if you can," said the judge cheerily. + +Bee left him, glided like a spirit through the crowd, passed from the +room and went upstairs, flight after flight, until she reached the third +floor, and rapped at Ishmael's door. + +"Come in," said the rich, deep, sweet voice--always sweet in its tones, +whether addressing man, woman, or child--human being or bumb brute; +"come in." + +Bee entered the little chamber, so dark after the lighted rooms below. + +In the recess of the dormer window, at a small table lighted by one +candle, sat Ishmael, bending over an open volume. His cheek was pale, +his expression weary. He looked up, and recognizing Bee, arose with a +smile to meet her. + +"How dark you are up here, all alone, Ishmael," she said, coming +forward. + +Ishmael snuffed his candle, picked the wick, and sat it up on his pile +of books that it might give a better light, and then turned again +smilingly towards Bee, offered her a chair and stood as if waiting her +command. + +"What are you doing up here alone, Ishmael?" she inquired, with her hand +upon the back of the chair that she omitted to take. + +"I am studying 'Kent's Commentaries,'" answered the young man. + +"I wish you would study your own health a little more, Ishmael! Why are +you not down with us?" + +"My dear Bee, I am better here." + +"Nonsense, Ishmael! You are here too much. You confine yourself too +closely to study. You should remember the plain old proverb--proverbs +are the wisdom of nations, you know--the old proverb which says: 'All +work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.' Come!" + +"My dear friend, Bee, you must excuse me." + +"But I will not." + +"Bee--" + +"I insist upon your coming, Ishmael." + +"Bee, do not. I should be the wrong man in the wrong place." + +"Now, why do you say that?" + +"Because I have no business in a ballroom, Bee." + +"You have as much business there as anyone else." + +"What should I do there, Bee?" + +"Dance! waltz! polka! At our school balls you were one of the best +dancers we had, I recollect. Now, with your memory and your ear for +music, you would do as well as then." + +"But who would dance with me in Washington, dear Bee? I am a total +stranger to everyone out of this family. And I have no right to ask an +introduction to any of the belles," said Ishmael. + +"I will dance with you, Ishmael, to begin with, if you will accept me as +a partner. And I do not think you will venture to refuse your little +adopted sister and old playmate. Come, Ishmael." + +"Dearest little sister, do you know that I declined Judge Merlin's +invitation?" + +"Yes; he told me so, and sent me here to say to you, that he will not +excuse you, that he insists upon your coming. Come, Ishmael!" + +"Dear Bee, you constrain me. I will come. Yes, I confess I am glad to be +'constrained.' Sometimes, dear, we require to be compelled to do as we +like; or, in other words, our consciences require just excuses for +yielding certain points to our inclinations. I have been secretly +wishing to be with you all the evening. The distant sound of the music +has been alluring me very persuasively. (That is a magnificent band of +Dureezie's, by the way.) I have been longing to join the festivities. +And I am glad, my little liege lady, that you lay your royal commands on +me to do so." + +"That is right, Ishmael. I must say that you yield gracefully. Well, I +will leave you now to prepare your toilet. And--Ishmael?" + +"Yes, Bee?" + +"Ring for more light! You will never be able to render yourself +irresistible with the aid of a single candle on one side of your glass," +said Bee, as she made her laughing exit. + +Ishmael followed her advice in every particular, and soon made himself +ready to appear in the ball. When just about to leave the room he +thought of his gloves, and doubted whether he had a pair for +drawing-room use. Then suddenly he recollected Bee's Christmas present +that he had laid away as something too sacred for use. He went and took +from the parcel the straw-colored kid gloves she had given him, and drew +them on as he descended the stairs, whispering to himself: + +"Even for these I am indebted to her--may Heaven bless her!" + + + + +CHAPTER LIV. + +ISHMAEL AT THE BALL. + + Yes! welcome, right welcome--and give us your hand, + You shall not stand "out in the cold"! + If new friends are true friends, I can't understand + Why hearts should hold out till they're old; + Then come with all welcome and fear not to fling + Reserve to the winds and the waves, + For thou never canst live, the cold-blooded thing + Society makes of its slaves. + + --_M.F. Tupper_. + +A very handsome young fellow was Ishmael Worth as he entered the drawing +room that evening. He had attained his full height, over six feet, and +he had grown broad-shouldered and full-chested, with the prospect of +becoming the athletic man of majestic presence that he appeared in riper +years. His hair and eyes were growing much darker; you might now call +the first dark brown and the last dark gray. His face was somewhat +fuller; but his forehead was still high, broad, and massive, and the +line of his profile was clear-cut, distinct, and classic; his lips were +full and beautifully curved; and, to sum up, he still retained the +peculiar charm of his countenance--the habit of smiling only with his +eyes. How intense is the light of a smile that is confined to the eyes +only. His dress is not worth notice. All gentlemen dress alike for +evening parties; all wear the stereotyped black dress coat, light kid +gloves, etc., etc., etc., and he wore the uniform for such cases made +and provided. Only everything that Ishmael put on looked like the +costume of a prince. + +He entered the lighted and crowded drawing room very hesitatingly, +looking over that splendid but confused assemblage until he caught the +eye of Judge Merlin, who immediately came forward to meet him, saying in +a low tone: + +"I am glad you changed your mind and decided to come down. You must +become acquainted with some of my acquaintances. You must make friends, +Ishmael, as well as gain knowledge, if you would advance yourself. Come +along!" + +And the judge led him into the thick of the crowd. + +Little more than a year before the judge had said, in speaking of +Ishmael: "Of course, owing to the circumstances of his birth, he never +can hope to attain the position of a gentleman, never." But the judge +had forgotten all about that now. People usually did forget Ishmael's +humble origin in his exalted presence. I use the word "exalted" with +truth, as it applied to his air and manner. The judge certainly forgot +that Ishmael was not Society's gentleman as well as "nature's nobleman," +when, taking him through the crowd, he said: + +"I shall introduce you to some young ladies. The first one I present you +to will be Miss Tourneysee, the daughter of General Tourneysee. You must +immediately ask her to dance; etiquette will require you to do so." + +"But," smiled Ishmael, "I am already engaged to dance the next set with +Bee." + +"You verdant youth. So, probably, is she--Miss Tourneysee, I +mean--engaged ten sets deep. Ask her for the honor of her hand as soon +as she is disengaged," replied the judge, who straightway led Ishmael up +to a very pretty young girl, in blue crepe, to whom he presented the +young man in due form. + +Ishmael bowed and proffered his petition. + +The case was not so hopeless as the judge had represented it to be. Miss +Tourneysee was engaged for the next three sets, but would be happy to +dance the fourth with Mr. Worth. + +At that moment the partner to whom she was engaged for the quadrille, +then forming, came up to claim her hand, and she arose and slightly +courtesied to Judge Merlin and Ishmael Worth, and walked away with her +companion. + +Ishmael looked around for his own lovely partner, and Bee, smiling at a +little distance, caught his eye. He bowed to Judge Merlin and went up to +her and led her to the head of one of the sets about to be formed. + +In the meantime, "Who is he?" whispered many voices, while many eyes +followed the stranger who had come among them. + +Among those who observed the entrance of Ishmael was the Viscount +Vincent. Half bending, in an elegant attitude, with his white-gloved +hand upon the arm of the sofa where Miss Merlin reclined, he watched the +stranger. Presently he said to her: + +"Excuse me, but--who is that very distinguished-looking individual?" + +"Who?" inquired Claudia. She had not noticed the entrance of Ishmael. + +"He who just now came in the room--with Judge Merlin, I think. There, he +is now standing up, with that pretty little creature in white with the +golden ringlets." + +"Oh," said Claudia, following his glance. "That 'pretty little creature' +is my cousin, Miss Middleton." + +"I beg ten thousand pardons," said Vincent. + +"And her partner," continued Claudia, "is Mr. Worth, a very promising +young--" She could not say gentleman; she would not say man; so she +hesitated a little while, and then said: "He is a very talented young +law student with my papa." + +"Ah! do you know that at first I really took him for an old friend of +mine, an American gentleman from--Maryland, I believe." + +"Mr. Worth is from Maryland," said Claudia. + +"Then he is probably a relative of the gentleman in question. The +likeness is so very striking; indeed, if it were not that Mr.--Worth, +did you say his name was?--is a rather larger man, I should take him to +be Mr. Brudenell. I wonder whether they are related?" + +"I do not know," said Claudia. And of course she did not know; but +notwithstanding that, the hot blood rushed up to her face, flushing it +with a deep blush, for she remembered the fatal words that had forever +affected Ishmael in her estimation. + +"His mother was never married, and no one on earth knows who his father +was." + +The viscount looked at her; he was a man accustomed to read much in +little; but not always aright; he read a great deal in Claudia's deep +blush and short reply; but not the whole; he read that Claudia Merlin, +the rich heiress, loved her father's poor young law student; but no +more; and he resolved to make the acquaintance of the young fellow, who +must be related to the Brudenells, he thought, so as to see for himself +what there was in him, beside his handsome person, to attract the +admiration of Chief Justice Merlin's beautiful daughter. + +"He dances well; he carries himself like my friend Herman, also. I fancy +they must be nearly related," he continued, as he watched Ishmael going +through the quadrille. + +"I am unable to inform you whether he is or not," answered Claudia. + +While they talked, the dance went on. Presently it was ended. + +"You must come up, now, and speak to Claudia. She is the queen of the +evening, you know!" said Ishmael's gentle partner. + +"I know it, dear Bee; and I am going to pay my respects; but let me find +you a seat first," replied the young man. + +"No, I will go with you; I have not yet spoken to Claudia this evening," +said Bee. + +Ishmael offered his arm and escorted her across the room to the sofa +that was doing duty as throne for "the queen of the evening." + +"I am glad to see you looking so well, Bee! Mr. Worth, I hope you are +enjoying yourself," was the greeting of Miss Merlin, as they came up. + +Then turning towards the viscount, she said: + +"Beatrice, my dear, permit me--Lord Vincent, my cousin, Miss Middleton." + +A low bow from the gentleman, a slight courtesy from the lady, and that +was over. + +"Lord Vincent--Mr. Worth," said Claudia. + +Two distant bows acknowledged this introduction--so distant that +Claudia felt herself called upon to mediate, which she did by saying: + +"Mr. Worth, Lord Vincent has been particularly interested in you, ever +since you entered the room. He finds a striking resemblance between +yourself and a very old friend of his own, who is also from your native +county." + +Ishmael looked interested, and his smiling eyes turned from Claudia to +Lord Vincent in good-humored inquiry. + +"I allude to Mr. Herman Brudenell of Brudenell Hall, Maryland, who has +been living in England lately. There is a very striking likeness between +him and yourself; so striking that I might have mistaken one for the +other; but that you are larger, and, now that I see you closely, darker, +than he is. Perhaps you are relatives," said Lord Vincent. + +"Oh, no; not at all; not the most distant. I am not even acquainted with +the gentleman; never set eyes on him in my life!" said Ishmael, smiling +ingenuously; for of course he thought he was speaking the exact truth. + +But oh, Herman! oh, Nora! if he from the nethermost parts of the +earth--if she from the highest heaven could have heard that honest +denial of his parentage from the truthful lips of their gifted son! + +"There is something incomprehensible in the caprices of nature, in +making people who are in no way related so strongly resemble each +other," said Lord Vincent. + +"There is," admitted Ishmael. + +At this moment the music ceased, the dancers left the floor, and there +was a considerable movement of the company toward the back of the room. + +"I think they are going to supper. Will you permit me to take you in, +Miss Merlin?" said Lord Vincent, offering his arm. + +"If you please," said Claudia, rising to take it. + +"Shall I have the honor, dear Bee?" inquired Ishmael. + +Beatrice answered by putting her hand within Ishmael's arm. And they +followed the company to the supper room--scene of splendor, +magnificence, and luxury that baffles all description, except that of +the reporter of the "Republican Court Journal," who, in speaking of the +supper, said: + +"In all his former efforts, it was granted by everyone, that Devizac +surpassed all others; but in this supper at Judge Merlin's, Devizac +surpassed himself!" + +After supper Ishmael danced the last quadrille with Miss Tourneysee; and +when that was over, the time-honored old contra-dance of Sir Roger de +Coverly was called, in which nearly all the company took part--Ishmael +dancing with a daughter of a distinguished senator, and a certain +Captain Todd dancing with Bee. + +When the last dance was over, the hour being two o'clock in the morning, +the party separated, well pleased with their evening's entertainment. +Ishmael went up to his den, and retired to bed: but ah! not to repose. +The unusual excitement of the evening, the light, the splendor, the +luxury, the guests, and among them all the figures of Claudia and the +viscount, haunting memory and stimulating imagination, forbade repose. +Ever, in the midst of all his busy, useful, aspiring life he was +conscious, deep in his heart, of a gnawing anguish, whose name was +Claudia Merlin. To-night this deep-seated anguish tortured him like the +vulture of Prometheus. One vivid picture was always before his mind's +eye--the sofa, with the beautiful figure of Claudia reclining upon it, +and the stately form of the viscount, leaning with deferential +admiration over her. The viscount's admiration of the beauty was patent; +he did not attempt to conceal it. Claudia's pride and pleasure in her +conquest were also undeniable; she took no pains to veil them. + +And for this cause Ishmael could not sleep, but lay battling all night +with his agony. He arose the next morning pale and ill, from the +restless bed and wretched night, but fully resolved to struggle with and +conquer his hopeless love. + +"I must not, I will not, let this passion enervate me! I have work to do +in this world, and I must do it with all my strength!" he said to +himself, as he went into the library. + +Ishmael had gradually passed upward from his humble position of +amanuensis to be the legal assistant and almost partner of the judge in +his office business. In fact, Ishmael was his partner in everything +except a share in the profits; he received none of them; he still worked +for his small salary as amanuensis; not that the judge willfully availed +himself of the young man's valuable assistance without giving him due +remuneration, but the change in Ishmael's relations to his employer had +come on so naturally and gradually, that at no one time had thought of +raising the young man's salary to the same elevation of his position and +services occurred to Judge Merlin. + +It was ever by measuring himself with others that Ishmael proved his +own relative proportion of intellect, knowledge, and power. He had been +diligently studying law for more than two years. He had been attending +the sessions of the courts of law both in the country and in the city. +And he had been the confidential assistant of Judge Merlin for many +months. + +In his attendance upon the sessions of the circuit courts in Washington, +and in listening to the pleadings of the lawyers and the charges of the +judges, and watching the results of the trials--he had made this +discovery--namely, that he had attained as fair a knowledge of law as +was possessed by many of the practicing lawyers of these courts, and he +resolved to consult his employer, Judge Merlin, upon the expediency of +his making application for admission to practice at the Washington bar. + + + + +CHAPTER LV. + +A STEP HIGHER. + + He will not wait for chances, + For luck he does not look; + In faith his spirit glances + At Providence, God's book; + And there discerning truly + That right is might at length, + He dares go forward duly + In quietness and strength, + Unflinching and unfearing, + The flatterer of none, + And in good courage wearing, + The honors he has won. + + --_M.F. Tupper_. + +Ishmael took an early opportunity of speaking to the judge of his +projects. It was one day when they had got through the morning's work +and were seated in the library together, enjoying a desultory chat +before it was time to go to court, that Ishmael said: + +"Judge Merlin, I am about to make application to be admitted to practice +at the Washington bar." + +The judge looked up in surprise. + +"Why, Ishmael, you have not graduated at any law school! You have not +even had one term of instruction at any such school." + +"I know that I have not enjoyed such advantages, sir; but I have read +law very diligently for the last three years, and with what memory and +understanding I possess, I have profited by my reading." + +"But that is not like a regular course of study at a law school." + +"Perhaps not, sir; but in addition to my reading, I have had a +considerable experience while acting as your clerk." + +"So you have; and you have profited by all the experience you have +gained while with me. I have seen that; you have acquitted yourself +unusually well, and been of very great service to me; but still I insist +that law-office business and law-book knowledge is not everything; there +is more required to make a good lawyer." + +"I know there is, sir; very much more, and I have taken steps to acquire +it. For nearly two years I have regularly attended the sessions of the +courts, both in St. Mary's county and here in the city, and in that time +have learned something of the practice of law," persisted Ishmael. + +"All very well, so far as it goes, young man; but it would have been +better if you had graduated at some first-class law school," insisted +the old-fashioned, conservative judge. + +"Excuse me, sir, if I venture to differ with you, so far as to say, that +I do not think a degree absolutely necessary to success; or indeed of +much consequence one way or the other," modestly replied Ishmael. + +The judge opened his eyes to their widest extent. + +"What reason have you for such an opinion as that, Ishmael?" he +inquired. + +"Observation, sir. In my attendance upon the sessions of the courts I +have observed some gentlemen of the legal profession who were graduates +of distinguished law schools, but yet made very poor barristers. I have +noticed others who never saw the inside of a law school, but yet made +very able barristers." + +"But with all this, you must admit that the great majority of +distinguished lawyers have been graduates of first-class law schools." + +"Oh, yes, sir; I admit that. I admit also--for who, in his senses, could +deny them?--the very great advantages of these schools as facilities; I +only contend that they cannot insure success to any law student who has +not talent, industry, perseverance, and a taste for the profession; and +that, to one who has all these elements of success, a diploma from the +schools is not necessary. I think it is the same in every branch of +human usefulness. Look at the science of war. Remember the Revolutionary +times. Were the great generals of that epoch graduates of any military +academy? No, they came from the plow, the workshop, and the counting +house. No doubt it would have been highly advantageous to them had they +been graduates of some first-class military academy; I only say it was +found not to be absolutely necessary to their success as great generals; +and in our later wars, we have not found the graduates of West Point, +who had a great theoretic knowledge of the science of war, more +successful in action than the volunteers, whose only school was actual +practice in the field. And look at our Senate and House of +Representatives, sir; are the most distinguished statesmen there +graduates of colleges? Quite the reverse. I do not wish to be so +irreverent as to disparage schools and colleges, sir, I only wish to be +so just as to exalt talent, industry, and perseverance to their proper +level," said Ishmael warmly. + +"Special pleading, my boy," said the judge. + +Ishmael blushed, laughed, and replied: + +"Yes, sir, I acknowledge that it is very special pleading. I have made +up my mind to be a candidate for admission to the Washington bar; and +having done so, I would like to get your approbation." + +"What do you want with my approbation, boy? With or without it, you will +get on." + +"But more pleasantly with it, sir," smiled Ishmael. + +"Very well, very well; take it then. Go ahead. I wish you success. But +what is the use of telling you to go ahead, when you will go ahead +anyhow, in spite of fate? Or why should I wish you success, when I know +you will command success? Ah, Ishmael, you can do without me; but how +shall I ever be able to do without you?" inquired the judge, with an odd +expression between a smile and a sigh. + +"My friend and patron, I must be admitted to practice at the Washington +bar; but I will not upon that account leave your service while I can be +of use to you," said Ishmael, with earnestness; for next to adoring +Claudia, he loved best for her sake to honor her father. + +"That's a good lad. Be sure you keep your promise," said the judge, +smiling, and laying his hand caressingly on Ishmael's head. + +And then as it was time for the judge to go to the Supreme Court, he +arose and departed, leaving Ishmael to write out a number of legal +documents. + +Ishmael lost no time in carrying his resolution into effect. He passed a +very successful examination and was duly admitted to practice in the +Washington courts of law. + +A few evenings after this, as Ishmael was still busy in the little +library, trying to finish a certain task before the last beams of the +sun had faded away, the judge entered, smiling, holding in his hand a +formidable-looking document and a handful of gold coin. + +"There, Ishmael," he said, laying the document and the gold on the table +before the young man; "there is your first brief and your first fee! Let +me tell you it is a very unusual windfall for an unfledged lawyer like +you." + +"I suppose I owe this to yourself, sir," said Ishmael. + +"You owe it to your own merits, my lad! I will tell you all about it. +To-day I met in the court an old acquaintance of mine--Mr. Ralph Walsh. +He has been separated from his wife for some time past, living in the +South; but he has recently returned to the city, and has sought a +reconciliation with her, which, for some reason or other, she has +refused. He next tried to get possession of their children, in order to +coerce her through her affection for them; but she suspected his design +and frustrated it by removing the children to a place of secrecy. All +this Walsh told me this morning in the court, where he had come to get +the habeas corpus served upon the woman ordering her to produce the +children in court. It will be granted, of course, and he will sue for +the possession of the children, and his wife will contest the suit; she +will contest it in vain, of course, for the law always gives the father +possession of the children, unless he is morally, mentally, or +physically incapable of taking care of them--which is not the case with +Walsh; he is sound in mind, body, and reputation; there is nothing to be +said against him in either respect." + +"What, then, divided him from his family?" inquired Ishmael doubtfully. + +"Oh, I don't know; he had a wandering turn of mind, and loved to travel +a great deal; he has been all over the civilized and uncivilized world, +too, I believe." + +"And what did she do, in the meantime?" inquired Ishmael, still more +doubtfully. + +"She? Oh, she kept a little day-school." + +"What, was that necessary?" + +"I suppose so, else she would not have kept it." + +"But did not he contribute to the support of the family?" + +"I--don't know; I fear not." + +"There was nothing against the wife's character?" + +"Not a breath! How should there be, when she keeps a respectable school? +And when he himself wishes, in getting possession of the children, only +to compel her through her love for them to come to him." + +"Seething the kid in its mother's milk, or something quite as cruel," +murmured Ishmael to himself. + +The judge, who did not know what he was muttering to himself, continued: + +"Well, there is the case, as Walsh delivered it to me. If there is +anything else of importance connected with the case, you will doubtless +find it in the brief. He actually offered the brief to me at first. He +has been so long away that he did not know my present position, and that +I had long since ceased to practice. So when he met me in the courtroom +to-day he greeted me as an old friend, told me his business at the +court, said that he considered the meeting providential, and offered me +his brief. I explained to him the impossibility of my taking it, and +then he begged me to recommend some lawyer. I named you to him without +hesitation, giving you what I considered only your just meed of praise. +He immediately asked me to take charge of the brief and the retaining +fee, and offer both to you in his name, and say to you that he should +call early to-morrow morning to consult with you." + +"I am very grateful to you, Judge Merlin, for your kind interest in my +welfare," said Ishmael warmly. + +"Not at all, my lad; for I owe you much, Ishmael. You have been an +invaluable assistant to me. Doing a great deal more for me than the +letter of your duty required." + +"I do not think so, sir; but I am very glad to have your approbation." + +"Thank you, boy; but now, Ishmael, to business. You cannot do better +than to take this brief. It is the very neatest little case that ever a +lawyer had; all the plain law on your side; a dash of the sentimental, +too, in the injured father's affection for the children that have been +torn from him, the injured husband for the wife that repudiates him. Now +you are good at law, but you are great at sentiment, Ishmael, and +between having law on your side and sentiment at your tongue's end, you +will be sure to succeed and come off with flying colors. And such +success in his first case is of the utmost importance to a young lawyer. +It is in fact the making of his fortune. You will have a shower of +briefs follow this success." + +"I do not know that I shall take the brief, sir," said Ishmael +thoughtfully. + +"Not take the brief? Are you mad? Who ever heard of a young lawyer +refusing to take such a brief as that?--accompanied by such a retaining +fee as that?--the brief the neatest and safest little case that ever +came before a court! the retaining fee a hundred dollars! and no doubt +he will hand you double that sum when you get your decision--for +whatever his fortune has been in times past, he is rich now, this +Walsh!" said the judge vehemently. + +"Who is the counsel for the other side?" asked Ishmael. + +"Ha, ha, ha! there's where the shoe hurts, is it? there's where the pony +halts? that's what's the matter? You are afraid of encountering some of +the great guns of the law, are you? Don't be alarmed. The schoolmistress +is too poor to pay for distinguished legal talent. She may get some +briefless pettifogger to appear for her; a man set up for you to knock +down. Your case is just what the first case of a young lawyer should +be--plain sailing, law distinctly on your side, dash of sentiment, +domestic affections, and all that, and certain success at the end. Your +victory will be as easy as it will be complete." + +"Poor thing!" murmured Ishmael; "too poor to employ talent for the +defense of her possession of her own children!" + +"Come, my lad; pocket your fee and take up your brief," said the judge. + +"I would rather not, sir; I do not like to appear against a woman--a +mother defending her right in her own children. It appears to me to be +cruel to wish to deprive her of them," said the gentle-spirited young +lawyer. + +"Cruel; it is merciful rather. No one wishes really to deprive her of +them, but to give them to their father, that she may be drawn through +her love for them to live with him." + +"No woman should be so coerced, sir; no man should wish her to be." + +"But I tell you it is for her good to be reunited to her husband." + +"Her own heart, taught by her own instincts and experiences, is the best +judge of that." + +"Ishmael don't be Quixotic: if you do, you will never succeed in the +legal profession. In this case the law is on the father's side, and you +should be on the law's." + +"The law is the minister of justice, and shall never in my hands become +the accomplice of injustice. The law may be on the father's side; but +that remains to be proved when both sides shall be heard; but it appears +to me that justice and mercy are on the mother's side." + +"That remains to be proved. Come, boy, don't be so mad as to refuse this +golden opening to fame and fortune! Pocket your fee and take up your +brief." + +"Judge Merlin, I thank you from the depths of my heart for your great +goodness in procuring this chance for me; and I beg that you will pardon +me for what I am about to say--but I cannot touch either fee or brief. +The case is a case of cruelty, sir, and I cannot have anything to do +with it. I cannot make my debut in a court of law against a poor +woman,--a poor mother,--to tear from her the babes she is clasping to +her bosom." + +"Ishmael, if those are the sentiments and principles under which you +mean to act, you will never attain the fame to which your talents might +otherwise lead you--never!" + +"No, never," said Ishmael fervently; "never, if to reach it I have to +step upon a woman's heart! No! by the sacred grave of my own dear +mother, I never will!" And the face of Nora's son glowed with an +earnest, fervent, holy love. + +"Be a poet, Ishmael, you will never be a lawyer." + +"Never--if to be a lawyer I have to cease to be a man! But it is as God +wills." + +The ringing of the tea-bell broke up the conference, and they went down +into the parlor, where, beside the family, they found Viscount Vincent. + +And Ishmael Worth, the weaver's son, had the honor of sitting down to +tea with a live lord. + +The viscount spent the evening, and retired late. + +As Ishmael bade the family good-night, the judge said: + +"My young friend, consult your pillow. I always do, when I can, before +making any important decision. Think over the matter well, my lad, and +defer your final decision about the brief until you see Walsh +to-morrow." + +"You are very kind to me, sir. I will follow your advice, as far as I +may do so," replied Ishmael. + +That night, lying upon his bed, Ishmael's soul was assailed with +temptation. He knew that in accepting the brief offered to him, in such +flattering terms, he should in the first place very much please his +friend, Judge Merlin--who, though he did not give his young assistant +anything like a fair salary for his services, yet took almost a fatherly +interest in his welfare; he knew also, in the second place, that he +might--nay, would--open his way to a speedy success and a brilliant +professional career, which would, in a reasonable space of time, place +him in a position even to aspire to the hand of Claudia Merlin. Oh, most +beautiful of temptations that! To refuse the brief, he knew, would be to +displease Judge Merlin, and to defer his own professional success for an +indefinite length of time. + +All night long Ishmael struggled with the tempter. In the morning he +arose from his sleepless pillow unrefreshed and fevered. He bathed his +burning head, made his morning toilet, and sat down to read a portion of +the Scripture, as was his morning custom, before beginning the business +of the day. The portion selected this morning was the fourth chapter of +Matthew, describing the fast and the temptation of our Saviour. Ishmael +had read this portion of Scripture many times before, but never with +such deep interest as now, when it seemed to answer so well his own +spirit's need. With the deepest reverence he read the words: + +"When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterwards an +hungered. + +"The devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth +him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them; + +"And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee if thou wilt fall +down and worship me. + +"Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, +Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. + +"Then the devil leaveth him, and behold, angels came and ministered unto +him." + +Ishmael closed the book and bowed his head in serious thought. + +"Yes," he said to himself; "I suppose it must be so. The servant is not +greater than the Master. He was tempted in the very opening of his +ministry; and I suppose every follower of him must be tempted in like +manner in the beginning of his life. I, also, here in the commencement +of my professional career, am subjected to a great temptation, that must +decide, once for all, whether I will serve God or Satan! I, too, have +had a long, long fast--a fast from all the pleasant things of this +world, and I am an hungered--ah, very much hungered for some joys! I, +too, am offered success and honor and glory if I will but fall down and +worship Satan in the form of the golden fee and the cruel brief held out +to me. But I will not. Oh, Heaven helping me, I will be true to my +highest convictions of duty! Yes--come weal or come woe, I will be true +to God. I will be a faithful steward of the talents he has intrusted to +me." + +And with this resolution in his heart Ishmael went down into the library +and commenced his usual morning's work of answering letters and writing +out law documents. He found an unusual number of letters to write, and +they occupied him until the breakfast bell rang. + +After breakfast Ishmael returned to the library and resumed his work, +and was busily engaged in engrossing a deed of conveyance when the door +opened and Judge Merlin entered accompanied by a tall, dark-haired, +handsome, and rather prepossessing-looking man, of about fifty years of +age, whom he introduced as Mr. Walsh. + +Ishmael arose to receive the visitor, and offer him a chair, which he +took. + +The judge declined the seat Ishmael placed for him, and said: + +"No, I will leave you with your client, Ishmael, that he may explain his +business at full length. I have an engagement at the State Department, +and I will go to keep it." + +And the judge bowed and left the room. + +As soon as they were left alone Mr. Walsh began to explain his business, +first saying that he presumed Judge Merlin had handed him the retaining +fee and the brief. + +"Yes; you will find both there on the table beside you, untouched," +answered Ishmael gravely. + +"Ah, you have not had time yet to look at the brief. No matter; we can +go over it together," said Mr. Walsh, taking up the document in +question, and beginning to unfold it. + +"I beg you will excuse me, sir; I would rather not look at the brief, as +I cannot take the case," said Ishmael. + +"You cannot take the case? Why, I understood from Judge Merlin that your +time was not quite filled up; that you were not overwhelmed with cases, +and that you could very well find time to conduct mine. Can you not do +so?" + +"It is not a question of time or the pressure of business. I have an +abundance of the first and very little of the last. In fact, sir, I have +been but very recently admitted to the bar, and have not yet been +favored with a single case; I am as yet a briefless lawyer." + +"Not briefless if you take my brief; for the judge speaks in the highest +terms of your talents; and I know that a young barrister always bestows +great care upon his first case," said Mr. Walsh pleasantly. + +"Pray excuse me, sir; but I decline the case." + +"But upon what ground?" + +"Upon the ground of principle, sir. I cannot array myself against a +mother who is defending her right to the possession of her own babes," +said Ishmael gravely. + +"Oh, I see! chivalric! Well, that is very becoming in a young man. But, +bless you, my dear sir, you are mistaken in your premises. I do not +really wish to part the mother and children. If you will give me your +attention, I will explain--" began the would-be client. + +"I beg that you will not, sir; excuse me, I pray you; but as I really +cannot take the case, I ought not to hear your statement." + +"Oh, nonsense, my young friend! I know what is the matter with you; but +when you have heard my statement, you will accept my brief," said Walsh +pleasantly, for, according to a well-known principle in human nature, he +grew anxious to secure the services of the young barrister just in +proportion to the difficulty of getting them. + +And so, notwithstanding the courteous remonstrances of Ishmael, he +commenced and told his story. + +It was the story of an egotist so intensely egotistical as to be quite +unconscious of his egotism; forever thinking of himself--forever +oblivious of others except as they ministered to his self-interest; +filled up to the lips with the feeling of his rights and privileges; but +entirely empty of any notion of his duties and responsibilities. With +him it was always "I," "mine," "me"; never "we," "ours," "us." + +Ishmael listened under protest to this story that was forced upon his +unwilling ears. At its end, when the narrator was waiting to see what +impression he had made upon his young hearer, and what comment the +latter would make, Ishmael calmly arose, took the brief from the table +and put it into the hands of Mr. Walsh, saying, with a dignity--aye, +even a majesty of mien rarely found in so young a man: + +"Take your brief, sir; nothing on earth could induce me to touch it!" + +"What! not after the full explanation I have given you?" exclaimed the +man in naive surprise. + +"If I had entertained a single doubt about the propriety of refusing +your brief before hearing your explanation, that doubt would have been +set at rest after hearing it," said the young barrister sternly. + +"What do you mean, sir?" questioned the other, bristling up. + +"I mean that the case, even by your own plausible showing, is one of the +greatest cruelty and injustice," replied Ishmael firmly. + +"Cruelty and injustice!" exclaimed Mr. Walsh, in even more astonishment +than anger. "Why, what the deuce do you mean by that? The woman is my +wife! the children are my own children! And I have a lawful right to the +possession of them. I wonder what the deuce you mean by cruelty and +injustice!" + +"By your own account, you left your wife nine years ago without +provocation, and without making the slightest provision for herself and +her children; you totally neglected them from that time to this; leaving +her to struggle alone and unaided through all the privations and perils +of such an unnatural position; during all these years she has worked for +the support and education of her children; and now, at last, when it +suits you to live with her again, you come back, and finding that you +have irrecoverably lost her confidence and estranged her affections, you +would call in the aid of the law to tear her children from her arms, and +coerce her, through her love for them, to become your slave and victim +again. Sir, sir, I am amazed that any man of--I will not say honor or +honesty, but common sense and prudence--should dare to think of throwing +such a case as that into court," said Ishmael earnestly. + +"What do you mean by that, sir? Your language is inadmissible, sir! The +law is on my side, however!" + +"If the law were on your side, the law ought to be remodeled without +delay; but if you venture to go to trial with such a case as this, you +will find the law is not on your side. You have forfeited all right to +interfere with Mrs. Walsh, or her children; and I would earnestly advise +you to avoid meeting her in court." + +"Your language is insulting, sir! Judge Merlin held a different opinion +from yours of this case!" exclaimed Mr. Walsh, with excitement. + +"Judge Merlin could not have understood the merits of the case. But it +is quite useless to prolong this interview, sir; I have an engagement at +ten o'clock and must wish you good-morning," said Ishmael, rising and +ringing the bell, and then drawing on his gloves. + +Jim answered the summons and entered the room. + +"Attend this gentleman to the front door," said Ishmael, taking up his +own hat as if to follow the visitor from the room. + +"Mr. Worth, you have insulted me, sir!" exclaimed Walsh excitedly, as he +arose and snatched up his money and his brief. + +"I hope I am incapable of insulting any man, sir. You forced upon me a +statement that I was unwilling to receive; you asked my opinion upon it +and I gave it to you," replied Ishmael. + +"I will have satisfaction, sir!" exclaimed Walsh, clapping his hat upon +his head and marching to the door. + +"Any satisfaction that I can conscientiously afford you shall be +heartily at your service, Mr. Walsh," said Ishmael, raising his hat and +bowing courteously at the retreating figure of the angry visitor. + +When he was quite gone Ishmael took up his parcels of letters and +documents and went out. He went first to the post office to mail his +letters, and then went to the City Hall, where the Circuit Court was +sitting. + +As Ishmael walked on towards the City Hall he thought over the dark +story he had just heard. He knew very well that, according to the custom +of human nature, the man, however truthful in intention, had put the +story in its fairest light; and yet how dark, with sin on one side and +sorrow on the other, it looked! And if it looked so dark from his fair +showing, how much darker it must look from the other point of view! A +deep pity for the woman took possession of his heart; an earnest wish to +help her inspired his mind. He thought of his own young mother, whom he +had never seen, yet always loved. + +And he resolved to assist this poor mother, who had no money to pay +counsel to help her defend her children, because it took every cent she +could earn to feed and clothe them. + +"Yes, the cause of the oppressed is the cause of God! And I will offer +the fruits of my professional labors to him," said Nora's son, as he +reached the City Hall. + +Ishmael was not one to wait for a "favorable opportunity." Few +opportunities ever came to him except in the shape of temptations, which +he resisted. He made his opportunities. So when the business that +brought him to the courtroom was completed, he turned his steps towards +Capitol Hill. For he had learned from the statements of Judge Merlin and +Mr. Walsh that it was there the poor mother kept her little day-school. +After some inquiries, he succeeded in finding the schoolhouse--a little +white frame building, with a front and back door and four windows, two +on each side, in a little yard at the corner of the street. Ishmael +opened the gate and rapped at the door. It was opened by a little girl, +who civilly invited him to enter. + +A little school of about a dozen small girls, of the middle class in +society, seated on forms ranged in exact order on each side the narrow +aisle that led up to the teacher's desk. Seated behind that desk was a +little, thin, dark-haired woman, dressed in a black alpaca and white +collar and cuffs. At the entrance of Ishmael she glanced up with large, +scared-looking black eyes that seemed to fear in every stranger to see +an enemy or peril. As Ishmael advanced towards her those wild eyes grew +wilder with terror, her cheeks blanched to a deadly whiteness, and she +clasped her hands and she trembled. + +"Poor hunted hare! she fears even in me a foe!" thought Ishmael, as he +walked up to the desk. She arose and leaned over the desk, looking at +him eagerly and inquiringly with those frightened eyes. + +And now for the first time Ishmael felt a sense of embarrassment. A +generous, youthful impulse to help the oppressed had hurried him to her +presence; but what should he say to her? how apologize for his +unsolicited visit? how venture, unauthorized, to intermeddle with her +business? + +He bowed and laid his card before her. + +She snatched it up and read it eagerly. + + ISHMAEL WORTH, + _Attorney-at-Law_. + +"Ah! you--I have been expecting this. You come from my--I mean Mr. +Walsh?" she inquired, palpitating with panic. + +"No, madam," said Ishmael, in a sweet, reassured, and reassuring tone, +for compassion for her had restored confidence to him. "No, madam, I +am not the counsel of Mr. Walsh." + +"You--you come from court, then? Perhaps you are going to have the +writ of habeas corpus, with which I have been threatened, served upon +me? You need not! I won't give up my children--they are my own! I +won't for twenty writs of habeas corpus," she exclaimed excitedly. + +"But, madam--" began Ishmael soothingly. + +"Hush! I know what you are going to say; you needn't say it! You are +going to tell me that a writ of habeas corpus is the most powerful +engine the law can bring to bear upon me! that to resist it would be +flagrant contempt of court, subjecting me to fine and imprisonment! I +do not care! I do not care! I have contempt, a very profound contempt, +for any court, or any law, that would try to wrest from a Christian +mother the children that she has borne, fed, clothed, and educated all +herself, and give them to a man who has totally neglected them all +their lives. Nature is hard enough upon woman, the Lord knows! giving +her a weaker frame and a heavier burden than is allotted to man! but +the law is harder still--taking from her the sacred rights with which +nature in compensation has invested her! But I will not yield mine! +There! Do your worst! Serve your writ of habeas corpus! I will resist +it! I will not give up my own children! I will not bring them into +court! I will not tell you where they are! They are in a place of +safety, thank God! and as for me--fine, imprison, torture me as much +as you like, you will find me rock!" she exclaimed, with her eyes +flashing and all her little dark figure bristling with terror and +resistance, for all the world like a poor little frightened kitten +spluttering defiance at a big dog! + +Ishmael did not interrupt her; he let her go on with her wild talk; he +had been too long used to poor Hannah's excitable nerves not to have +learned patience with women. + +"Yes, you will find me rock--rock!" she repeated; and to prove how +much of a rock she was, the poor little creature dropped her head upon +the desk, burst into tears, and sobbed hysterically. + +Ishmael's experience taught him to let her sob on until her fit of +passion had exhausted itself. + +Meanwhile one or two of the most sensitive little girls, seeing their +teacher weep, fell to crying for company; others whispered among +themselves; and others, again, looked belligerent. + +"Go tell him to go away, Mary," said the little one. + +"I don't like to; you go, Ellen," said another. + +"I'm afraid." + +"Oh! you scary things! I'll go myself," said a third; and, rising, +this little one came to the rescue, and standing up firmly before the +intruder said: + +"What do you come here for, making our teacher cry? Go home this +minute; if you don't I'll run right across the street and fetch my +father from the shop to you! he's as big as you are!" + +Ishmael turned his beautiful eyes upon this little champion of six +summers, and smiling upon her, said gently: + +"I did not come here to make anybody cry, my dear; I came to do your +teacher a service." + +The child met his glance with a searching look, such as only babes can +give, and turned and went back and reported to her companions. + +"He's good; he won't hurt anybody." + +Mrs. Walsh having sobbed herself into quietness, wiped her eyes, +looked up and said: + +"Well, sir, why don't you proceed with your business? Why don't you +serve your writ?" + +"My dear madam, it is not my business to serve writs. And if it was I +have none to serve," said Ishmael very gently. + +She looked at him in doubt. + +"You have mistaken my errand here, madam. I am not retained on the +other side; I have nothing whatever to do with the other side. I have +heard your story; my sympathies are with you; and I have come here to +offer you my professional services," said Ishmael gravely. + +She looked at him earnestly, as if she would read his soul. The woman +of thirty was not so quick at reading character as the little child of +six had been. + +"Have you counsel?" inquired Ishmael. + +"Counsel? No! Where should I get it?" + +"Will you accept me as counsel? I came here to offer you +my services." + +"I tell you I have no means, sir." + +"I do not want any remuneration in your case; I wish to +serve you, for your own sake and for God's; something we must +do for God's sake and for our fellow creatures'. I wish to be +your counsel in the approaching trial. I think, with the favor +of Divine Providence, I can bring your case to a successful +issue and secure you in the peaceful possession of your children." + +"Do you think so? Oh! do you think so?" she inquired eagerly, warmly. + +"I really do. I think so, even from the showing of the other side, +who, of course, put the fairest face upon their own cause." + +"And will you? Oh! will you?" + +"With the help of Heaven, I will." + +"Oh, surely Heaven has sent you to my aid." + +At this moment the little school clock struck out sharply the hour of +noon. + +"It is the children's recess," said the teacher. "Lay aside your +books, dears, and leave the room quietly and in good order." + +The children took their hoods and cloaks from the pegs on which they +hung and went out one by one--each child turning to make her little +courtesy before passing the door. Thus all went out but two little +sisters, who living at a distance had brought their luncheon, which +they now took to the open front door, where they sat on the steps in +the pleasant winter sunshine to eat. + +The teacher turned to her young visitor. + +"Will you sit down? And ah! will you pardon me for the rude reception +I gave you?" + +"Pray do not think of it. It was so natural that I have not given it a +thought," said Ishmael gently. + +"It is not my disposition to do so; but I have suffered so much; I +have been goaded nearly to desperation." + +"I see that, madam; you are exceedingly nervous." + +"Nervous! why, women have been driven to madness and death with less +cause than I have had!" + +"Do not think of your troubles in that manner, madam; do not excite +yourself, compose yourself, rather. Believe me, it is of the utmost +importance to your success that you should exhibit coolness and +self-possession." + +"Oh, but I have had so much sorrow for so many years!" + +"Then in the very nature of things your sorrows must soon be over. +Nothing lasts long in this world. But you have had a recent +bereavement," said Ishmael gently, and glancing at her black dress; +for he thought it was better that she should think of her chastening +from the hands of God rather than her wrongs from those of men. But to +his surprise, the woman smiled faintly as she also glanced at her +dress, and replied: + +"Oh, no! I have lost no friend by death since the decease of my +parents years ago, far back in my childhood. No, I am not wearing +mourning for anyone. I wear this black alpaca because it is cheap and +decent and protective." + +"Protective?" + +"Ah, yes! no one knows how protective the black dress is to a woman, +better than I do! There are few who would venture to treat with levity +or disrespect a quiet woman in a black dress. And so I, who have no +father, brother, or husband to protect me, take a shelter under a +black alpaca. It repels dirt, too, as well as disrespect. It is clean +as well as safe, and that is a great desideratum to a poor +schoolmistress," she said, smiling with an almost childlike candor. + +"I am glad to see you smile again; and now, shall we go to business?" +said Ishmael. + +"Oh, yes, thank you." + +"I must ask you to be perfectly candid with me; it is necessary." + +"Oh, yes, I know it is, and I will be so; for I can trust you, now." + +"Tell me, then, as clearly, as fully, and as calmly as you can, the +circumstances of your case." + +"I will try to do so," said the woman. + +It is useless to repeat her story here. It was only the same old +story--of the young girl of fortune marrying a spendthrift, who +dissipated her property, estranged her friends, alienated her +affections, and then left her penniless, to struggle alone with all +the ills of poverty to bring up her three little girls. By her own +unaided efforts she had fed, clothed, and educated her three children +for the last nine years. And now he had come back and wanted her to +live with him again. But she had not only ceased to love him, but +began to dread him, lest he should get into debt and make way with the +little personal property she had gathered by years of labor, +frugality, self-denial. + +"He says that he is wealthy, how is that?" questioned Ishmael. + +A spasm of pain passed over her sensitive face. + +"I did not like to tell you, although I promised to be candid with +you; but ah! I cannot benefit by his wealth; I could not +conscientiously appropriate one dollar; and even if I could do so, I +could not trust in its continuance; the money is ill-gotten and +evanescent; it is the money of a gambler, who is a prince one hour and +a pauper the next." + +Then seeing Ishmael shrink back in painful surprise, she added: + +"To do him justice, Mr. Worth, that is his only vice; it has ruined my +little family; it has brought us to the very verge of beggary; it must +not be permitted to do so again; I must defend my little home and +little girls, against the spoiler." + +"Certainly," said Ishmael, whose time was growing short; "give me pen +and ink; I will take down minutes of the statement, and then read it +to you, to see if it is correct." + +She placed stationery before him on one of the school-desks, and he +sat down and went to work. + +"You have witnesses to support your statement?" he inquired. + +"Oh, yes! scores of them, if wanted." + +"Give me the names of the most important and the facts they can swear +to." + +Mrs. Walsh complied, and he took them down. When he had finished and +read over the brief to her, and received her assurance that it was +correct, he arose to take his leave. + +"But--will not all those witnesses cost a great deal of money? And +will not there be other heavy expenses apart from the services of +counsel that you are so good as to give me?" inquired the teacher +anxiously. + +"Not for you," replied Ishmael, in a soothing voice, as he shook hands +with her, and, with the promise to see her again at the same hour the +next day, took his leave. + +He smiled upon the little sisters as he passed them in the doorway, +and then left the schoolhouse and hurried on towards home. + +"Well!" said Judge Merlin, who was waiting for him in the library, +"have you decided? Are you counsel for the plaintiff in the great suit +of Walsh versus Walsh?" + +"No," answered Ishmael, "I am retained for the defendant. I have just +had a consultation with my client." + +"Great Jove!" exclaimed the judge, in unbounded astonishment. "It was +raving madness in you to refuse the plaintiff's brief; but to accept +the defendant's--" + +"I did not only accept it--I went and asked for it," said Ishmael, +smiling. + +"Mad! mad! You will lose your first case; and that will throw back +your success for years!" + +"I hope not, sir. 'Thrice is he armed who hath his quarrel just,'" +smiled Ishmael. + +At the luncheon table that day the judge told the story of Ishmael's +quixotism, as he called it, in refusing the brief and the thumping fee +of the plaintiff, who had the law all on his side; and whom his +counsel would be sure to bring through victoriously; and taking in +hand the course of the defendant, who had no money to pay her counsel, +no law on her side, and who was bound to be defeated. + +"But she has justice and mercy on her side; and it shall go hard but I +prove the law on her side, too." + +"A forlorn hope, Ishmael, a forlorn hope!" said Mr. Middleton. + +"Forlorn hopes are always led by heroes, papa," said Bee. + +"And fools!" blurted out Judge Merlin. + +Ishmael did not take offense, he knew all that was said was well +meant; the judge talked to him with the plainness of a parent; and +Ishmael rather enjoyed being affectionately blown up by Claudia's +father. + +Miss Merlin now looked up, and condescended to say: + +"I am very sorry, Ishmael, that you refused the rich client; he might +have been the making of you." + +"The making of Ishmael. With the blessing of Heaven, he will make +himself! I am very glad he refused the oppressor's gold!" exclaimed +Bee, before Ishmael could reply. + +When Bee ceased to speak, he said: + +"I am very sorry, Miss Merlin, to oppose your sentiments in any +instance, but in this I could not do otherwise." + +"It is simply a question of right or wrong. If the man's cause was +bad, Ishmael was right to refuse his brief; if the woman's cause was +good, he was right to take her brief," said Mrs. Middleton, as they +all arose from the table. + +That evening Ishmael found himself by chance alone in the drawing room +with Bee. + +He was standing before the front window, gazing sadly into vacancy. +The carriage, containing Miss Merlin, Lord Vincent, and Mrs. Middleton +as chaperone, had just rolled away from the door. They were going to a +dinner party at the President's. And Ishmael was gazing sadly after +them, when Bee came up to his side and spoke: + +"I am very glad, Ishmael, that you have taken sides with the poor +mother; it was well done." + +"Thank you, dear Bee! I hope it was well done; I do not regret doing +it; but they say that I have ruined my prospects." + +"Do not believe it, Ishmael. Have more faith in the triumph of right +against overwhelming odds. I like the lines you quoted--' Thrice is he +armed who feels his quarrel just!' The poets teach us a great deal, +Ishmael. Only to-day I happened to be reading in Scott--in one of his +novels, by the way, this was, however--of the deadly encounter in the +lists between the Champion of the Wrong, the terrible knight Brian de +Bois Guilbert, and the Champion of Right, the gentle knight Ivanhoe. +Do you remember, Ishmael, how Ivanhoe arose from his bed of illness, +pale, feeble, reeling, scarcely able to bear the weight of his armor, +or to sit his horse, much less encounter such a thunderbolt of war as +Bois Guilbert? There seemed not a hope in the world for Ivanhoe. Yet, +in the first encounter of the knights, it was the terrible Bois +Guilbert that rolled in the dust. Might is not right; but right is +might, Ishmael!" + +"I know it, dear Bee; thank you, thank you, for making me feel it +also!" said Ishmael fervently. + +"The alternative presented to you last night and this morning was sent +as a trial, Ishmael; such a trial as I think every man must encounter +once in his life, as a decisive test of his spirit. Even our Saviour +was tempted, offered all the kingdoms of this world, and the glory of +them, if he would fall down and worship Satan. But he rebuked the +tempter and the Devil fled from him." + +"And angels came and ministered to him," said Ishmael, in a voice of +ineffable tenderness, as the tears filled his eyes and he approached +his arm toward Bee. His impulse was to draw her to his bosom and press +a kiss on her brow--as a brother's embrace of a loved sister; but +Ishmael's nature was as refined and delicate as it was fervent and +earnest; and he abstained from this caress; he said instead: + +"You are my guardian angel, Bee. I have felt it long, little sister; +you never fail in a crisis!" + +"And while I live I never will, Ishmael. You will not need man's help, +for you will help yourself, but what woman may do to aid and comfort, +that will I do for you, my brother," + +"What a heavenly spirit is yours, Bee," said Ishmael fervently. + +"And now let us talk of business, please," said practical little Bee, +who never indulged in sentiment long. "That poor mother! You give her +your services--gratuitously of course?" + +"Certainly," said Ishmael. + +"But, apart from her counsel's fee, will she not have other expenses +to meet in conducting this suit?" + +"Yes." + +"How will she meet them?" + +"Bee, dear, I have saved a little money; I mean to use it in her +service." + +"What!" exclaimed the young girl; "do you mean to give her your +professional aid and pay all her expenses besides?" + +"Yes," said Ishmael, "as far as the money will go. I do this, dear +Bee, as a 'thank offering' to the Lord for all the success he has +given me, up to this time. When I think of the days of my childhood in +that poor Hill hut, and compare them to these days, I am deeply +impressed by the mercy he has shown me; and I think that I can never +do enough to show my gratitude. I consider it the right and proper +thing to offer the first fruits of my professional life to him, +through his suffering children." + +"You are right, Ishmael, for God has blessed your earnest efforts, as, +indeed, he would bless those of anyone so conscientious and +persevering as yourself. But, Ishmael, will you have money enough to +carry on the suit?" + +"I hope so, Bee; I do not know." + +"Here, then, Ishmael, take this little roll of notes; it is a hundred +dollars; use it for the woman," she said, putting in his hand a small +parcel. + +Ishmael hesitated a moment; but Bee hastened to reassure him by +saying: + +"You had as well take it as not, Ishmael. I can very well spare it, or +twice as much. Papa makes me a much larger allowance than one of my +simple tastes can spend. And I should like," she added, smiling, "to +go partners with you in this enterprise." + +"I thank you, dear Bee; and I will take your generous donation and use +it, if necessary. It may not be necessary," said Ishmael. + +"And now I must leave you, Ishmael, and go to little Lu; she is not +well this evening." And the little Madonna-like maiden glided like a +spirit from the room. + +The next morning Ishmael went to see his client. He showed her the +absolute necessity of submission to the writ of habeas corpus; he +promised to use his utmost skill in her case; urged her to trust the +result with her Heavenly Father; and encouraged her to hope for +success. + +She followed Ishmael's advice; she promised to obey the order, adding: + +"It will be on Wednesday in Easter week. That will be fortunate, as +the school will have a holiday, and I shall be able to attend without +neglecting the work that brings us bread." + +"Are the children far away? Can you get them without inconvenience in +so short a time?" inquired Ishmael. + +"Oh, yes; they are in the country, with a good honest couple named +Gray, who were here on the Christmas holidays, and boarded with my +aunt, who keeps the Farmer's Rest, near the Center Market. My aunt +recommended them to me, and when I saw the man I felt as if I could +have trusted uncounted gold with him--he looked so true! He and his +wife took my three little girls home with them, and would not take a +cent of pay; and they have kept my secret religiously." + +"They have indeed!" said Ishmael, in astonishment; "for they are my +near relatives and never even told me." + + + + +CHAPTER LVI. + +TRIAL AND TRIUMPH. + + Let circumstance oppose him, + He bends it to his will; + And if the flood o'erflows him, + He dives and steins it still; + No hindering dull material + Shall conquer or control + His energies ethereal, + His gladiator soul! + Let lower spirits linger, + For hint and beck and nod, + He always sees the finger + Of an onward urging God! + + --_M.F. Tupper_. + +Like most zealous, young professional men, Ishmael did a great deal more +work for his first client than either custom or duty exacted of him. + +Authorized by her, he wrote to Reuben Gray to bring the children to the +city. + +And accordingly, in three days after, Reuben arrived at the Farmer's +Rest, with his wagon full of family. For he not only brought the three +little girls he was required to bring, but also Hannah, her children, +and her nurse-maid Sally. + +As soon as he had seen his party in comfortable quarters he walked up to +the Washington House to report himself to Ishmael; for, somehow or +other, Reuben had grown to look upon Ishmael as his superior officer in +the battle of life, and did him honor, very much as the veteran sergeant +does to the young captain of his company. + +Arrived in Ishmael's room, he took off his hat and said: + +"Here I am, sir; and I've brung 'em all along." + +"All Mrs. Walsh's little girls, of course, for they are required," said +Ishmael, shaking hands with Gray. + +"Yes, and all the rest on 'em, Hannah and the little uns, and Sally and +Sam," said Reuben, rubbing his hands gleefully. + +"But that was a great task!" said Ishmael, in surprise. + +"Well, no, it wasn't, sir; not half so hard a task as it would have been +to a left them all behind, poor things. You see, sir, the reason why I +brung 'em all along was because I sort o' think they love me a deal; +'pon my soul I do, sir, old and gray and rugged as I am; and I don't +like to be parted from 'em, 'specially from Hannah, no, not for a day; +'cause the dear knows, sir, as we was parted long enough, poor Hannah +and me; and now as we is married, and the Lord has donated us a son and +daughter at the eleventh hour, unexpected, praise be unto him for all +his mercies, I never mean to part with any on 'em no more, not even for +a day, till death do us part, amen; but take 'em all 'long with me, +wherever I'm called to go, 'specially as me and poor Hannah was married +so late in life that we aint got many more years before us to be +together." + +"Nonsense, Uncle Reuben! You and Aunt Hannah will live forty or fifty +years longer yet, and see your grandchildren, and maybe your +great-grandchildren. You two are the stuff that centenarians are made +of," exclaimed the young man cheeringly. + +"Centenarians? what's them, sir?" + +"People who live a hundred years." + +"Law! Well, I have hearn of such things happening to other folks, and +why not to me and poor Hannah? Why, sir, I would be the happiest man in +the world, if I thought as how I had all them there years to live long +o' Hannah and the little uns in this pleasant world. But his will be +done!" said Gray, reverently raising his hat. + +"The little girls are all right, I hope?" inquired Ishmael. + +"Yes, sir; all on 'em, and a deal fatter and rosier and healthier nor +they was when I fust took 'em down. Perty little darlings! Didn't they +enjoy being in the country, neither, though it was the depth of winter +time? Law, Ish--sir, I mean--it's a mortal sin ag'in natur' to keep +chil'en in town if it can be helped! But their ma, poor thing, couldn't +help it, I know. Law, Ish--sir, I mean--if you had seen her that same +Christmas Day, as she ran in with her chil'en to her aunt as is hostess +at the Farmer's. If ever you see a poor little white bantam trying to +cover her chicks when the hawk was hovering nigh by, you may have some +idea of the way she looked when she was trying to hide her chil'un and +didn't know where; 'cause she daren't keep 'em at home and daren't hide +'em at her aunt's, for her home would be the first place inwaded and her +aunt's the second. They was all so flustered, they took no more notice +o' me standin' in the parlor 'n if I had been a pillar-post,'till +feeling of pityful towards the poor things, I made so bold to go forward +and offer to take 'em home 'long o' me, and which was accepted with +thanks and tears as soon as the landlady recommended me as an old +acquaintance and well-beknown to herself. So it was settled. That night +when you come to spend the evening with us, Ish--sir, I mean--I really +did feel guilty in having of a secret as I wouldn't tell you; but you +see, sir, I was bound up to secrecy, and besides I thought as you was +stopping in Washington City, if you knowed anythink about it you might +be speened afore the court and be obliged to tell all, you know." + +"You did quite right, Uncle Reuben," said Ishmael affectionately. + +"You call me Uncle Reuben, sir?" + +"Why not, Uncle Reuben? and why do you call me sir?" + +"Well--sir, because you are a gentleman now--not but what you allers was +a gentleman by natur'; but now you are one by profession. They say you +have come to be a lawyer in the court, sir, and can stand up and plead +before the judges theirselves." + +"I have been admitted to the bar, Uncle Reuben." + +"Yes, that's what they call it; see there now, you know, I'm only a poor +ignorant man, and you have no call to own the like o' me for uncle, +'cause, come to the rights of it, I aint your uncle at all, sir, though +your friend and well-wisher allers; and to claim the likes o' me as an +uncle might do you a mischief with them as thinks riches and family and +outside show and book-larning is everythink. So Ish--sir, I mean, I +won't take no offense, nor likewise feel hurted, if you leaves oft +calling of me uncle and calls me plain 'Gray,' like Judge Merlin does." + +"Uncle Reuben," said Ishmael, with feeling, "I am very anxious to +advance myself in the world, very ambitious of distinction; but if I +thought worldly success would or could estrange me from the friends of +my boyhood, I would cease to wish for it. If I must cease to be true, in +order to be great, I prefer to remain in obscurity. Give me your hand, +Uncle Reuben, and call me Ishmael, and know me for your boy." + +"There, then, Ishmael! I'm glad to find you again! God bless my boy! But +law! what's the use o' my axing of him to do that? He'll do it anyways, +without my axing!" said Reuben, pressing the hand of Ishmael. "And now," +he added, "will you be round to the Farmer's this evening to see Hannah +and the young uns?" + +"Yes, Uncle Reuben; but first I must go and let Mrs. Walsh know that you +have brought her little girls back. I suppose she will think it best to +leave them with her aunt until the day of trial." + +"It will be the safest place for 'em! for besides the old lady being +spunky, I shall be there to protect 'em; for I mean to stay till that +same said trial and hear you make your fust speech afore the judge, and +see that woman righted afore ever I goes back home again, ef it costs me +fifty dollars." + +"I'm afraid you will find it very expensive, Uncle Reuben." + +"No, I won't, sir--Ishmael, I mean; because, you see, I fotch up a lot +o' spring chickens and eggs and early vegetables, and the profits I +shall get offen them will pay my expenses here at the very least," said +Reuben, as he arose and stood waiting with hat in hand for Ishmael's +motions. + +Ishmael got up and took his own hat and gloves. + +"Be you going round to see the schoolmist'ess now, sir--Ishmael, I +mean?" + +"Yes, Uncle Reuben." + +"Well, I think I'd like to walk round with you, if you don't mind. I +kind o' want to see the little woman, and I kind o' don't want to part +with you just yet, sir--Ishmael, I mean." + +"Come along, then, Uncle Reuben; she will be delighted to see her +children's kind protector, and I shall enjoy your company on the way." + +"And then, sir--Ishmael, I mean--when we have seen her, you will go back +with me to the Farmer's and see Hannah and the little uns and spend the +evening long of us?" + +"Yes, Uncle Reuben; and I fancy Mrs. Walsh will go with us." + +"Sartain, sure, so she will, sir--Ishmael, I mean." + +It was too late to find her at the schoolhouse, as it would be sure to +be closed at this hour. So they walked directly to the little suburban +cottage where she lived with one faithful old negro servant, who had +been her nurse, and with her cow and pig and poultry and her pet dog and +cat. They made her heart glad with the news of the children's arrival, +and they waited until, with fingers that trembled almost too much to do +the work, she put on her bonnet and mantle to accompany them to the +Farmer's. + +The meeting between the mother and children was very affecting. She +informed them that, this being Holy Thursday evening, she had dismissed +the school for the Easter holidays, and so could be with them all the +time until she should take them into court on Wednesday of the ensuing +week. + +Then in family council it was arranged that both herself and the +children should remain at the Farmer's until the day of the trial. + +As soon as all this matter was satisfactorily settled Ishmael arose and +bid them all good-night, promising to repeat his visit often while his +relatives remained at the hotel. + +It was late when Ishmael reached home, but the drawing-room was ablaze +with light, and as he passed its open door he saw that its only +occupants were the Viscount Vincent and Claudia Merlin. They were +together on the sofa, talking in low, confidential tones. How beautiful +she looked! smiling up to the handsome face that was bent in deferential +admiration over hers. A pang of love and jealousy wrung Ishmael's heart +as he hurried past and ran up the stairs to his den. There he sat down +at his desk, and, bidding vain dreams begone, concentrated his thoughts +upon the work before him--the first speech he was to make at the bar. + +Ishmael worked very hard the day preceding the trial; he took great +pains getting up his case, not only for his own sake, but for the sake +of that poor mother and her children in whom he felt so deeply +interested. + +No farther allusion was made to the affair by any member of Judge +Merlin's family until Wednesday morning, when, as they all sat around +the breakfast table, the judge said: + +"Well, Ishmael, the case of Walsh versus Walsh comes on to-day, I hear. +How do you feel? a little nervous over your first case, eh?" + +"Not yet; I feel only great confidence in the justice of my cause, as an +earnest of success." + +"The justice of his cause! Poor fellow, how much he has to learn yet! +Why, Ishmael, how many times have you seen justice overthrown by law?" + +"Too many times, sir; but there is no earthly reason why that should +happen in this case." + +"Have you got your maiden speech all cut and dried and ready to +deliver?" + +"I have made some notes; but for the rest I shall trust to the +inspiration of the instant." + +"Bad plan that. 'Spose the inspiration don't come? or 'spose you lose +your presence of mind? Better have your speech carefully written off, +and then, inspiration or no inspiration, you will be able to read, at +least." + +"My notes are very carefully arranged; they contain the whole argument." + +"And for the rest 'it shall be given ye in that hour, what ye shall +speak,'" said Beatrice earnestly. + +They all arose and left the table. + +"Thank you, dearest Bee," said Ishmael, as he passed her. + +"God aid you, Ishmael!" she replied fervently. + +He hurried upstairs to collect his documents, and then hastened to the +City Hall, where Mrs. Walsh and her children were to meet him. + +He found them all in the ante-chamber of the courtroom, attended by a +bodyguard composed of Reuben, Hannah, and the landlady. + +He spoke a few encouraging words to his client, shook hands with the +members of her party, and then took them all into the courtroom and +showed them their places. The plaintiff was not present. The judges had +not yet taken their seats. And the courtroom was occupied only by a few +lawyers, clerks, bailiffs, constables, and other officials. + +In a few minutes, however, the judges entered and took their seats; the +crier opened the court, the crowd poured in, the plaintiff with his +counsel made his appearance, and the business of the day commenced. + +I shall not give all the details of this trial; I shall only glance at a +few of them. + +The courtroom was full, but not crowded; nothing short of a murder or a +divorce case ever draws a crowd to such a place. + +The counsel for the plaintiff was composed of three of the oldest, +ablest, and most experienced members of the Washington bar. The first of +these, Mr. Wiseman, was distinguished for his profound knowledge of the +law, his skill in logic, and his closeness in reasoning; the second, Mr. +Berners, was celebrated for his fire and eloquence; and the third, Mr. +Vivian, was famous for his wit and sarcasm. Engaged on one side, they +were considered invincible. To these three giants, with the law on their +side, was opposed young Ishmael, with nothing but justice on his side. +Bad look-out for justice! Well, so it was in that great encounter +already alluded to between Brian and Ivanhoe. + +Mr. Wiseman, for the plaintiff, opened the case. He was a great, big, +bald-headed man, who laid down the law as a blacksmith hammers an anvil, +in a clear, forcible, resounding manner, leaving the defense--as +everybody declared--not a leg to stand upon. + +"Oh, Mr. Worth! it is all over with me, and I shall die!" whispered Mrs. +Walsh, in deadly terror. + +"Have patience! his speech does not impress the court as it does +you--they are used to him." + +Witnesses were called, to prove as well as they could from a bad set of +facts, what an excellent husband and father the plaintiff had been; how +affectionate, how anxious, how zealous he was for the happiness of his +wife and children--leaving it to be inferred that nothing on earth but +her own evil tendencies instigated the wife to withdraw herself and +children from his protection! + +"Heaven and earth, Mr. Worth, did you ever hear anything like that? They +manage to tell the literal truth, but so pervert it that it is worse +than the worse falsehood!" exclaimed Mrs. Walsh, in a low but indignant +tone. + +"Aye," answered Ishmael, who sat, pencil and tablets in hand, taking +notes; "aye! 'a lie that is half a truth is ever the blackest of lies.' +But the court is accustomed to such witnesses; they do not receive so +much credit as you or they think." + +Ishmael did not cross-examine these witnesses; the great mass of +rebutting testimony that he could bring forward, he knew, must overwhelm +them. So when the last witness for the plaintiff had been examined, he +whispered a few cheering words to the trembling woman by his side, and +rose for the defendant. Now, whenever a new barrister takes the floor +for the first time, there is always more or less curiosity and commotion +among the old fogies of the forum. + +What will he turn out to be? that is the question. All eyes were turned +towards him. + +They saw a tall, broad-shouldered, full-chested young man, who stood, +with a certain dignity, looking upon the notes that he held in his hand; +and when he lifted his stately head to address the court they saw that +his face was not only beautiful in the noble mold of the features, but +almost divine from the inspiring soul within. + +Among the eyes that gazed upon him were those of the three giants of the +law whom he had now to oppose. They stared at him mercilessly--no doubt +with the intention of staring him down. But they did not even confuse +him; for the simple reason that he did not look towards them. They might +stare themselves stone blind, but they would have no magnetic influence +upon that strong, concentrated, earnest soul! + +Ishmael was not in the least embarrassed in standing up to address the +court for the first time, simply because he was not thinking of himself +or his audience, but of his client, and her case as he wished to set it +forth; and he was not looking at the spectators, but alternately at the +court and at the notes in his hand. + +He did not make a long opening like the Giant Wiseman had done; for he +wished to reserve himself for the closing speech in final reply to the +others. He just made a plain statement of his client's case as it is in +part known to the reader. + +He told the court how, at the age of fifteen, she had been decoyed from +her mother's house and married by the plaintiff, a man more than twice +her age; how when she had come into her property he had squandered it +all by a method that he, the plaintiff, called speculation, but that +others called gambling; how he had then left her in poverty and +embarrassment and with one child to support; how he remained away two +years, during which time her friends had set his wife up in business in +a little fancy store. She was prospering when he came back, took up his +abode with her, got into debt which he could not pay, and when all her +stock and furniture was seized to satisfy his creditors, he took himself +off once more, leaving her with two children. She was worse off than +before; her friends grumbled, but once more came to her assistance, set +her up a little book and news agency, the stock of which was nearly all +purchased on credit, and told her plainly that if she permitted her +husband to come and break up her business again they would abandon and +leave her to her fate. Notwithstanding this warning, when at the end of +seven or eight months he came back again she received him again. He +stayed with her thirteen months; and suddenly disappeared without +bidding her good-by, leaving her within a few weeks of becoming the +mother of a third child. A few days after his disappearance another +execution was put into the house to satisfy a debt contracted by him, +and everything was sold under the hammer. She was reduced to the last +degree of poverty; her friends held themselves aloof, disgusted at what +they termed her culpable weakness; she and her children suffered from +cold and hunger; and during her subsequent illness she and they must +have starved and frozen but for the public charities, that would not let +anyone in our midst perish from want of necessary food and fuel. When +she recovered from her illness, one relative, a widow now present in +court, had from her own narrow means supplied the money to rent and +furnish a small schoolroom, and this most hapless of women was once more +put in a way to earn daily bread for herself and children. Nine years +passed, during which she enjoyed a respite from the persecutions of the +plaintiff. In these nine years, by strict attention to business, +untiring industry, she not only paid off the debt owed to her aged +relative, but she bought a little cottage and garden in a cheap suburb, +and furnished the house and stocked the garden. She was now living a +laborious but contented life and rearing her children in comfort. But +now at the end of nine years comes back the plaintiff. Her husband? No, +her enemy! for he comes, not as he pretends, to cherish and protect; but +as he ever came before, to lay waste and destroy! How long could it be +supposed that the mother would be able to keep the roof over the heads +of her children if the plaintiff were permitted to enter beneath it? if +the court did not protect her home against his invasion, he would again +bring ruin and desolation within its walls. They would prove by +competent witnesses every point in this statement of the defendant's +case; and then he would demand for his client, not only that she should +be secured in the undisturbed possession of her children, her property, +and her earnings, but that the plaintiff should be required to +contribute an annual sum of money to the support of the defendant and +her children, and to give security for its payment. + +"That's 'carrying the war into Africa' with a vengeance," whispered +Walsh to his counsel, as Ishmael concluded his address. + +He then called the witnesses for the defendant. They were numerous and +of the highest respectability. Among them was the pastor of her parish, +her family physician, and many of the patrons of her school. + +They testified to the facts stated by her attorney. + +The three giants did their duty in the cross-examining line of business. +Wiseman cross-examined in a stern manner; Berners in an insinuating way; +and Vivian in a sarcastic style; but the only effect of their forensic +skill was to bring out the truth from the witnesses--more clearly, +strongly, and impressively. + +When the last witness for the defendant had been permitted to leave the +stand Wiseman arose to address the court on behalf of the plaintiff. He +spoke in his own peculiar sledge-hammer style, sonorously striking the +anvil and ringing all the changes upon law, custom, precedent, and so +forth that always gave the children into the custody of the father. And +he ended by demanding that the children be at once delivered over to his +client. + +He was followed by Berners, who had charge of the eloquence "business" +of that stage, and dealt in pathos, tears, white pocket handkerchiefs, +and poetical quotations. He drew a most heart-rending picture of the +broken-spirited husband and father, rejected by an unforgiving wife and +ill-conditioned children, becoming a friendless and houseless wanderer +over the wide world; in danger of being driven, by despair, to madness +and suicide! He compared the plaintiff to Byron, whose poetry he +liberally quoted. And he concluded by imploring the court, with tears +in his eyes, to intervene and save his unhappy client from the gulf of +perdition to which his implacable wife would drive him. And he sank down +in his seat utterly overwhelmed by his feelings and holding a drift of +white cambric to his face. + +"Am I such an out-and-out monster, Mr. Worth?" whispered Mrs. Walsh, in +dismay. + +Ishmael smiled. + +"Everybody knows Berners--his 'madness' and 'suicide,' his 'gulf of +perdition' and his white cambric pocket-handkerchief are recognized +institutions. See! the judge is actually smiling over it." + +Mr. Vivian arose to follow--he did up the genteel comedy; he kept on +hand a supply of "little jokes" gleaned from Joe Miller, current comic +literature, dinner tables, clubs, etc.--"little jokes" of which every +point in his discourse continually reminded him, though his hearers +could not always perceive the association of ideas. This gentleman was +very facetious over family jars, which reminded him of a "little joke," +which he told; he was also very witty upon the subject of matrimonial +disputes in particular, which reminded him of another "little joke," +which he also told; but most of all, he was amused at the caprice of +womankind, who very often rather liked to be compelled to do as they +pleased, which reminded him of a third "little joke." And if the court +should allow the defendant the exclusive possession of her children and +a separate maintenance, it was highly probable that she would not thank +them for their trouble, but would take the first opportunity of +voluntarily reconciling herself to her husband and giving him back +herself, her home, and her children, which would be equal to any "little +joke" he had ever heard in his life, etc., etc., etc. + +The audience were all in a broad grin. Even Mrs. Walsh, with her lips of +"life-long sadness," smiled. + +"You may smile at him," said Ishmael, "and so will I, since I do not at +all doubt the issue of this trial; but for all that, joker as he is, he +is the most serious opponent that we have. I would rather encounter half +a dozen each of Wisemans and Berners than one Vivian. Take human nature +in general, it can be more easily laughed than reasoned or persuaded in +or out of any measure. People would rather laugh than weep or reflect. +Wiseman tries to make them reflect, which they won't do; Berners tries +to make them weep, which they can't do; but Vivian with his jokes makes +them laugh, which they like to do. And so, he has joked himself into a +very large practice at the Washington bar." + +But the facetious barrister was bringing his speech to a close, with a +brilliant little joke that eclipsed all the preceding ones and set the +audience in a roar. And when the laughter had subsided, he finally ended +by expressing a hope that the court would not so seriously disappoint +and so cruelly wrong the defendant as by giving a decision in her favor. + + + + +CHAPTER LVII. + +THE YOUNG CHAMPION. + + Then uprose Gismond; and she knew + That she was saved. _Some_ never met + His face before; but at first view + They felt quite sure that God had set + Himself to Satan; who could spend + A minute's mistrust on the end? + + This pleased her most, that she enjoyed + The heart of her joy, with her content + In watching Gismond, unalloyed + By any doubt of the event; + God took that on him--she was bid + Watch Gismond for her part! She did. + + --_Browning_. + +Ishmael waited a few minutes for the excitement produced by the last +address to subside--the last address that in its qualities and effects +had resembled champagne--sparkling but transient, effervescent but +evanescent. And when order had been restored Ishmael arose amid a +profound silence to make his maiden speech, for the few opening remarks +he had made in initiating the defense could scarcely be called a speech. +Once more then all eyes were fixed upon him in expectancy. And, as +before, he was undisturbed by these regards because he was unconscious +of them; and he was calm because he was not thinking of himself or of +the figure he was making, but of his client and her cause. He did not +care to impress the crowd, he only wished to affect the court. So little +did he think of the spectators in the room, that he did not observe that +Judge Merlin, Claudia, and Beatrice were among them, seated in a +distant corner--Judge Merlin and Claudia were watching him with +curiosity, and Bee with the most affectionate anxiety. His attention was +confined to the judges, the counsel, his client, and the memoranda in +his hand. He had a strong confidence in the justice of his cause; +perfect faith in the providence of God; and sanguine hopes of success. + +True, he had arrayed against him an almost overpowering force: the +husband of his client, and the three great guns of the bar--Wiseman, +Berners, and Vivian, with law, custom, and precedent. But with him stood +the angels of Justice and Mercy, invisible, but mighty; and, over all, +the Omnipotent God, unseen, but all-seeing! + +Ishmael possessed the minor advantages of youth, manly beauty, a +commanding presence, a gracious smile, and a sweet, deep, sonorous +voice. He was besides a new orator among them, with a fresh original +style. + +He was no paid attorney; it was not his pocket that was interested, but +his sympathies; his whole heart and soul were in the cause that he had +embraced, and he brought to bear upon it all the genius of his powerful +mind. + +I would like to give you the whole of this great speech that woke up the +Washington court from its state of semi-somnolency and roused it to the +sense of the unjust and cruel things it sometimes did when talking in +its sleep. But I have only time and space to glance at some of its +points; and if anyone wishes to see more of it, it may be found in the +published works of the great jurist and orator. + +He began to speak with modest confidence and in clear, concise, and +earnest terms. He said that the court had heard from the learned counsel +that had preceded him a great deal of law, sentiment, and wit. From him +they should now hear of justice, mercy, and truth! + +He reverted to the story of the woman's wrongs, sufferings, and +struggles, continued through many years; he spoke of her love, +patience, and forbearance under the severest trials; he dwelt upon the +prolonged absence of her husband, prolonged through so many weary +years, and the false position of the forsaken wife, a position so much +worse than widowhood, inasmuch as it exposed her not only to all the +evils of poverty, but to suspicion, calumny, and insult. But he bade +them note how the woman had passed through the fire unharmed; how she +had fought the battle of life bravely and come out victoriously; how +she had labored on in honorable industry for years, until she had +secured a home for herself and little girls. He spoke plainly of the +arrival of the fugitive husband as the coming of the destroyer who had +three times before laid waste her home; he described the terror and +distress his very presence in the city had brought to that little +home; the flight of the mother with her children, and her agony of +anxiety to conceal them; he dwelt upon the cruel position of the woman +whose natural protector has become her natural enemy; he reminded the +court that it had required the mother to take her trembling little +ones from their places of safety and concealment and to bring them +forward; and now that they were here he felt a perfect confidence that +the court would extend the aegis of its authority over these helpless +ones, since that would be the only shield they could have under +heaven. He spoke noble words in behalf not only of his client, but of +woman--woman, loving, feeble, and oppressed from the beginning of +time--woman, hardly dealt with by nature in the first place, and by +the laws, made by her natural lover and protector, man, in the second +place. Perhaps it was because he knew himself to be the son of a woman +only, even as his Master had been before him, that he poured so much +of awakening, convicting, and condemning fire, force, and weight into +this part of his discourse. He uttered thoughts and feelings upon this +subject, original and startling at that time, but which have since +been quoted, both in the Old and New World, and have had power to +modify those cruel laws which at that period made woman, despite her +understanding intellect, an idiot, and despite her loving heart a +chattel--in the law. + +It had been the time-honored prerogative and the invariable custom of +the learned judges of this court to go to sleep during the pleadings of +the lawyers; but upon this occasion they did not indulge in an afternoon +nap, I assure you! + +He next reviewed the testimony of the witnesses of the plaintiff; +complimented them on the ingenuity they had displayed in making "the +worst appear the better cause," by telling half the truth and ignoring +the other half; but warned the court at the same time + + "That a lie which is half a truth, is ever the blackest of lies, + That a lie which is all a lie may be met and fought with outright; + But a lie which is part a truth, is a harder matter to fight." + +Then he reviewed in turn the speeches of the counsel for the +plaintiff--first that of Wiseman, the ponderous law-expounder, which +he answered with quite as much law and a great deal more equity; +secondly, that of Berners, the tear-pumper, the false sentiment of +which he exposed and criticised; and thirdly that of Vivian, the +laugh-provoker, with which he dealt the most severely of all, saying +that one who could turn into jest the most sacred affections and most +serious troubles of domestic life, the heart's tragedy, the household +wreck before them, could be capable of telling funny stories at his +father's funeral, uttering good jokes over his mother's coffin. + +He spoke for two hours, warming, glowing, rising with his subject, until +his very form seemed to dilate in grandeur, and his face grew radiant as +the face of an archangel; and those who heard seemed to think that his +lips like those of the prophet of old had been touched with fire from +heaven. Under the inspiration of the hour, he spoke truths new and +startling then, but which have since resounded through the senate +chambers of the world, changing the laws of the nations in regard to +woman. + +Nora, do you see your son? Oh, was it not well worth while to have +loved, suffered, and died, only to have given him to the world! + +It was a complete success. All his long, patient, painful years of +struggle were rewarded now. It was one splendid leap from obscurity to +fame. + +The giants attempted to answer him, but it was of no use. After the +freshness, the fire, the force, the heart, soul, and life in Ishmael's +utterances, their old, familiar, well-worn styles, in which the same +arguments, pathos, wit that had done duty in so many other cases was +paraded again, only bored their hearers. In vain Wiseman appealed to +reason; Berners to feeling; and Vivian to humor; they would not do: the +court had often heard all that before, and grown heartily tired of it. +Wiseman's wisdom was found to be foolishness; Berner's pathos laughable; +and Vivian's humor grievous. + +The triumvirate of the Washington bar were dethroned, and Prince Ishmael +reigned in their stead. + +A few hours later the decision of the court was made known. It had +granted all that the young advocate had asked for his client--the +exclusive possession of her children, her property, and her earnings, +and also alimony from her husband. + +As Ishmael passed out of the court amid the tearful thanks of the +mother and her children, and the proud congratulations of honest Reuben +and Hannah, he neared the group composed of Judge Merlin, Claudia, and +Beatrice. + +Judge Merlin looked smiling and congratulatory; he shook hands with +young barrister, saying: + +"Well, Ishmael, you have rather waked up the world to-day, haven't you?" + +Bee looked perfectly radiant with joy. Her fingers closed spasmodically +on the hand that Ishmael offered her, and she exclaimed a little +incoherently: + +"Oh, Ishmael, I always knew you could! I am so happy!" + +"Thank you, dearest Bee! Under Divine Providence I owe a great deal of +my success to-day to your sympathy." + +Claudia did not speak; she was deadly pale and cold; her face was like +marble and her hand like ice, as she gave it to Ishmael. She had always +appreciated and loved him against her will; but now, in this hour of his +triumph, when he had discovered to the world his real power and worth, +her love rose to an anguish of longing that she knew her pride must +forever deny; and so when Ishmael took her hand and looked in her face +for the words of sympathy that his heart was hungering to receive from +her of all the world, she could not speak. + +Ishmael passed out with his friends. When he had gone, a stranger who +had been watching him with the deepest interest during the whole course +of the trial, now came forward, and, with an agitation impossible to +conceal, hastily inquired: + +"Judge Merlin, for Heaven's sake! who is that young man?" + +"Eh! what! Brudenell, you here! When did you arrive?" + +"This morning! But for the love of Heaven who is that young man?" + +"Who? why the most talented young barrister of the day--a future chief +justice, attorney-general, President of the United States, for aught I +know! It looks like it, for whatever may be the aspirations of the boy, +his intellect and will are sure to realize them!" + +"Yes, but who is he? what is his name? who were his parents? where was +he born?" demanded Herman Brudenell excitedly. + +"Why, the Lord bless my soul alive, man! He is a self-made barrister; +his name is Ishmael Worth; his mother was a poor weaver girl named Nora +Worth; his father was an unknown scoundrel; he was born at a little hut +near--Why, Brudenell, you ought to know all about it--near Brudenell +Hall!" + +"Heaven and earth!" + +"What is the matter?" + +"The close room--the crowd--and this oppression of the chest that I have +had so many years!" gasped Herman Brudenell. + +"Get into my carriage and come home with us. Come--I will take no +denial! The hotels are overcrowded. We can send for your luggage. Come!" + +"Thank you; I think I will." + +"Claudia! Beatrice! come forward, my dears. Here is Mr. Brudenell." + +Courtesies were exchanged, and they all went out and entered the +carriage. + +"I will introduce you to this young man, who has so much interested you, +and all the world, in fact, I suppose. He is living with us; and he will +be a lion from to-day, I assure you," said the judge, as soon as they +were all seated. + +"Thank you! I was interested in--in those two poor sisters. One +died--what has become of the other?" + +"She married my overseer, Gray; they are doing well. They are in the +city on a visit at present, stopping at the Farmer's, opposite Center +Market." + +"Who educated this young man?" + +"Himself." + +"Did this unknown father make no provision for him?" + +"None--the rascal! The boy was as poor as poverty could make him; but he +worked for his own living from the time he was seven years old." + +Herman had feared as much, for he doubted the check he had written and +left for Hannah had ever been presented and cashed, for in the balancing +of his bankbook he never saw it among the others. + +Meanwhile Ishmael had parted with his friends and gone home to the +Washington House. He knew that he had had a glorious success; but he +took no vain credit to himself; he was only happy that his service had +been a free offering to a good cause; and very thankful that it had been +crowned with victory. And when he reached home he went up to his little +chamber, knelt down in humble gratitude, and rendered all the glory to +God! + + + + +CHAPTER LVIII. + +HERMAN BRUDENELL + + My son! I seem to breathe that word, + In utterance more clear + Than other words, more slowly round + I move my lips, to keep the sound + Still lingering in my ear. + + For were my lonely life allowed + To claim that gifted son, + I should be met by straining eyes, + Welcoming tears and grateful sighs + To hallow my return. + + But between me and that dear son + There lies a bar, I feel, + More hard to pass, more girt with awe, + Than any power of injured law, + Or front of bristling steel. + + --_Milnes_. + +When the carriage containing Judge Merlin, Claudia, Beatrice, and Mr. +Brudenell reached the Washington House the party separated in the hall; +the ladies went each to her own chamber to dress for dinner, and Judge +Merlin called a servant to show Mr. Brudenell to a spare room, and then +went to his own apartment. + +When Herman Brudenell had dismissed his attendant and found himself +alone he sat down in deep thought. + +Since the death of Nora he had been a wanderer over the face of the +earth. The revenues of his estate had been mostly paid over to his +mother for the benefit of herself and her daughters, yet had scarcely +been sufficient for the pride, vanity, and extravagance of those foolish +women, who, living in Paris and introduced into court circles by the +American minister, aped the style of the wealthiest among the French +aristocracy, and indulged in the most expensive establishment, equipage, +retinue, dress, jewelry, balls, etc., in the hope of securing alliances +among the old nobility of France. + +They might as well have gambled for thrones. The princes, dukes, +marquises, and counts drank their wines, ate their dinners, danced at +their balls, kissed their hands, and--laughed at them! + +The reason was this: the Misses Brudenell, though well-born, pretty, +and accomplished, were not wealthy, and were even suspected of being +heavily in debt, because of all this show. + +And I would here inform my ambitious American readers who go abroad in +search of titled husbands whom they cannot find at home, that what is +going on in Paris then is going on in all the Old World capitals now; +and that now, when foreign noblemen marry American girls, it is because +the former want money and the latter have it. If there is any exception +to this rule, I, for one, never heard of it. + +And so the Misses Brudenell, failing to marry into the nobility, were +not married at all. + +The expenditures of the mother and daughters in this speculation were +enormous, so much so that at length Herman Brudenell, reckless as he +was, became alarmed at finding himself on the very verge of insolvency! + +He had signed so many blank checks, which his mother and sisters had +filled up with figures so much higher than he had reckoned upon, that at +last his Paris bankers had written to him informing him that his account +had been so long and so much overdrawn that they had been obliged to +decline cashing his last checks. + +It was this that had startled Herman Brudenell out of his lethargy and +goaded him to look into his affairs. After examining his account with +his Paris banker with very unsatisfactory results, he determined to +retrench his own personal expenses, to arrange his estates upon the most +productive plan, and to let out Brudenell Hall. + +He wrote to the Countess of Hurstmonceux, requesting her to vacate the +premises, and to his land-agent instructing him to let the estate. + +In due course of time he received answers to both his letters. That of +the countess we have already seen; that of the land-agent informing him +of the vast improvement of the estate during the residence of the +Countess of Hurstmonceux upon it, and of the accumulation of its +revenues, and finally of the large sum placed to his credit in the local +bank by her ladyship. + +This sum, of course, every sentiment of honor forbade Herman Brudenell +from appropriating. He therefore caused it to be withdrawn and deposited +with Lady Hurstmonceux's London bankers. + +Soon after this he received notice that Brudenell Hall, stocked and +furnished as it was, had been let to Mr. Middleton. + +The accumulated revenues of the estate he devoted to paying his mother's +debts, and the current revenues to her support, warning her at the same +time of impending embarrassments unless her expenses were retrenched. + +But the warning was unheeded, and the folly and extravagance of his +mother and sisters were unabated. Like all other desperate gamblers, the +heavier their losses the greater became their stakes; they went on +living in the best hotels, keeping the most expensive servants, driving +the purest blooded horses, wearing the richest dresses and the rarest +jewels, giving the grandest balls, and--to use a common but strong +phrase--"going it with a rush!" All in the desperate hope of securing +for the young ladies wealthy husbands from among the titled aristocracy. + +At length came another crisis; and once more Herman Brudenell was +compelled to intervene between them and ruin. This he did at a vast +sacrifice of property. + +He wrote and gave Mr. Middleton warning to leave Brudenell Hall at the +end of the year, because, he said, that he himself wished to return +thither. + +He did return thither; but it was only to sell off, gradually and +privately, all the stock on the home-farm, all the plate, rich +furniture, rare pictures, statues, vases, and articles of virtu in the +house, and all the old plantation negroes--ancient servants who had +lived for generations on the premises. + +While he was at this work he instituted cautious inquiries about "one of +the tenants, Hannah Worth, the weaver, who lived at Hill hut, with her +nephew"; and he learned that Hannah was prosperously married to Reuben +Gray and had left the neighborhood with her nephew, who had received a +good education from Mr. Middleton's family school. Brudenell +subsequently received a letter from Mr. Middleton himself, recommending +to his favorable notice "a young man named Ishmael Worth, living on the +Brudenell estates." + +But as the youth had left the neighborhood with his relatives, and as +Mr. Brudenell really hoped that he was well provided for by the large +sum of money for which he had given Hannah a check on the day of his +departure, and as he was overwhelmed with business cares, and lastly, as +he dreaded rather than desired a meeting with his unknown son, he +deferred seeking him out. + +When Brudenell Hall was entirely dismantled, and all the furniture of +the house, the stock of the farm, and the negroes of the plantation, and +all the land except a few acres immediately around the house had been +sold, and the purchase money realized, he returned to Paris, settled his +mother's debts, and warning her that they had now barely sufficient to +support them in moderate comfort, entreated her to return and live +quietly at Brudenell Hall. + +But no! "If they were poor, so much the more reason why the girls should +marry rich," argued Mrs. Brudenell; and instead of retrenching her +expenses, she merely changed the scene of her operations from Paris to +London, forgetting the fact everyone else remembered, that her "girls," +though still handsome, because well preserved, were now mature women of +thirty-two and thirty-five. Herman promised to give them the whole +proceeds of his property, reserving to himself barely enough to live on +in the most economical manner. And he let Brudenell Hall once more, and +took up his abode at a cheap watering-place on the continent, where he +remained for years, passing his time in reading, fishing, boating, and +other idle seaside pastimes, until he was startled from his repose by a +letter from his mother--a letter full of anguish, telling him that her +younger daughter, Eleanor, had fled from home in company with a certain +Captain Dugald, and that she had traced them to Liverpool, whence they +had sailed for New Tork, and entreated him to follow and if possible +save his sister. + +Upon this miserable errand he had revisited his native country. He had +found no such name as Dugald in any of the lists of passengers arrived +within the specified time by any of the ocean steamers from Liverpool to +New York, and no such name on any of the hotel books; so he left the +matter in the hands of a skillful detective, and came down to +Washington, in the hope of finding the fugitives here. + +On his first walk out he had been attracted by the crowd around the City +Hall; had learned that an interesting trial was going on; and that some +strange, new lawyer was making a great speech. He had gone in, and on +turning his eyes towards the young barrister had been thunderstruck on +being confronted by what seemed to him the living face of Nora Worth, +elevated to masculine grandeur. Those were Nora's lips, so beautiful in +form, color, and expression; Nora's splendid eyes, that blazed with +indignation, or melted with pity, or smiled with humor; Nora's +magnificent breadth of brow, spanning from temple to temple. He saw in +these remarkable features so much of the likeness of Nora, that he +failed to see, in the height of the forehead, the outline of the +profile, and the occasional expression of the countenance, the striking +likeness of himself. + +He had been spellbound by this, and by the eloquence of the young +barrister until the end of the speech, when he had hastened to Judge +Merlin and demanded the name and the history of the debutante. + +And the answer had confirmed the prophetic instincts of his heart--this +rising star of the forum was Nora's son! + +Nora's son, born in the depths of poverty and shame; panting from the +hour of his birth for the very breath of life; working from the days of +his infancy for daily bread; striving from the years of his boyhood for +knowledge; struggling by the most marvelous series of persevering effort +out of the slough of infamy into which he had been cast, to his present +height of honor! Scarcely twenty-one years old and already recognized +not only as the most gifted and promising young member of the bar, but +as a rising power among the people. + +How proud he, the childless man, would be to own his share in Nora's +gifted son, if in doing so he could avoid digging up the old, cruel +reproach, the old, forgotten scandal! How proud to hail Ishmael Worth as +Ishmael Brudenell! + +But this he knew could never, never be. Every principle of honor, +delicacy, and prudence forbade him now to interfere in the destiny of +Nora's long-ignorant and neglected, but gifted and rising son. With what +face could he, the decayed, impoverished, almost forgotten master of +Brudenell Hall go to this brilliant young barrister, who had just made a +splendid debut and achieved a dazzling success, and say to him: + +"I am your father!" + +And how should he explain such a relationship to the astonished young +man? At making the dreadful confession, he felt that he should be likely +to drop at the feet of his own son. + +No! Ishmael Worth must remain Ishmael Worth. If he fulfilled the promise +of his youth, it would not be his father's name, but his young mother's +maiden name which would become illustrious in his person. + +And yet, from the first moment of his seeing Ishmael and identifying him +as Nora's son, he felt an irresistible desire to meet him face to face, +to shake hands with him, to talk with him, to become acquainted with +him, to be friends with him. + +It was this longing that urged Mr. Brudenell to accept Judge Merlin's +invitation and accompany the latter home. And now in a few moments this +longing would be gratified. + +In the midst of all other troubled thoughts one question perplexed him. +It was this: What had become of the check he had given Hannah in the +hour of his departure years ago? + +That it had never been presented and cashed two circumstances led him to +fear. The first was that he had never seen it among those returned to +him when his bankbook had been made up; and the second was that Hannah +had shared the bitter poverty of her nephew, and therefore could not +have received and appropriated the money to her own uses. + +As he had learned from the judge that Hannah was in Washington, he +resolved to seek a private interview with her, and ascertain what had +become of the check, and why, with the large sum of money it +represented, she had neglected to use it, and permitted herself and her +nephew to suffer all the evils of the most abject poverty. + + + + +CHAPTER LIX. + +FIRST MEETING OF FATHER AND SON. + + Oh, Christ! that thus a son should stand + Before a father's face. + + --_Byron_. + +While Mr. Brudenell still ruminated over these affairs the second +dinner-bell rang, and almost at the same moment Judge Merlin rapped and +entered the chamber, with old-fashioned hospitality, to show his guest +the way to the drawing room. + +"You feel better, I hope, Brudenell?" he inquired. + +"Yes, thank you, judge." + +"Come then. We will go down. We are a little behind time at best this +evening, upon account of our young friend's long-winded address. It was +a splendid affair, though. Worth waiting to hear, was it not?" proudly +inquired the judge as they descended the stairs. + +They entered the drawing room. + +It was a family party that was assembled there, with the sole exception +of the Viscount Vincent, who indeed had become a daily visitor, a +recognized suitor of Miss Merlin, and almost one of their set. + +As soon as Mr. Brudenell had paid his respects to each member of the +family, Lord Vincent advanced frankly and cordially to greet him as an +old acquaintance, saying: + +"I had just learned from Miss Merlin of your arrival. You must have left +London very soon after I did." + +Before Mr. Brudenell could reply, Judge Merlin came up with Ishmael and +said: + +"Lord Vincent, excuse me. Mr. Brudenell, permit me--Mr. Worth, of the +Washington bar." + +Herman Brudenell turned and confronted Ishmael Worth. And father and son +stood face to face. + +Herman's face was quivering with irrepressible yet unspeakable emotion; +Ishmael's countenance was serene and smiling. + +No faintest instinct warned Nora's son that he stood in the presence of +his father. He saw before him a tall, thin, fair-complexioned, +gentlemanly person, whose light hair was slightly silvered, and whose +dark brown eyes, in such strange contrast to the blond hair, were bent +with interest upon him. + +"I am happy to make your acquaintance, young gentleman. Permit me to +offer you my congratulations upon your very decided success," said Mr. +Brudenell, giving his hand. + +Ishmael bowed. + +"Brudenell, will you take my daughter in to dinner?" said Judge Merlin, +seeing that Lord Vincent had already given his arm to Mrs. Middleton. + +Herman, glad to be relieved from a position that was beginning to +overcome his self-possession, bowed to Miss Merlin, who smilingly +accepted his escort. + +Judge Merlin drew Bee's arm within his own and followed. And Mr. +Middleton, with a comic smile, crooked his elbow to Ishmael, who laughed +instead of accepting it, and those two walking side by side brought up +the rear. + +That dinner passed very much as other dinners of the same class. Judge +Merlin was cordial, Mr. Middleton facetious, Lord Vincent gracious, Mr. +Brudenell silent and apparently abstracted, and Ishmael was attentive--a +listener rather than a speaker. The ladies as usual at dinner-parties, +where the conversation turns upon politics, were rather in the +background, and took an early opportunity of withdrawing from the table, +leaving the gentlemen to finish their political discussion over their +wine. + +The latter, however, did not linger long; but soon followed the ladies +to the drawing room, where coffee was served. And soon after the party +separated for the evening. Herman Brudenell withdrew to his chamber with +one idea occupying him--his son. Since the death of Nora had paralyzed +his affections, Herman Brudenell had loved no creature on earth until he +met her son upon this evening. Now the frozen love of years melted and +flowed into one strong, impetuous stream towards him--her son--his son! +Oh, that he might dare to claim him! + +It was late when Mr. Brudenell fell asleep--so late that he overslept +himself in the morning. And when at last he awoke he was surprised to +find that it was ten o'clock. + +But Judge Merlin's house was "liberty hall." His guests breakfasted when +they got up, and got up when they awoke. It was one of his crochets +never to have anyone awakened. He said that when people had had sleep +enough, they would awaken of themselves, and to awaken them before that +was an injurious interference with nature. And his standing order in +regard to himself was, that no one should ever arouse him from sleep +unless the house was on fire, or someone at the point of death. And woe +betide anyone who should disregard this order! + +So Mr. Brudenell had been allowed to sleep until he woke up at ten +o'clock, and when he went downstairs at eleven he found a warm breakfast +awaiting him, and the little housewife, Bee, presiding over the coffee. + +As Bee poured out his coffee she informed him, in answer to his remarks, +that all the members of the family had breakfasted and gone about their +several affairs. The judge and Ishmael had gone to court, and Mrs. +Middleton and Claudia on a shopping expedition; but they would all be +back at the luncheon hour, which was two o'clock. + + + + +CHAPTER LX. + +HERMAN AND HANNAH. + + She had the passions of her herd. + She spake some bitter truths that day, + Indeed he caught one ugly word, + Was scarcely fit for her to say! + + --_Anon_. + +When breakfast was over Mr. Brudenell took his hat and walked down the +Avenue to Seventh Street, and to the Farmer's in search of Hannah. + +In answer to his inquiries he was told that she was in, and he was +desired to walk up to her room. A servant preceding him, opened a door, +and said: + +"Here is a ge'man to see you, mum." + +And Mr. Brudenell entered. + +Hannah looked, dropped the needlework she held in her hand, started up, +overturning the chair, and with a stare of consternation exclaimed: + +"The Lord deliver us! is it you? And hasn't the devil got you yet, +Herman Brudenell?" + +"It is I, Hannah," he answered, dropping without invitation into the +nearest seat. + +"And what on earth have you come for, after all these years?" she asked, +continuing to stare at him. + +"To see you, Hannah." + +"And what in the name of common sense do you want to see me for? I don't +want to see you; that I tell you plainly; for I'd just as lief see Old +Nick!" + +"Hannah," said Herman Brudenell, with an unusual assumption of dignity, +"I have come to speak to you about--Are you quite alone?" he suddenly +broke off and inquired, cautiously glancing around the room. + +"What's that to you? What can you have to say to me that you could not +shout from the housetop? Yes, I'm alone, if you must know!" + +"Then I wish to speak to you about my son." + +"Your--what?" demanded Hannah, with a frown as black as midnight. + +"My son," repeated Herman Brudenell, with emphasis. + +"Your son? What son? I didn't know you had a son! What should I know +about your son?" + +"Woman, stop this! I speak of my son, Ishmael Worth--whom I met for the +first time in the courtroom yesterday! And I ask you how it has fared +with him these many years?" demanded Mr. Brudenell sternly, for he was +beginning to lose patience with Hannah. + +"Oh--h! So you met Ishmael Worth in the courtroom yesterday, just when +he had proved himself to be the most talented man there, did you? That +accounts for it all. I understand it now! You could leave him in his +helpless, impoverished, orphaned infancy to perish! You could utterly +neglect him, letting him suffer with cold and hunger and sickness for +years and years and years! And now that, by the blessing of Almighty +God, he has worked himself up out of that horrible pit into the open air +of the world; and now that from being a poor, despised outcast babe he +has risen to be a man of note among men; now, forsooth, you want to +claim him as your son! Herman Brudenell, I always hated you, but now I +scorn you! Twenty odd years ago I would have killed you, only I didn't +want to kill your soul as well as your body, nor likewise to be hanged +for you! And now I would shy this stick of wood at your head only that I +don't want Reuben Gray to have the mortification of seeing his wife took +up for assault! But I hate you, Herman Brudenell! And I despise you! +There! take yourself out of my sight!" + +Mr. Brudenell stamped impatiently and said: + +"Hannah, you speak angrily, and therefore, foolishly. What good could +accrue to me, or to him, by my claiming Ishmael as my son, unless I +could prove a marriage with his mother? It would only unearth the old, +cruel, unmerited scandal now forgotten! No, Hannah; to you only, who are +the sole living depository of the secret, will I solace myself by +speaking of him as my son! You reproach me with having left him to +perish. I did not so. I left in your hands a check for several--I forget +how many--thousand dollars to be used for his benefit. And I always +hoped that he was well provided for until yesterday, when Judge Merlin, +little thinking the interest I had in the story, gave me a sketch of +Ishmael's early sufferings and struggles. And now I ask you what became +of that check?" + +"That check? What check? What in the world do you mean?" + +"The check for several thousand dollars which I gave you on the day of +my departure, to be used for Ishmael's benefit." + +"Well, Herman Brudenell! I always thought, with all your faults, you +were still a man of truth; but after this--" + +And Hannah finished by lifting her hands and eyes in horror. + +"Hannah, you do severely try my temper, but in memory of all your +kindness to my son--" + +"Oh! I wasn't kind to him! I was as bad to him as you, and all the rest! +I wished him dead, and neglected him!" + +"You did!" + +"Of course! Could anybody expect me to care more for him than his own +father did? Yes, I wished him dead, and neglected him, because I +thought he had no right to be in the world, and would be better out of +it! So did everyone else. But he sucked his little, skinny thumb, and +looked alive at us with his big, bright eyes, and lived in defiance of +everybody. And only see what he has lived to be! But it is the good +Lord's doings and not mine, and not yours, Herman Brudenell, so don't +thank me anymore for kindness that I never showed to Ishmael, and don't +tell any more bragging lies about the checks for thousands of dollars +that you never left him!" + +Again Herman Brudenell stamped impatiently, frowned, bit his lips, and +said: + +"You shall not goad me to anger with the two-edged sword of your tongue, +Hannah! You are unjust, because you are utterly mistaken in your +premises! I did leave that check of which I speak! And I wish to know +what became of it, that it was not used for the support and education of +Ishmael. Listen, now, and I will bring the whole circumstance to your +recollection." + +And Herman Brudenell related in detail all the little incidents +connected with his drawing of the check, ending with: "Now don't you +remember, Hannah?" + +Hannah looked surprised, and said: + +"Yes, but was that little bit of dirty white paper, tore out of an old +book, worth all that money?" + +"Yes! after I had drawn a check upon it!" + +"I didn't know! I didn't understand! I was sort o' dazed with grief, I +suppose." + +"But what became of the paper, Hannah?" + +"Mrs. Jones lit the candle with it!" + +"Oh! Hannah!" + +"Was the money all lost? entirely lost because that little bit of paper +was burnt?" + +"To you and to Ishmael it was, of course, since you never received it; +but to me it was not, since it was never drawn from the bank." + +"Well, then, Mr. Brudenell, since the money was not lost, I do not so +much care if the check was burnt! I should not have used it for myself, +or Ishmael, anyhow! Though I am glad to know that you did not neglect +him, and leave him to perish in destitution, as I supposed you had! I am +very glad you took measures for his benefit, although he never profited +by them, and I never would have let him do so. Still, it is pleasant to +think that you did your duty; and I am sorry I was so unjust to you, Mr. +Brudenell." + +"Say no more of that, Hannah. Let us talk of my son. Remember that it is +only to you that I can talk of him. Tell me all about his infancy and +childhood. Tell me little anecdotes of him. I want to know more about +him than the judge could tell me. I know old women love to gossip at +great length of old times, so gossip away, Hannah--tell me everything. +You shall have a most interested listener." + +"'Old women,' indeed! Not so very much older than yourself, Mr. Herman +Brudenell--if it comes to that! But anyways, if Reuben don't see as I am +old, you needn't hit me in the teeth with it!" snapped Mrs. Gray. + +"Hannah, Hannah, what a temper you have got, to be sure! It is well +Reuben is as patient as Job." + +"It is enough to rouse any woman's temper to be called old to her very +face!" + +"So it is, Hannah; I admit it, and beg your pardon. But nothing was +farther from my thoughts than to offend you. I feel old myself--very +old, and so I naturally think of the companions of my youth as old also. +And now, will you talk to me about my son?" + +"Well, yes, I will," answered Hannah, and her tongue being loosened upon +the subject, she gave Mr. Brudenell all the incidents and anecdotes with +which the reader is already acquainted, and a great many more with which +I could not cumber this story. + +While she was still "gossiping," and Herman all attention, steps were +heard without, and the door opened, and Reuben Gray entered, smiling and +radiant, and leading two robust children--a boy and a girl--each with a +little basket of early fruit in hand. + +On seeing a stranger Reuben Gray took off his hat, and the children +stopped short, put their fingers in their mouths and stared. + +"Reuben, have you forgotten our old landlord, Mr. Herman Brudenell?" +inquired Hannah. + +"Why, law, so it is! I'm main glad to see you, sir! I hope I find you +well!" exclaimed Reuben, beaming all over with welcome, as Mr. Brudenell +arose and shook hands with him, replying: + +"Quite well, and very happy to see you, Gray." + +"John and Mary, where are your manners? Take your fingers out of your +mouths this minute,--I'm quite ashamed of you!--and bow to the +gentleman," said Hannah, admonishing her offspring. + +"Whose fine children are these?" inquired Mr. Brudenell, drawing the shy +little ones to him. + +Reuben's honest face glowed all over with pride and joy as he answered: + +"They are ours, sir! they are indeed! though you mightn't think it, to +look at them and us! And Ishmael--that is our nephew, sir--and though he +is now Mr. Worth, and a splendid lawyer, he won't turn agin his plain +kin, nor hear to our calling of him anythink else but Ishmael; and after +making his great speech yesterday, actilly walked right out'n the +courtroom, afore all the people, arm in arm long o' Hannah!--Ishmael, as +I was a-saying, tells me as how this boy, John, have got a good head, +and would make a fine scollard, and how, by-and-by, he means to take him +for a stoodient, and make a lawyer on him. And as for the girl, +sir--why, law! look at her! you can see for yourself, sir, as she will +have all her mother's beauty." + +And Reuben, with a broad, brown hand laid benignantly upon each little +head, smiled down upon the children of his age with all the glowing +effulgence of an autumnal noonday sun shining down upon the late +flowers. + +But--poor Hannah's "beauty"! + +Mr. Brudenell repressed the smile that rose to his lips, for he felt +that the innocent illusions of honest affection were far too sacred to +be laughed at. + +And with some well-deserved compliments to the health and intelligence +of the boy and girl, he kissed them both, shook hands with Hannah and +Reuben, and went away. + +He turned his steps towards the City Hall, with the intention of going +into the courtroom and comforting his soul by watching the son whom he +durst not acknowledge. + +And as he walked thither, how he envied humble Reuben Gray his parental +happiness! + + + + +CHAPTER LXI. + +ENVY. + + Well! blot him black with slander's ink, + He stands as white as snow! + You serve him better than you think + And kinder than you know; + What? is it not some credit then, + That he provokes your blame? + This merely, with all better men, + Is quite a kind of fame! + + --_M.F. Tupper_. + +Mr. Brudenell found Ishmael in the anteroom of the court in close +conversation with a client, an elderly, care-worn woman in widow's +weeds. He caught a few words of her discourse, to which Ishmael appeared +to be listening with sympathy. + +"Yes, sir, Maine; we belong to Bangor. He went to California some years +ago and made money. And he was on his way home and got as far as this +city, where he was taken ill with the cholera, at his brother's house, +where he died before I could get to him; leaving three hundred thousand +dollars, all in California gold, which his brother refuses to give up, +denying all knowledge of it. It is robbery of the widow and orphan, sir, +and nothing short of that!"--she was saying. + +"If this is as you state it, it would seem to be a case for a detective +policeman and a criminal prosecution, rather than for an attorney and a +civil suit," said Ishmael. + +"So it ought to be, sir, for he deserves punishment; but I have been +advised to sue him, and I mean to do it, if you will take my case. But +if you do take it, sir, it must be on conditions." + +"Yes. What are they?" + +"Why, if you do not recover the money, you will not receive any pay; but +if you do recover the money, you will receive a very large share of it +yourself, as a compensation for your services and your risk." + +"I cannot take your case on these terms, madam; I cannot accept a +conditional fee," said Ishmael gently. + +"Then what shall I do?" exclaimed the widow, bursting into tears. "I +have no money, and shall not have any until I get that! And how can I +get that unless I sue for it? Or how sue for it, unless you are willing +to take the risk? Do, sir, try it! It will be no risk, after all; you +will be sure to gain it!" + +"It is not the risk that I object to, madam," said Ishmael very gently, +"but it is this--to make my fee out of my case would appear to me a sort +of professional gambling, from which I should shrink." + +"Then, Heaven help me, what shall I do?" exclaimed the widow, weeping +afresh. + +"Do not distress yourself. I will call and see you this afternoon. And +if your case is what you represent it to be, I will undertake to conduct +it," said Ishmael. And in that moment he made up his mind that if he +should find the widow's cause a just one, he would once more make a free +offering of his services. + +The new client thanked him, gave her address, and departed. + +Ishmael turned to go into the courtroom, and found himself confronted +with Mr. Brudenell. + +"Good-morning, Mr. Worth! I see you have another client already." + +"A possible one, sir," replied Ishmael, smiling with satisfaction as he +shook hands with Mr. Brudenell. + +"A poor one, you mean! Poor widows with claims always make a prey of +young lawyers, who are supposed to be willing to plead for nothing, +rather than not plead at all! And it is all very well, as it gives the +latter an opening. But you are not one of those briefless lawyers; you +have already made your mark in the world, and so you must not permit +these female forlornities that haunt the courts to consume all your time +and attention." + +"Sir," said Ishmael gravely and fervently, "I owe so much to God--so +much more than I can ever hope to pay, that at least I must show my +gratitude to him by working for his poor! Do you not think that is only +right, sir?" + +And Ishmael looked into the face of this stranger, whom he had seen but +once before, with a singular longing for his approval. + +"Yes! I do! my--I do, Mr. Worth!" replied Brudenell with emotion, as +they entered the courtroom together. + +Late that afternoon Ishmael kept his appointment with the widow Cobham, +and their consultation ended in Ishmael's acceptance of her brief. Other +clients also came to him, and soon his hands were full of business. + +As the Supreme Court had risen, and Judge Merlin had little or no +official business on hand, Ishmael's position in his office was almost a +sinecure, and therefore the young man delicately hinted to his employer +the propriety of a separation between them. + +"No, Ishmael! I cannot make up my mind to part with you yet. It is true, +as you say, that there is little to do now; but recollect that for +months past there has been a great deal to do, and you have done about +four times as much work for me as I was entitled to expect of you. So +that now you have earned the right to stay on with me to the end of the +year, without doing any work at all." + +"But, sir--" + +"But I won't hear a word about your leaving us just yet, Ishmael. I will +hold you to your engagement, at least until the first of June, when we +all return to Tanglewood; then, if you wish it, of course I will release +you, as your professional duties will require your presence in the city. +But while we remain in town, I will not consent to your leaving us, nor +release you from your engagement," said the judge. + +And Ishmael was made happy by this decision. It had been a point of +honor with him, as there was so little to do, to offer to leave the +judge's employment; but now that the offer had been refused, and he was +held to his engagement, he was very much pleased to find himself obliged +to remain under the same roof with Claudia. + +Ah! sweet and fatal intoxication of her presence! he would not willingly +tear himself away from it. + +Meanwhile this pleasure was but occasional and fleeting. He seldom saw +Claudia except at the dinner hour. + +Miss Merlin never now got up to breakfast with the family. Her life of +fashionable dissipation was beginning to tell even on her youthful and +vigorous constitution. Every evening she was out until a late hour, at +some public ball, private party, concert, theater, lecture room, or some +other place of amusement. The consequence was that she was always too +tired to rise and breakfast with the family, whom she seldom joined +until the two o'clock lunch. And at that hour Ishmael was sure to be at +court, where the case of Cobham versus Hanley, in which Mr. Worth was +counsel for the plaintiff, was going on. At the six o'clock dinner he +daily met her, as I said, but that was always in public. And immediately +after coffee she would go out, attended by Mrs. Middleton as chaperone +and the Viscount Vincent as escort. And she would return long after +Ishmael had retired to his room, so that he would not see her again +until the next day at dinner. And so the days wore on. + +Mr. Brudenell remained the guest of Judge Merlin. A strange affection +was growing up between him and Ishmael Worth. Brudenell understood the +secret of this affection; Ishmael did not. The father, otherwise +childless, naturally loved the one gifted son of his youth, and loved +him the more that he durst not acknowledge him. And Ishmael, in his +genial nature, loved in return the stranger who showed so much +affectionate interest in him. No one perceived the likeness that was +said by the viscount to exist between the two except the viscount +himself; and since he had seen them together he had ceased to comment +upon the subject. + +Reuben Gray and his family had returned home, so that Mr. Brudenell got +no farther opportunity of talking with Hannah. + +The Washington season, prolonged by an extra session of Congress, was at +length drawing to a close; and it was finished off with a succession of +very brilliant parties. Ishmael Worth was now included in every +invitation sent to the family of Judge Merlin, and in compliance with +the urgent advice of the judge he accepted many of these invitations, +and appeared in some of the most exclusive drawing rooms in Washington, +where his handsome person, polished manners, and distinguished talents +made him welcome. + +But none among these brilliant parties equaled in splendor the ball +given early in the season by the Merlins. + +"And since no one has been able to eclipse my ball, I will eclipse it +myself by a still more splendid one--a final grand display at the end of +the season, like a final grand tableau at the close of the pantomime," +said Claudia. + +"My dear, you will ruin yourself," expostulated Mrs. Middleton. + +"My aunt, I shall be a viscountess," replied Miss Merlin. + +And preparations for the great party were immediately commenced. More +than two hundred invitations were sent out. And the aid of the three +great ministers of fashion--Vourienne, Devizac, and Dureezie--were +called in, and each was furnished with a carte-blanche as to expenses. +And as to squander the money of the prodigal heiress was to illustrate +their own arts, they availed themselves of the privilege in the freest +manner. + +For a few days the house was closed to visitors, and given up to suffer +the will of the decorator Vourienne and his attendant magicians, who +soon contrived to transform the sober mansion of the American judge into +something very like the gorgeous palace of an Oriental prince. And as if +they would not be prodigal enough if left to themselves, Claudia +continually interfered to instigate them to new extravagances. + +Meanwhile nothing was talked of in fashionable circles but the +approaching ball, and the novelties it was expected to develop. + +On the morning of the day, Vourienne and his imps having completed their +fancy papering, painting, and gilding, and put the finishing touches by +festooning all the walls and ceilings, and wreathing all the gilded +pillars with a profusion of artificial flowers, at last evacuated the +premises, just it time to allow Devizac and his army to march in for the +purpose of laying the feast. These forces held possession of the supper +room, kitchen, and pantry for the rest of the evening, and prepared a +supper which it would be vain to attempt to describe, since even the +eloquent reporter of the "Republican Court Journal" failed to do it +justice. A little later in the evening Dureezie and his celebrated +troupe arrived, armed with all the celebrated dances--waltzes, polkas, +etc.--then known, and one or two others composed expressly for this +occasion. + +And, when they had taken their places, Claudia and her party came down +into the front drawing room to be ready to receive the company. + +On this occasion it was Miss Merlin's whim to dress with exceeding +richness. She wore a robe of dazzling splendor--a fabric of the looms of +India, a sort of gauze of gold, that seemed to be composed of woven +sunbeams, and floated gracefully around her elegant figure and accorded +well with her dark beauty. The bodice of this gorgeous dress was +literally starred with diamonds. A coronet of diamonds flashed above her +black ringlets, a necklace of diamonds rested upon her full bosom, and +bracelets of the same encircled her rounded arms. Such a glowing, +splendid, refulgent figure as she presented suggested the idea of a +Mohammedan sultana rather than that of a Christian maiden. But it was +Miss Merlin's caprice upon this occasion to dazzle, bewilder, and +astonish. + +Bee, who stood near her like a maid of honor to a queen, was dressed +with her usual simplicity and taste, in a fine white crepe, with a +single white lily on her bosom. + +Mrs. Middleton, standing also with Claudia, wore a robe of silver gray. + +And this pure white on one side and pale gray on the other did but +heighten the effect of Claudia's magnificent costume. + +The fashionable hour for assembling at evening parties was then ten +o'clock. By a quarter past ten the company began to arrive, and by +eleven the rooms were quite full. + +The Viscount Vincent arrived early, and devoted himself to Miss Merlin, +standing behind her chair like a lord in waiting. + +Ishmael was also present with this group ostensibly in attendance upon +Beatrice, but really and truly waiting every turn of Claudia's +countenance or conversation. + +While they were all standing, grouped in this way, to receive all +comers, Judge Merlin approached, smiling, and accompanied by an officer +in the uniform of the United States army, whom he presented in these +words: + +"Claudia, my love, I bring you an old acquaintance--a very old +acquaintance--Captain Burghe." + +Claudia bowed as haughtily and distantly as it was possible to do; and +then, without speaking, glanced inquiringly at her father as if to +ask--"How came this person here?" + +Judge Merlin replied to that mute question by saying: + +"I was so lucky as to meet our young friend on the Avenue to-day; he is +but just arrived. I told him what was going on here this evening and +begged him to waive ceremony and come to us. And he was so good as to +take me at my word! Bee, my dear, don't you remember your old playmate, +Alfred Burghe?" said the judge, appealing for relief to his amiable +niece. + +Now, Bee was too kind-hearted to hurt anyone's feelings, and yet too +truthful to make professions she did not feel. She could not positively +say that she was glad to see Alfred Burghe; but she could give him her +hand and say: + +"I hope you are well, Mr. Burghe." + +"Captain! Captain, my dear! he commands a company now! Lord Vincent +permit me--Captain Burghe." + +A haughty bow from the viscount and a reverential one from the captain +acknowledged this presentation. + +Then Mrs. Middleton kindly shook hands with the unwelcome visitor. + +And finally Claudia unbent a little from her hauteur and condescended to +address a few commonplace remarks to him. But at length her eyes flashed +upon Ishmael standing behind Bee. + +"You are acquainted with Mr. Worth, I presume, Captain Burghe?" she +inquired. + +"I have not that honor," said Alfred Burghe arrogantly. + +"Then I will confer it upon you!" said Claudia very gravely. "Mr. Worth, +I hope you will permit me to present to you Captain Burghe. Captain +Burghe, Mr. Worth, of the Washington bar." + +Ishmael bowed with courtesy; but Alfred Burghe grew violently red in the +face, and with a short nod turned away. + +"Captain Burghe has a bad memory, my lord!" said Claudia, turning to the +viscount. "The gentleman to whom I have just presented him once saved +his life at the imminent risk of his own. It is true the affair happened +long ago, when they were both boys; but it seems to me that if anyone +had exposed himself to a death by fire to rescue me from a burning +building, I should remember it to the latest day of my life." + +"Pardon me, Miss Merlin. The circumstance to which you allude was beyond +my control, and Mr.--a--Word's share in it without my consent; his +service was, I believe, well repaid by my father; and the trouble with +me is not that my memory is defective, but rather that it is too +retentive. I remember the origin of--" + +"Our acquaintance with Mr. Worth!" interrupted Claudia, turning deadly +pale and speaking in the low tones of suppressed passion. "Yes, I know! +there was a stopped carriage, rifled hampers, and detected thieves. +There was a young gentleman who dishonored his rank, and a noble working +boy who distinguished himself in that affair. I remember perfectly well +the circumstances to which you refer." + +"You mistake, Miss Merlin," retorted Burghe, with a hot flush upon his +brow, "I do not refer to that boyish frolic, for it was no more! I refer +to--" + +"Mr. Burghe, excuse me. Mr. Worth, will you do me the favor to tell the +band to strike up a quadrille? Lord Vincent, I presume they expect us to +open the ball. Bee, my dear, you are engaged to Mr. Worth for this set. +Be sure when he returns to come to the same set with us and be our +vis-a-vis," said Claudia, speaking rapidly. + +Before she had finished Ishmael had gone upon her errand, and the band +struck up a lively quadrille. Claudia gave her hand to Lord Vincent, who +led her to the head of the first set. When Ishmael returned, Bee gave +him her hand and told him Claudia's wish, which, of course, had all the +force of a command for him, and he immediately led Bee to the place +opposite Lord Vincent and Hiss Merlin. + +And Captain Burghe was left to bite his nails in foiled malignity. + +But later in the evening he took his revenge and received his +punishment. + +It happened in this manner: New quadrilles were being formed. Claudia +was again dancing with Lord Vincent, and they had taken their places at +the head of one of the sets. Ishmael was dancing with one of the poor +neglected "wallflowers" to whom Bee had kindly introduced him, and he +led his partner to a vacant place at the foot of one of the sets; he was +so much engaged in trying to entertain the shy and awkward girl that he +did not observe who was their vis-a-vis, or overhear the remarks that +were made. + +But Claudia, who, with the viscount, was standing very near, heard and +saw all. She saw Ishmael lead his shy young partner up to a place in the +set, exactly opposite to where Alfred Burghe with his partner, Miss +Tourneysee, stood. And she heard Mr. Burghe whisper to Miss Tourneysee: + +"Excuse me; and permit me to lead you to a seat. The person who has just +taken the place opposite to us is not a proper associate even for me, +still less for you." + +And she saw Miss Tourneysee's look of surprise and heard her low-toned +exclamation: + +"Why, it is Mr. Worth! I have danced with him often!" + +"I am sorry to hear it. I hope you will take the word of an officer and +a gentleman that he is not a respectable person, and by no means a +proper acquaintance for any lady." + +"But why not?" + +"Pardon me. I cannot tell you why not. It is not a story fit for your +ears. But I will tell your father. For I think the real position of the +fellow ought to be known. In the meantime, will you take my word for the +truth of what I have said, and permit me to lead you to a seat?" + +"Certainly," said the young lady, trembling with distress. + +"I regret exceedingly to deprive you of your dance; but you perceive +that there is no other vacant place." + +"Oh, don't mention it! Find me a seat." + +This low-toned conversation, every word of which had been overheard by +Claudia who, though in another set, stood nearly back to back with the +speaker, was entirely lost to Ishmael, who stood at the foot of the same +set with him, but was at a greater distance, and was besides quite +absorbed in the task of reassuring his timid schoolgirl companion. + +Just as Burghe turned to lead his partner away, and Ishmael, attracted +by the movement, lifted his eyes to see the cause, Claudia gently drew +Lord Vincent after her, and going up to the retiring couple said: + +"Miss Tourneysee, I beg your pardon; but will you and your partner do +myself and Lord Vincent the favor to exchange places with us? We +particularly desire to form a part of this set." + +"Oh, certainly!" said the young lady, wondering, but rejoiced to find +that she should not be obliged to miss the dance. + +They exchanged places accordingly; but as they still stood very near +together, Claudia heard him whisper to his partner: + +"This evening I think I will speak to your father and some other +gentlemen and enlighten them as to who this fellow really is!" + +Claudia heard all this; but commanded herself. Her face was pale as +marble; her lips were bloodless; but her dark eyes had the terrible +gleam of suppressed but determined hatred! In such moods as hers, people +have sometimes planned murder. + +However, she went through all the four dances very composedly. And when +they were over and Lord Vincent had led her to a seat, she sent him to +fetch her a glass of water, while she kept her eye on the movements of +Captain Burghe, until she saw him deposit his partner on a sofa and +leave her to fetch a cream, or some such refreshment. + +And then Claudia arose, drank the ice-water brought her by the viscount, +set the empty glass on a stand and requested Lord Vincent to give her +his arm down the room, as she wished to speak to Captain Burghe. + +The viscount glanced at her in surprise, saw that her face was +bloodless; but ascribed her pallor to fatigue. + +Leaning on Lord Vincent's arm, she went down the whole length of the +room until she paused before the sofa on which sat Miss Tourneysee and +several other ladies, attended by General Tourneysee, Captain Burghe and +other gentlemen. + +Burghe stood in front of the sofa, facing the ladies and with his back +towards Claudia, of whose approach he was entirely ignorant, as he +discoursed as follows: + +"Quite unfit to be received in respectable society, I assure you, +General! Came of a wretchedly degraded set, the lowest of the low, upon +my honor. This fellow--" + +Claudia touched his shoulder with the end of her fan. + +Alfred Burghe turned sharply around and confronted Miss Merlin, and on +meeting her eyes grew as pale as she was herself. + +"Captain Burghe," she said, modulating her voice to low and courteous +tones, "you have had the misfortune to malign one of our most esteemed +friends, at present a member of our household. I regret this accident +exceedingly, as it puts me under the painful necessity of requesting you +to leave the house with as little delay as possible!" + +"Miss Merlin--ma'am!" began the captain, crimsoning with shame and rage. + +"You have heard my request, sir! I have no more to say but to wish you a +very good evening," said Claudia, as with a low and sweeping courtesy +she turned away. + +Passing near the hall where the footmen waited, she spoke to one of +them, saying: + +"Powers, attend that gentleman to the front door." + +All this was done so quietly that Alfred Burghe was able to slink from +the room, unobserved by anyone except the little group around the sofa, +whom he had been entertaining with his calumnies. To them he had +muttered that he would have satisfaction; that he would call Miss +Merlin's father to a severe account for the impertinence of his +daughter, etc. + +But the consternation produced by these threats was soon dissipated. The +band struck up an alluring waltz, and Lord Vincent claimed the hand of +Beatrice, and Ishmael, smiling, radiant and unsuspicious, came in search +of Miss Tourneysee, who accepted his hand for the dance without an +instant's hesitation. + +"Do you know"--inquired Miss Tourneysee, with a little curiosity to +ascertain whether there was any mutual enmity between Burghe and +Ishmael--"do you know who that Captain Burghe is that danced the last +quadrille with me?" + +"Yes; he is the son of the late Commodore Burghe, who was a gallant +officer, a veteran of 1812, and did good service during the last War of +Independence," said Ishmael generously, uttering not one word against +his implacable foe. + +Miss Tourneysee looked at him wistfully and inquired: "Is the son as +good a man as the father?" + +"I have not known Captain Burghe since we were at school together." + +"I do not like him. I do not think he is a gentleman," said Miss +Tourneysee. + +Ishmael did not reply. It was not his way to speak even deserved evil of +the absent. + +But Miss Tourneysee drew a mental comparison between the meanness of +Alfred's conduct and the nobility of Ishmael's. And the dance succeeded +the conversation. + +Claudia remained sitting on the sofa beside Mrs. Middleton, until at the +close of the dance, when she was rejoined by the viscount, who did not +leave her again during the evening. + +The early summer nights were short, and so it was near the dawn when the +company separated. + +The party as a whole had been the most splendid success of the season. + + + + +CHAPTER LXII. + +FOILED MALICE. + + Through good report and ill report, + The true man goes his way, + Nor condescends to pay his court + To what the vile may say: + Aye, be the scandal what they will, + And whisper what they please, + They do but fan his glory still + By whistling up a breeze. + + --_M.F. Tupper_. + +The family slept late next day, and the breakfast was put back to the +luncheon hour, when at length they all, with one exception, assembled +around the table. + +"Where is Mr. Worth?" inquired the judge. + +"He took a cup of coffee and went to the courthouse at the usual hour, +sir," returned Powers, who was setting the coffee on the table. + +"Humph! that hotly contested case of Cobham versus Hanley still in +progress, I suppose," said the judge. + +At this moment Sam entered the breakfast room and laid a card on the +table before his master. + +"Eh? 'Lieutenant Springald, U.S.A.' Who the mischief is he?" said the +judge, reading the name on the card. + +"The gentleman, sir, says he has called to see you on particular +business," replied Sam. + +"This is a pretty time to come on business! Show him up into my office, +Sam." + +The servant withdrew to obey. + +The judge addressed himself to his breakfast, and the conversation +turned upon the party of the preceding evening. + +"I wonder what became of Burghe? He disappeared very early in the +evening," said Judge Merlin. + +"I turned him out of doors," answered Claudia coolly. + +The judge set down his coffee cup and stared at his daughter. + +"He deserved it, papa! And nothing on earth but my sex prevented me from +giving him a thrashing as well as a discharge," said Claudia. + +"What has he done?" inquired her father. + +Claudia told him the whole. + +"Well, my dear, you did right, though I am sorry that there should have +been any necessity for dismissing him. Degenerate son of a noble father, +will nothing reform him!" was the comment of the judge. + +Mr. Brudenell, who was present, and had heard Claudia's account, was +reflecting bitterly upon the consequences of his own youthful fault of +haste, visited so heavily in unjust reproach upon the head of his +faultless son. + +"Well!" said the judge, rising from the table, "now I will go and see +what the deuce is wanted of me by Lieutenant--Spring--Spring--Spring +chicken! or whatever his name is!" + +He went upstairs and found seated in his office a beardless youth in +uniform, who arose and saluted him, saying, as he handed a folded note: + +"I have the honor to be the bearer of a challenge, sir, from my friend +and superior officer, Captain Burghe." + +"A--what?" demanded the judge, with a frown as black as a thunder-cloud +and a voice sharp as its clap, which made the little officer jump from +his feet. + +"A challenge, sir!" repeated the latter, as soon as he had composed +himself. + +"Why what the deuce do you mean by bringing a challenge to +_me_--breaking the law under the very nose of an officer of the law?" +said the judge, snatching the note and tearing it open. When he had read +it, he looked sternly at the messenger and said: + +"Why don't you know it is my solemn duty to have you arrested and sent +to prison, for bringing me this, eh?" + +"Sir," began the little fellow, drawing his figure up, "men of honor +never resort to such subterfuges to evade the consequences of their own +acts." + +"Hold your tongue, child! You know nothing about what you are talking +of. Men of honor are not duelists, but peaceable, law-abiding citizens. +Don't be frightened, my brave little bantam! I won't have you arrested +this time; but I will answer your heroic principal instead. Let us see +again--what it is he says?" + +And the judge sat down at his writing table and once more read over the +challenge. + +It ran thus: + + Mansion House, Friday. + + Judge Merlin--Sir: I have been treated with the grossest contumely + by your daughter, Miss Claudia Merlin. I demand an ample apology + from the young lady, or in default of that, the satisfaction of a + gentleman from yourself. In the event of the first alternative + offered being chosen, my friend, Lieutenant Springald, the bearer + of this, is authorized to accept in my behalf all proper apologies + that may be tendered. Or in the event of the second alternative + offered being chosen, I must request that you will refer my friend + to any friend of yours, that they may arrange together the terms of + our hostile meeting. + + I have the honor to be, etc., + + Alfred Burghe. + +Judge Merlin smiled grimly as he laid this precious communication aside +and took up his pen to reply to it. + +His answer ran as follows: + + Washington House, Friday. + + Captain Alfred Burghe: My daughter, Miss Merlin, did perfectly + right, and I fully endorse her act. Therefore, the first + alternative offered--of making you the apology you demand--is + totally inadmissible; but I accept the second one of giving you + the satisfaction you require. The friend to whom I refer your + friend is Deputy Marshal Browning, who will be prepared to take you + both in custody. And the weapons with which I will meet you will be + the challenge that you have sent me and a warrant for your arrest. + Hoping that this course may give perfect satisfaction, + + I have the honor to be, etc., + + Randolph Merlin. + +Judge Merlin carefully folded and directed this note, and put it into +the hands of the little lieutenant, saying pleasantly: + +"There, my child! There you are! Take that to your principal." + +The little fellow hesitated. + +"I hope, sir, that this contains a perfectly satisfactory apology?" he +said, turning it around in his fingers. + +"Oh, perfectly! amply! We shall hear no more of the challenge." + +"I am very glad, sir," said the little lieutenant, rising. + +"Won't you have something before you go?" + +The lieutenant hesitated. + +"Shall I ring for the maid to bring you a slice of bread and butter and +a cup of milk?" + +"No, thank you, sir!" said Springald, with a look of offended dignity. + +"Very well, then; you must give my respects to your papa and mamma, and +ask them to let you come and play with little Bobby and Tommy Middleton! +They are nice little boys!" said the judge, so very kindly that the +little lieutenant, though hugely affronted, scarcely knew in what manner +to resent the affront. + +"Good-day, sir!" he said, with a vast assumption of dignity, as he +strutted towards the door. + +"Good-day, my little friend. You seem an innocent little fellow enough. +Therefore I hope that you will never again be led into the sinful folly +of carrying a challenge to fight a duel, especially to a gray-headed +chief justice." + +And so saying, Judge Merlin bowed his visitor out. + +And it is scarcely necessary to say that Judge Merlin heard no more of +"the satisfaction of a gentleman." + +The story, however, got out, and Captain Burghe and his second were so +mercilessly laughed at, that they voluntarily shortened their own +furlough and speedily left Washington. + +The remainder of that week the house was again closed to company, during +the process of dismantling the reception rooms of their festive +decorations and restoring them to their ordinarily sober aspect. + +By Saturday afternoon this transformation was effected, and the +household felt themselves at home again. + +Early that evening Ishmael joined the family circle perfectly radiant +with good news. + +"What is it, Ishmael?" inquired the judge. + +"Well, sir, the hard-fought battle is over at length, and we have the +victory. The case of Cobham versus Hanley is decided. The jury came into +court this afternoon with a verdict for the plaintiff." + +"Good!" said the judge. + +"And the widow and children get their money. I am so glad!" said Bee, +who had kept herself posted up in the progress of the great suit by +reading the reports in the daily papers. + +"Yes, but how much money will you get, Ishmael?" inquired the judge. + +"None, sir, on this case. A conditional fee that I was to make out of my +case was offered me by the plaintiff in the first instance, but of +course I could not speculate in justice." + +"Humph! well, it is of no use to argue with you, Ishmael. Now, there are +two great cases which you have gained, and which ought to have brought +you at least a thousand dollars, and which have brought you nothing." + +"Not exactly nothing, uncle; they have brought him fame," said Bee. + +"Fame is all very well, but money is better," said the judge. + +"The money will come also in good time, uncle; never you fear. Ishmael +has placed his capital out at good interest, and with the best +security." + +"What do you mean, Bee?" + +"'Whoso giveth to the poor, lendeth to the Lord.' Ishmael's services, +given to the poor, are lent to the Lord," said Bee reverently. + +"Humph! humph! humph!" muttered the judge, who never ventured to carry +on an argument when the Scripture was quoted against him. "Well! I +suppose it is all right. And now I hear that you are counsel for that +poor devil Toomey, who fell through the grating of Sarsfield's cellar, +and crippled himself for life." + +"Yes," said Ishmael. "I think he is entitled to heavy damages. It was +criminal carelessness in Sarsfield & Company to leave their cellar +grating in that unsafe condition for weeks, to the great peril of the +passers-by. It was a regular trap for lives and limbs. And this poor +laborer, passing over it, has fallen and lamed himself for life! And he +has a large family depending upon him for support. I have laid the +damages at five thousand dollars." + +"Yes; but how much do you get?" + +"Nothing. As in the other two cases, my client is not able to pay me a +retaining fee, and it is against my principles to accept a contingent +one." + +"Humph! that makes three 'free, gratis, for nothing' labors! I wonder +how long it will be before the money cases begin to come on?" inquired +the judge, a little sarcastically. + +"Oh, not very long," smiled Ishmael. "I have already received several +retaining fees from clients who are able to pay, but whose cases may not +come on until the next term." + +"But when does poor Toomey's case come on?" + +"Monday." + +At that moment the door opened, and Powers announced: + +"Lord Vincent!" + +The viscount entered the drawing room; and Ishmael's pleasure was over +for that evening. + +On Monday Ishmael's third case, Toomey versus Sarsfield, came on. It +lasted several days, and then was decided in favor of the +plaintiff--Toomey receiving every dollar of the damages claimed for him +by his attorney. In his gratitude the poor man would have pressed a +large sum of money, even to one-fifth of his gains, upon his young +counsel; but Ishmael, true to his principle of never gambling in +justice, refused to take a dollar. + +That week the court adjourned; and the young barrister had leisure to +study and get up his cases for the next term. The extra session of +Congress was also over. The Washington season was in fact at an end. And +everybody was preparing to leave town. + +Judge Merlin issued a proclamation that his servants should pack up all +his effects, preparatory to a migration to Tanglewood; for that chains +should not bind him to Washington any longer, nor wild horses draw him +to Saratoga, or any other place of public resort; because his very soul +was sick of crowds and longed for the wilderness. + +But the son of Powhatan was destined to find that circumstances are +often stronger than those forces that he defied. + +And so his departure from Washington was delayed for weeks by this +event. + +One morning the Viscount Vincent called as usual, and, after a prolonged +private interview with Miss Merlin, he sent a message to Judge Merlin +requesting to see him alone for a few minutes. + +Ishmael was seated with Judge Merlin in the study at the moment Powers +brought this message. + +"Ah! Lord Vincent requests the honor of a private interview with me, +does he? Well, it is what I have been expecting for some days! Wonder if +he doesn't think he is conferring an honor instead of receiving one? Ask +him to be so good as to walk up, Powers. Ishmael, my dear boy, excuse me +for dismissing you for a few minutes; but pray return to me as soon as +this Lord--'Foppington'--leaves me. May Satan fly away with him, for I +know he is coming to ask me for my girl!" + +It was well that Ishmael happened to be sitting with his back to the +window. It was well also that Judge Merlin did not look up as his young +partner passed out, else would the judge have seen the haggard +countenance which would have told him more eloquently than words could +of the force of the blow that had fallen on Ishmael's heart. + +He went up into his own little room, and sat down at his desk, and +leaning his brow upon his hand struggled with the anguish that wrung his +heart. + +It had fallen, then! It had fallen--the crushing blow! Claudia was +betrothed to the viscount. He might have been, as everyone else was, +prepared for this. But he was not. For he knew that Claudia was +perfectly conscious of his own passionate love for her, and he knew that +she loved him with almost equal fervor. It is true his heart had been +often wrung with jealousy when seeing her with Lord Vincent; yet even +then he had thought that her vanity only was interested in receiving the +attentions of the viscount; and he had trusted in her honor that he +believed would never permit her, while loving himself, to marry another, +or even give that other serious encouragement. It is true also that he +had never breathed his love to Claudia, for he knew that to do so would +be an unpardonable abuse of his position in Judge Merlin's family, a +flagrant breach of confidence, and a fatal piece of presumption that +would insure his final banishment from Claudia's society. So he had +struggled to control his passion, seeing also that Claudia strove to +conquer hers. And though no words passed between them, each knew by +secret sympathy the state of the other's mind. + +But lately, since his brilliant success at the bar and the glorious +prospect that opened before him, he had begun to hope that Claudia, +conscious of their mutual love, would wait for him only a few short +years, at the end of which he would be able to offer her a position not +unworthy even of Judge Merlin's daughter. + +Such had been his splendid "castle in the air." But now the thunderbolt +had fallen and his castle was in ruins. + +Claudia, whom he had believed to be, if not perfectly faultless, yet the +purest, noblest, and proudest among women; Claudia, his queen, had been +capable of selling herself to be the wife of an unloved man, for the +price of a title and a coronet--a breath and a bauble! + +Claudia had struck a fatal blow, not only to his love for her, but to +his honor of her; and both love and honor were in their death-throes! + +Anguish is no computer of time. He might have sat there half an hour or +half a day, he could not have told which, when he heard the voice of his +kind friend calling him. + +"Ishmael, Ishmael, my lad, where are you, boy? Come to me!" + +"Yes, yes, sir, I am coming," he answered mechanically. + +And like one who has fainted from torture, and recovered in +bewilderment, he arose and walked down to the study. + +Some blind instinct led him straight to the chair that was sitting with +its back to the window; into this he sank, with his face in the deep +shadow. + +Judge Merlin was walking up and down the floor, with signs of +disturbance in his looks and manners. + +A waiter with decanters of brandy and wine, and some glasses, stood upon +the table. This was a very unusual thing. + +"Well, Ishmael, it is done! my girl is to be a viscountess; but I do not +like it; no, I do not like it!" + +Ishmael was incapable of reply; but the judge continued: + +"It is not only that I shall lose her; utterly lose her, for her home +will be in another hemisphere, and the ocean will roll between me and my +sole child,--it is not altogether that,--but, Ishmael, I don't like +the fellow; and I never did, and never can!" + +Here the judge paused, poured out a glass if wine, drank it, and +resumed: + +"And I do not know why I don't like him! that is the worst of it! His +rank is, of course, unexceptionable, and indeed much higher than a plain +republican like myself has a right to expect in a son-in-law! And his +character appears to be unquestionable! He is good-looking, +well-behaved, intelligent and well educated young fellow enough, and so +I do not know why it is that I don't like him! But I don't like him, and +that is all about it!" + +The judge sighed, ran his hands through his gray hair, and continued: + +"If I had any reason for this dislike; if I could find any just cause of +offense in him; if I could put my hand down on any fault of his +character, I could then say to my daughter: 'I object to this man for +your husband upon this account,' and then I know she would not marry him +in direct opposition to my wishes. But, you see, I cannot do anything +like this, and my objection to the marriage, if I should express it, +would appear to be caprice, prejudice, injustice--" + +He sighed again, walked several times up and down the floor in silence, +and then once more resumed his monologue: + +"People will soon be congratulating me on my daughter's very splendid +marriage. Congratulating me! Good Heaven, what a mockery! Congratulating +me on the loss of my only child, to a foreigner, whom I half dislike and +more than half suspect--though without being able to justify either +feeling. What do you think, Ishmael? Is that a subject for +congratulation. But, good Heaven, boy! what is the matter with you? Are +you ill?" he suddenly exclaimed, pausing before the young man and +noticing for the first time the awful pallor of his face and the deadly +collapse of his form. + +"Are you ill, my dear boy? Speak!" + +"Yes, yes, I am ill!" groaned Ishmael. + +"Where? where?" + +"Everywhere!" + +The judge rushed to the table and poured out a glass of brandy and +brought it to him. + +But the young man, who was habitually and totally abstinent, shook his +head. + +"Drink it! drink it!" said the judge, offering the glass. + +But Ishmael silently waved it off. + +"As a medicine, you foolish fellow--as a medicine! You are sinking, +don't you know!" persisted the judge, forcing the glass into Ishmael's +hand. + +Ishmael then placed it to his lips and swallowed its contents. + +The effect of this draught upon him, unaccustomed as he was to alcoholic +stimulants, was instantaneous. The brandy diffused itself through his +chilled, sinking, and dying frame, warming, elevating, and restoring its +powers. + +"This is the fabled 'elixir of life.' I did not believe there was such a +restorative in the world!" said Ishmael, sitting up and breathing freely +under the transient exhilaration. + +"To be sure it is, my boy!" said the judge heartily, as he took the +empty glass from Ishmael's hand and replaced it on the waiter. "But what +have you been doing to reduce yourself to this state? Sitting up all +night over some perplexing case, as likely as not." + +"No." + +"But I am sure you overwork yourself. You should not do it, Ishmael! It +is absurd to kill yourself for a living, you know." + +"I think, Judge Merlin, that, as you are so soon about to leave +Washington, and as there is so little to do in your office, I should be +grateful if you would at once release me from our engagement and permit +me to leave your employment," said Ishmael, who felt that it would be to +him the most dreadful trial to remain in the house and meet Claudia and +Vincent as betrothed lovers every day, and at last witness their +marriage. + +The judge looked annoyed and then asked: + +"Now, Ishmael, why do you wish to leave me before the expiration of the +term for which you were engaged?" + +And before Ishmael could answer that question, he continued: + +"You are in error as to the reasons you assign. In the first place, I am +not to leave Washington so soon as I expected; as it is arranged that we +shall remain here for the solemnization of the marriage, which will not +take place until the first of July. And in the second place, instead of +there being but little to do in the office, there will be a great deal +to do--all Claudia's estate to be arranged, the viscount's affairs to be +examined, marriage settlements to be executed,--I wish it was the +bridegroom that was to be executed instead,--letters to be written, and +what not. So that you see I shall need your services very much. And +besides, Ishmael, my boy, I do not wish to part with you just now, in +this great trial of my life; for it is a great trial to me, Ishmael, to +part with my only child, to a foreigner whom I dislike and who will take +her across the sea to another world. I have loved you as a son, Ishmael. +And now I ask you to stand by me in this crisis--for I do not know how I +shall bear it. It will be to me like giving her up to death." + +Ishmael arose and placed his hand in that of his old friend. His stately +young form was shaken by agitation, as an oak tree is by a storm, as he +said: + +"I will remain with you, Judge Merlin. I will remain with you through +this trial. But oh, you do not know--you cannot know how terrible the +ordeal will be to me!" + +A sudden light of revelation burst upon Judge Merlin's mind! He looked +into that agonized young face, clasped that true hand and said: + +"Is it so, my boy? Oh, my poor boy, is it indeed so?" + +"Make some excuse for me to the family below; say that I am not well, +for that indeed is true; I cannot come into the drawing room this +evening!" said Ishmael. + +And he hastily wrung his friend's hand and hurried from the room, for +after that one touch of sympathy from Claudia's father he felt that if +he had stayed another moment he should have shamed his manhood and wept. + +He hurried up into his little room to strive, in solitude and prayer, +with his great sorrow. + +Meanwhile the judge took up his hat for a walk in the open air. He had +not seen his daughter since he had given his consent to her betrothal. +And he felt that as yet he would not see her. He wished to subdue his +own feelings of pain and regret before meeting her with the +congratulations which he wished to offer. + +"After all," he said to himself, as he descended the stairs "after all, +I suppose, I should dislike any man in the world who should come to +marry Claudia, so it is not the viscount who is in fault; but I who am +unreasonable. But Ishmael! Ah, poor boy! poor boy! Heaven forgive +Claudia if she has had anything to do with this! And may Heaven comfort +him, for be deserves to be happy!" + + + + +CHAPTER LXIII. + +THE BRIDE-ELECT. + + She stands up her full height, + With her rich dress flowing round her, + And her eyes as fixed and bright + As the diamond stars that crown her,-- + An awful, beautiful sight. + + Beautiful? Yes, with her hair + So wild and her cheeks so flushed! + Awful? Yes, for there + In her beauty she stands hushed + By the pomp of her own despair. + + --_Meredith_. + +Judge Merlin walked about, reasoning with himself all day; but he could +not walk off his depression of spirits, or reason away his misgivings. + +He returned home in time to dress for dinner. He crept up to his chamber +with a wearied and stealthy air, for he was still dispirited and +desirous of avoiding a meeting with his daughter. + +He made his toilet and then sat down, resolved not to leave his chamber +until the dinner-bell rang, so that he should run no risk of seeing her +until he met her at dinner, where of course no allusion would be made to +the event of the morning. + +He took up the evening paper, that lay upon the dressing-table by some +chance, and tried to read. But the words conveyed no meaning to his +mind. + +"She is all I have in this world!" he sighed as he laid the paper down. + +"Papa!" + +He looked up. + +There she stood within his chamber door! It was an unprecedented +intrusion. There she stood in her rich evening dress of purple +moire-antique, with the bandeau of diamonds encircling her night-black +hair. Two crimson spots like the flush of hectic fever burned in her +cheeks, and her eyes were unnaturally bright and wild, almost like those +of insanity. + +"Papa, may I come to you? Oh, papa, I have been waiting to speak to you +all day; and it seems to me as if you had purposely kept out of my way. +Are you displeased, papa? May I come to you now?" + +He opened his arms, and she came and threw herself upon his bosom, +sobbing as if her heart would break. + +"What is the matter, my darling?" + +"Are you displeased, papa?" + +"No, no, my darling! Why should I be? How could I be so unreasonable? +But--do you love him, Claudia?" + +"He will be an earl, papa." + +"Are you happy, Claudia?" + +"I shall be a countess, papa!" + +"But--are you happy, my dear, I ask you." + +"Happy? Who is? Who ever was?" + +"Your mother and myself were happy, very happy during the ten blessed +years of our union. But then we loved each other, Claudia. Do you love +this man whom you are about to make your husband?" + +"Papa, I have consented to be his wife. Should not that satisfy you?" + +"Certainly, certainly, my child! Besides, it is not for my rough, +masculine hand to probe your heart. Your mother might do it if she were +living, but not myself." + +"Papa, bless me! it was for that I came to you. Oh, give me your +blessing before I go downstairs to--him, whom I must henceforth meet as +my promised husband." + +"May the Lord bless and save you, my poor, motherless girl!" he said, +laying his hand on her bowed head. + +And she arose, and without another word went below stairs. + +When she entered the drawing room she found the viscount there alone. He +hastened to meet her with gallant alacrity and pressed his lips to hers, +but at their touch the color fled from her face and did not return. With +attentive courtesy Lord Vincent handed her to a seat and remained +standing near, seeking to interest and amuse her with his conversation. +But just as the tete-a-tete was growing unsupportable to Claudia, the +door opened and Beatrice entered. Too many times had Bee come in upon +just such a tete-a-tete to suspect that there was anything more in this +one than there had been in any other for the last six months. So, +unconscious of the recent betrothal of this pair, she, smiling, accepted +the chair the viscount placed for her, and readily followed Claudia's +lead, by allowing herself to be drawn into conversation. Several times +she looked up at Claudia's face, noticing its marble whiteness; but at +length concluded that it must be only the effect of late hours, and so +dropped the subject from her mind. + +Presently the other members of the family dropped in and the dinner was +served. + +One vacant chair at the table attracted general attention. But, ah! to +one there that seat was not vacant; it was filled with the specter of +her murdered truth. + +"Where is Mr. Worth?" inquired Mrs. Middleton, from the head of the +table. + +"Oh! worked himself into a nervous headache over Allenby's complicated +brief! I told him how it would be if he applied himself so +unintermittingly to business; but he would take no warning. Well, these +young enthusiasts must learn by painful experience to modify their +zeal," said the judge, in explanation. + +Everyone expressed regret except Claudia, who understood and felt how +much worse than any headache was the heart-sickness that had for the time +mastered even Ishmael's great strength; but she durst utter no word of +sympathy. And the dinner proceeded to its conclusion. And directly after +the coffee was served the viscount departed. + +Meanwhile Ishmael lay extended upon his bed, clasping his temples and +waging a silent war with his emotions. + +A rap disturbed him. + +"Come in." + +Powers entered with a tea tray in his hands, upon which was neatly +arranged a little silver tea-service, with a transparent white cup, +saucer, and plate. The wax candle in its little silver candlestick that +sat upon the tray was the only light, and scarcely served to show the +room. + +Ishmael raised himself up just as Powers sat the tray upon the stand +beside the bed. + +"Who has had leisure to think of me this evening?" thought Ishmael, as +he contemplated this unexpected attention. Then, speaking aloud, he +inquired: + +"Who sent me these, Powers?" + +"Miss Middleton, sir; and she bade me to say to you that you must try to +eat; and that it is a great mistake to fast when one has a nervous +headache, brought on by fatigue and excitement; and that the next best +thing to rest is food, and both together are a cure," replied the man, +carefully arranging the service on the stand. + +"I might have known it," thought Ishmael, with an undefined feeling of +self-reproach. "I might have known that she would not forget me, even +though I forgot myself. What would my life be at home without this dear +little sister? Sweet sister! dear sister! Yes, I will follow her advice; +I will eat and drink for her sake, because I know she will question +Powers and be disappointed if she finds that I have not done justice to +this repast." + +"Will you have more light, sir?" asked the footman. + +"No, no, thank you," replied Ishmael, rising and seating himself in a +chair beside the stand. + +The tea was strong and fragrant, the cream rich, the sugar crystalline, +and a single cup of the beverage refreshed him. The toast was crisp and +yellow, the butter fresh, and the shavings of chipped beef crimson and +tender. And so, despite his heartache and headache, Ishmael found his +healthy and youthful appetite stimulated by all this. And the meal that +was begun for Bee's sake was finished for his own. + +"Tour head is better now, I hope, sir?" respectfully inquired Powers, as +he prepared to remove the service. + +"Much, thank you. Tell Miss Middleton so, with my respects, and say how +grateful I feel to her for this kind attention." + +"Yes, sir." + +"And, Powers, you may bring me lights now." + +And a few minutes later, when Powers had returned with two lighted +candles and placed them on the table, Ishmael, who knew that not an over +tasked brain, but an undisciplined heart, was the secret of his malady, +set himself to work as to a severe discipline, and worked away for three +or four hours with great advantage; for, when at twelve o'clock he +retired to bed, he fell asleep and slept soundly until morning. + +That is what work did for Ishmael. And work will do as much for anyone +who will try it. + +It is true in the morning he awoke to a new sense of woe; but the day +had also its work to discipline him. He breakfasted with Bee and her +father and the judge, who were the only members of the family present at +the table; and then he went to the City Hall, where he had an +appointment with the District Attorney. + +That morning the engagement between Lord Vincent and Claudia was +formally announced to the family circle. And Bee understood the secret +of Ishmael's sudden illness. The marriage was appointed to take place on +the first of the ensuing month, and so the preparations for the event +were at once commenced. + +Mrs. Middleton and Claudia went to New York to order the wedding outfit. +They were gone a week, and when they returned Claudia, though much +thinner in flesh, seemed to have recovered the gloom that had been +frightened away by the viscount's first kiss. + +The great responsibility of the home preparations fell upon Bee. The +house had to be prepared for visitors; not only for the wedding guests; +but also for friends and relatives of the family, who were coming from a +distance and would remain for several days. For the last mentioned, new +rooms had to be made ready. And all this was to be done under the +immediate supervision of Beatrice. + +As on two former occasions, Miss Merlin called in the aid of her three +favorite ministers--Vourienne, Devizae, and Dureezie. + +On the morning of the last day of June Vourienne and his assistants +decorated the dining room. On the evening of the same day Devizae and +his waiters laid the table for the wedding breakfast. And then the room +was closed up until the next day. While the family took their meals in +their small breakfast room. + +During the evening relatives from a distance arrived and were received +by Bee, who conducted them to their rooms. + +By this inroad of visitors Bee herself, with the little sister who +shared her bed, were driven up into the attic to the plain spare room +next to Ishmael's own. Here, early in the evening, as he sat at his +work, he could hear Bee, who would not neglect little Lu for anything +else in the world, rocking and singing her to sleep. And Ishmael, too, +who had just laid down his pen because the waning light no longer +enabled him to write, felt his great trouble soothed by Bee's song. + + + + +CHAPTER LXIV. + +CLAUDIA'S WOE + + Ay, lady, here alone + You may think till your heart is broken, + Of the love that is dead and done, + Of the days that with no token, + For evermore are gone. + + Weep, if you can, beseech you! + There's no one by to curb you: + His heart cry cannot reach you: + His love will not disturb you: + Weep?--what can weeping teach you? + + --_Meredith_. + +Sifting within the recess of the dormer window, soothed by the gathering +darkness of the quiet, starlight night, and by the gentle cadences of +Bee's low, melodious voice, as she sung her baby sister to sleep, +Ishmael remained some little time longer, when suddenly Bee's song +ceased, and he heard her exclamation of surprise: + +"Claudia, you up here! and already dressed for dinner! How well you +look! How rich that maize-colored brocade is! And how elegant that spray +of diamonds in your hair! I never saw you wear it before! Is it a new +purchase?" + +"It is the viscount's present. I wear it this evening in his honor." + +"How handsome you are, Lady Vincent! You know I do not often flatter, +but really, Claudia, all the artist in me delights to contemplate you. I +never saw you with such brilliant eyes, or such a beautiful color." + +"Brilliant eyes! beautiful color! Ha! ha! ha! the first frenzy, I think! +The last--well, it ought to be beautiful. I paid ten dollars a scruple +for it at a wicked French shop in Broadway! And I have used the scruple +unscrupulously!" she cried, with a bitter laugh as of self-scorn. + +"Oh, Claudia--rouged!" said Bee, in a tone of surprise and pain. + +"Yes, rouged and powdered! why not? Why should the face be true when the +life is false! Oh, Bee," she suddenly broke forth in a wail of anguish; +"lay that child down and listen to me! I must tell someone, or my heart +will break!" + +There was a movement, a low, muffling, hushing sound, that told the +unwilling listener that Bee was putting her baby sister in the bed. +Ishmael arose with the intention of leaving his room, and slipping out +of hearing of the conversation that was not intended for his ears; but +utterly overcome by the crowding emotions of his heart, he sank back in +his chair. + +He heard Bee return to her place. He heard Claudia throw herself down on +the floor by Bee's side, and say: + +"Oh, let me lay my head down upon your lap, Bee!" + +"Claudia, dear Claudia, what is the matter with you? What can I do for +you?" + +"Receive my confidence, that is all. Hear my confession. I must tell +somebody or die. I wish I was a Catholic, and had a father confessor who +would hear me and comfort me, and absolve my sins, and keep my secrets!" + +"Can any man stand in that relation to a woman except her father, if she +is single, or her husband, if she is married?" asked Bee. + +"I don't know--and I don't care! Only when I passed by St. Patrick's +Church, with this load of trouble on my soul, I felt as if it would have +done me good to steal into one of those veiled recesses and tell the +good old father there!" + +"You could have told your heavenly Father anywhere." + +"He knows it already; but I durst not pray to him! I am not so impious +as that either. I have not presumed to pray for a month--not since my +betrothal." + +"You have not presumed to pray. Oh, Claudia!" + +"How should I dare to pray, after I had deliberately sold myself to the +demon--after I had deliberately determined to sin and take the wages of +sin?" + +"Claudia! Oh, Heaven! You are certainly mad!" + +"I know it; but the knowledge does not help me to the cure. I have been +mad a month!" Then breaking forth into a wail of woe, she cried: "Oh, +Bee! I do not love that man! I do not love him! and the idea of marrying +him appalls my very soul!" + +"Good Heaven, Claudia, then why--" begun Bee, but Claudia fiercely +continued: + +"I loathe him! I sicken at him! His first kiss! Oh, Bee! the cold, +clammy touch of those lips struck all the color from my face forever, I +think! I loathe him!" + +"Oh, Claudia, Claudia, why, in the name of all that is wise and good, +do you do yourself, and him, too, such a terrible wrong as to marry +him?" inquired the deeply-shocked maiden. + +"Because I must! Because I will! I have deliberately determined to be a +peeress of England, and I will be one, whatever the cost." + +"But oh! have you thought of the deadly sin--the treachery, the perjury, +the sacrilege; oh! and the dreadful degradation of such a loveless +marriage?" + +"Have I thought of these things--these horrors? Yes; witness this +tortured heart and racked brain of mine!" + +"Then why, oh, why, Claudia, do you persevere?" + +"I am in the vortex of the whirlpool, and cannot stop myself!" + +"Then let me stop you. My weak hand is strong enough for that. Remain +here, dear Claudia. Let me go downstairs and report that you are ill, as +indeed and in truth you are. The marriage can be delayed, and then you +can have an explanation with the viscount, and break it off altogether." + +"And break my plighted faith! Is that your advice, young moralist?" + +"There was no faith in your plighted word, Claudia. It was very wrong to +promise to marry a man you could not love; but it would be criminal to +keep such a promise. Speak candidly to his lordship, Claudia, and ask +him to release you from your engagement. My word on it he will do it." + +"Of course, and make me the town talk for the delight of all who envy +me." + +"Better be that than an unloving wife." + +"No, Bee! I must fulfill my destiny. And, besides, I never thought of +turning from it. I am in the power of the whirlpool or the demon." + +"It is the demon--the demon that is carrying you down into this +whirlpool. And the name of the demon is Ambition, Claudia; and the name +of the whirlpool is Ruin." + +"Yes! it is ambition that possesses my soul. None other but the sins by +which angels fell would have power to draw my soul down from heaven--for +heaven was possible to me, once!" And with these last words she melted +into tears and wept as if the fountains of her heart were broken up and +gushing through her eyes. + +"Yes," she repeated in the pauses of her weeping. "Heaven was possible +for me once! Never more, oh, never, never more! Filled with the +ambition of Lucifer I have cast myself out of that heaven. But alas! +alas! I have Lucifer's ambition without his strength to suffer." + +"Claudia, dear Claudia!" + +"Do not speak to me. Let me speak, for I must speak, or die! It is not +only that I do not love this viscount, but, oh, Bee!" she wailed in the +prolonged tones of unutterable woe, "I love another! I love Ishmael!" + +There was a sudden movement and a fall. + +"You push me from you! Oh, cruel friend! Let me lay my head upon your +lap again, Bee, and sob out all this anguish here. I must, or my heart +will burst. I love Ishmael! His love is the heaven of heavens from which +Ambition has cast me down. I love Ishmael! Oh, how much, my reason, +utterly overthrown, may some time betray to the world! This love fills +my soul. Oh, more than that, it is greater than my soul; it goes beyond +it, into infinitude! There is light, warmth, and life where Ishmael is; +darkness, coldness, and death where he is not! To meet his eyes,--those +beautiful, dark, luminous eyes, that seem like inlets to some perfect +inner world of wisdom, love, and pure joy; or to lay my hand in his, and +feel that soft, strong, elastic hand close upon mine,--gives me a moment +of such measureless content, such perfect assurance of peace, that for +the time I forget all the sin and horror that envelopes and curses my +life. But to be his beloved wife--oh, Bee! I cannot imagine in the life +of heaven a diviner happiness!" + +A low, half-suppressed cry from Bee. And Claudia continued: + +"It is a love that all which is best in my nature approves. For oh, who +is like Ishmael? Who so wise, so good, so useful? Morally, +intellectually, and physically beautiful! an Apollo! more than that, a +Christian gentleman! He is human, and yet he appears to me to be +perfectly faultless." + +There was a pause and a low sound of weeping, broken at last by Claudia, +who rustled up to her feet, saying: + +"There, it is past!" + +"Claudia," said Bee solemnly, "you must not let this marriage go on; to +do so would be to commit the deadliest sin!" + +"I have determined to commit it, then, Bee." + +"Claudia, if I saw you on the brink of endless woe, would I not be +justified in trying to pluck you back? Oh, Claudia, dear cousin, pause, +reflect--" + +"Bee, hush! I have reflected until my brain has nearly burst. I must +fulfill my destiny. I must be a peeress of England, cost what it may in +sin against others, or in suffering to myself." + +"Oh, what an awful resolution! and what an awful defiance! Ah, what have +you invoked upon your head!" + +"I know not--the curse of Heaven, perhaps!" + +"Claudia!" + +"Be silent, Bee!" + +"I must not, cannot, will not, be silent! My hand is weak, but it shall +grasp your arm to hold you back; my voice is low, but it shall be raised +in remonstrance with you. You may break from my hold; you may deafen +yourself to my words; you may escape me so; but it will be to cast +yourself into--" + +"Lawyer Vivian's 'gulf of perdition'! Is that what you mean? Nonsense, +Bee. My hysterics are over now; my hour of weakness is past; I am myself +again. And I feel that I shall be Lady Vincent--the envy of Washington, +the admiration of London, the only titled lady of the republican court, +and the only beauty at St. James!" said Claudia, rustling a deep +courtesy. + +"Claudia--" + +"And in time I shall be Countess of Hurstmonceux, and perhaps after a +while Marchioness of Banff; for Vincent thinks if the Conservatives come +in his father will be raised a step in the peerage." + +"And is it for that you sell yourself? Oh, Claudia, how Satan fools you! +Be rational; consider: what is it to be a countess, or even a +marchioness? It is 'distance lends enchantment to the view.' Here in +this country, where, thank the Lord, there is no hereditary rank,--no +titles and no coronets,--these things, from their remoteness, impress +your imagination, and disturb your judgment. You will not feel so in +England; there, where there are hundreds and thousands of titled +personages, your coveted title will sink to its proper level, and you +will find yourself of much less importance in London as Lady Vincent, +than you are in Washington as Miss Merlin. There you will find how +little you have really gained by the sacrifice of truth, honor, and +purity; all that is best in your woman's nature--all that is best in +your earthly, yes, and your eternal life." + +"Bee, have you done?" + +"No. You have given me two reasons why I think you ought not to marry +the viscount: first, because you do not love him, and secondly, because +you do love--someone else. And now I will give you two more reasons why +you should not marry him--viz., first, because he is not a good man, +and, secondly, because he does not love you. There!" said Beatrice +firmly. + +"Bee, how dare you say that! What should you know of his character? And +why should you think he does not love me?" + +"I feel that he is not a good man; so do you, I will venture to say, +Claudia. And I know that he marries you for some selfish or mercenary +motive--your money, possibly. And so also do you know it, Claudia, I +dare to affirm." + +"Have you anything more to say?" + +"Only this: to beg, to pray, to urge you not to sin--not to debase +yourself! Oh, Claudia, if loving Ishmael as you profess to do, and +loathing the viscount as you confess you do, and knowing that he cares +nothing for you, you still marry him for his title and his rank, as you +admit you will--Claudia! Claudia! in the pure sight of angels you will +be more guilty, and less pardonable than the poor lost creatures of the +pavement, whose shadow you would scarcely allow to fall across your +path!" + +"Bee, you insult, you offend, you madden me! If this be so--if you speak +the truth--I cannot help it, and I do not care. I am ambitious. If I +immolate all my womanly feelings to become a peeress, it is as I would +certainly and ruthlessly destroy everything that stood in my way to +become a queen, if that were possible." + +"Good heavens, Claudia! are you then really a fiend in female form?" +exclaimed the dismayed girl. + +"I do not know. I may be so. I think Satan has taken possession of me +since my betrothal. At least I feel that I could be capable of great +crimes to secure great ends," said Claudia recklessly. + +"And, oh, Heaven! the opportunity will be surely afforded you, if you do +not repent. Satan takes good care to give his servants the fullest +freedom to develop their evil. Oh, Claudia, for the love of Heaven, stop +where you are! go no further. Your next step on this sinful road may +make retreat impossible. Break off this marriage at once. Better the +broken troth--better the nine days' wonder--than the perjured bride, and +the loveless, sinful nuptials! You said you were ambitious. Claudia!" +here Bee's voice grew almost inaudible from intense passion--"Claudia! +you do not know--you cannot know what it costs me to say what I am about +to say to you now; but--I will say it: You love Ishmael. Well, he loves +you--ah! far better than you love him, or than you are capable of loving +anyone. For you all his toils have been endured, all his laurels won. +Claudia! be proud of this great love; it is a hero's love--a poet's +love. Claudia! you have received much adulation in your life, and you +will receive much more; but you never have received, and you never will, +so high an honor as you have in Ishmael's love. It is a crown of glory +to your life. You are ambitious! Well, wait for him; give him a few +short years and he will attain honors, not hereditary, but all his own. +He will reach a position that the proudest woman may be proud to share; +and his wife shall take a higher rank among American matrons than the +wife of a mere nobleman can reach in England. And his untitled name, +like that of Caesar, shall be a title in itself." + +"Bee! Bee! you wring my heart in two. You drive me mad. It cannot be, I +tell you! It can never be. He may rise--there is no doubt but that he +will! But let him rise ever so high, I cannot be his wife--his wife! +Horrible! I came of a race of which all the men were brave, and all the +women pure! And he--" + +"Is braver than the bravest man of your race! purer than the purest +woman!" interrupted Bee fervently. + +"He is the child of shame, and his heritage is dishonor! He bears his +mother's maiden name, and she was--the scorn of his sex and the reproach +of ours! And this is the man you advise me, Claudia Merlin, whose hand +is sought in marriage by the heir of one of the oldest earldoms in +England, to marry! Bee, the insult is unpardonable! You might as well +advise me to marry my father's footman! and better, for Powers came at +least of honest parents!" said Claudia, speaking in the mad, reckless, +defiant way in which those conscious of a bad argument passionately +defend their point. + +For a few moments Bee seemed speechless with indignation. Then she burst +forth vehemently: + +"It is false! as false as the Father of Falsehood himself! When thorns +produce figs, or the deadly nightshade nectarines; when eaglets are +hatched in owls' nests and young lions spring from rat holes, then I may +believe these foul slanders of Ishmael and his parents. Shame on you, +Claudia Merlin, for repeating them! You have shown me much evil in your +heart to-night; but nothing so bad as that! Ishmael is nature's +gentleman! His mother must have been pure and lovely and loving! his +father good and wise and brave! else how could they have given this son +to the world! And did you forget, Claudia, when you spoke those cruel +words of him, did you forget that only a little while ago you admitted +that you loved him, and that all which was best in your nature approved +that love?" + +"No, I did not and do not forget it! It was and it is true! But what of +that? I may not be able to help adoring him for his personal excellence! +But to be his wife--the wife of a--Horrible!" + +"Have you forgotten, Claudia, that only a few minutes ago you said that +you could not conceive of a diviner happiness than to be the beloved +wife of Ishmael?" + +"No, I have not forgotten it! And I spoke the truth! but that joy which +I could so keenly appreciate can never, never be mine! And that is the +secret of my madness--for I am mad, Bee! And, oh, I came here to-night +with my torn and bleeding heart--torn and bleeding from the dreadful +battle between love and pride--came here with my suffering heart; my +sinful heart if you will; and laid it on your bosom to be soothed; and +you have taken it and flung it back in my face! You have broken the +bruised reed; quenched the smoking flax; humbled the humble; smitten the +fallen! Oh, Bee, you have been more cruel than you know! Good-by! +Good-by!" And she turned and flung herself out of the room. + +"Claudia, dear Claudia, oh, forgive me! I did not mean to wound you; if +I spoke harshly it was because I felt for both! Claudia, come back, +love!" cried Bee, hurrying after her; but Claudia was gone. Bee would +have followed her; but little Lu's voice was heard in plaintive notes. +Bee returned to the room to find her little sister lying awake with +wide-open, frightened eyes. + +"Oh, Bee! don't do! and don't let she tome bat. She stares Lu!" + +"Shall Bee take Lu up and rock her to sleep?" + +"'Es." + +Bee gently lifted the little one and sat down in the rocking-chair and +began to rock slowly and sing softly. But presently she stopped and +whispered: + +"Baby!" + +"'Es, Bee." + +"Do you love cousin Claudia?" + +"'Es, but she wates me up and stares me; don't let she tome adain, Bee." + +"No, I will not; but poor Claudia is not happy; won't you ask the Lord +to bless poor Claudia? He hears little children like you!" + +"'Es; tell me what to say, Bee." And without another word the little one +slid down upon her knees and folded her hands, while Bee taught the +sinless child to pray for the sinful woman. + +And then she took the babe again upon her lap, and rocked slowly and +sung softly until she soothed her to sleep. + +Then Bee arose and rustled softly about the room, making her simple +toilet before going to the saloon to join the guests. + + + + +CHAPTER LXV. + +ISHMAEL'S WOE. + + And with another's crime, my birth + She taunted me as little worth, + Because, forsooth, I could not claim + The lawful heirship of my name; + Yet were a few short summers mine, + My name should more than ever shine, + With honors all my own! + + --_Byron_. + +Ishmael sat in the shadows of his room overwhelmed with shame and sorrow +and despair. He had heard every cruel word; they had entered his ears +and pierced his heart. And not only for himself he bowed his head and +sorrowed and despaired, but for her; for her, proud, selfish, sinful, +but loving, and oh, how fatally beloved! + +It was not only that he worshiped her with a blind idolatry, and knew +that she returned his passion with equal strength and fervor, and that +she would have waited for him long years, and married him at last but +for the cloud upon his birth. It was not this--not his own misery that +crushed him, nor even her present wretchedness that prostrated him--no! +but it was the awful, shapeless shadow of some infinite unutterable woe +is Claudia's future, and into which she was blindly rushing, that +overwhelmed him. Oh, to have saved her from this woe, he would gladly +have laid down his life! + +The door opened and Jim, his especial waiter, entered with two lighted +candles on a tray. He sat them on the table and was leaving the room, +when Ishmael recalled him. What I am about to relate is a trifle +perhaps, but it will serve to show the perfect beauty of that nature +which, in the midst of its own great sorrow, could think of the small +wants of another. + +"Jim, you asked me this morning to write a letter for you, to your +mother, I think." + +"Yes, Master Ishmael, I thank you, sir; whenever you is at leisure, sir, +with nothing to do; which I wouldn't presume to be in a hurry, sir, nor +likewise inconvenience you the least in the world." + +"It will not inconvenience me, Jim; it will give me pleasure, whenever +you can spare me half an hour," replied Ishmael, speaking with as much +courtesy to the poor dependent as he would have used in addressing his +wealthiest patron. + +"Well, Master Ishmael, which I ought to say Mr. Worth, and I beg your +pardon, sir, only it is the old love as makes me forget myself, and call +you what I used to in the old days, because Mr. Worth do seem to leave +me so far away--" + +"Call me what you please, Jim, we are old friends, and I love my old +friends better than any new distinctions that could come between us, but +which I will never allow to separate us. What were you about to say, +Jim?" + +"Well, Master Ishmael, and I thank you sincere, sir, for letting of me +call you so, I was going for to say, as I could be at your orders any +time, even now, if it would suit you, sir; because I have lighted up all +my rooms and set my table for dinner, which it is put back an hour +because of Master Walter, who is expected by the six o'clock train this +evening; and Sam is waiting in the hall, and I aint got anything very +partic'lar to do for the next hour or so." + +"Very well, Jim; sit down in that chair and tell me what you want me to +write," said Ishmael, seating himself before his desk and dipping his +pen in ink. + +Yes, it was a small matter in itself; but it was characteristic of the +man, thus to put aside his own poignant anguish to interest himself in +the welfare of the humblest creature who invoked his aid. + +"Now then, Jim." + +"Well, Master Ishmael," said the poor fellow. "You know what to say a +heap better'n I do. Write it beautiful, please." + +"Tell me what is in your heart, Jim, and then I will do the best I can," +said Ishmael, who possessed the rare gift of drawing out from others the +best that was in their thoughts. + +"Well, sir, I think a heap o' my ole mother, I does; 'membering how she +did foh me when I was a boy and wondering if anybody does for her now, +and if she is comfortable down there at Tanglewood. And I wants her to +know it; and not to be a-thinking as I forgets her." + +Ishmael wrote rapidly for a few moments and then looked up. + +"What else, Jim?" + +"Well, sir, tell her as I have saved a heap of money for her out'n the +presents the gemmen made me o' Christmas, and I'll bring it to her when +I come down--which the ole 'oman do love money, sir, better than she do +anything in this world, 'cept it is me and old marster and Miss Claudia. +And likewise what she wants me to bring her from town, and whether she +would like a red gownd or a yallow one." + +Ishmael set down this and looked up. + +"Well, Jim?" + +"Well, sir, tell her how she aint got no call to be anxious nor likewise +stressed in her mind, nor lay 'wake o' nights thinking 'bout me, fear I +should heave myself 'way, marrying of these yer trifling city gals as +don't know a spinning wheel from a harrow. And how I aint seen nobody +yet as I like better'n my ole mother and the young lady of color as she +knows 'bout and 'proves of; which, sir, it aint nobody else but your own +respected aunt, Miss Hannah's Miss Sally, as lives at Woodside." + +"I have put all that down, Jim." + +"Well, sir, and about the grand wedding as is to be to-morrow, sir; and +how the Bishop of Maryland is going to 'form the ceremony; and how the +happy pair be going to go on a grand tower, and then going to visit +Tanglewood afore they parts for the old country; and how she will see a +rale, livin' lord as she'll be 'stonished to see look so like any other +man; and last ways how Miss Claudia do talk about taking me and Miss +Sally along of her to foreign parts, because she prefers to be waited on +by colored ladies and gentlemen 'fore white ones; and likewise how I +would wish to go and see the world, only I won't go, nor likewise would +Miss Claudia wish to take me, if the ole 'oman wishes otherwise." + +Ishmael wrote and then looked up. Poor Jim, absorbed in his own affairs, +did not notice how pale the writer's face had grown, or suspect how +often during the last few minutes he had stabbed him to the heart. + +"Well, sir, that is about all I think, Master Ishmael. Only, please, +sir, put it all down in your beautiful language as makes the ladies cry +when you gets up and speaks afore the great judges theirselves." + +"I will do my best, Jim." + +"Thank you, sir. And please sign my name to it, not yourn--my +name--James Madison Monroe Mortimer." + +"Yes, Jim." + +"And please direct it to Mistress Catherine Maria Mortimer, most in +general called by friends, Aunt Katie, as is housekeeper at Tanglewood." + +Ishmael complied with his requests as far as discretion permitted. + +"And now, sir, please read it all out aloud to me, so I can hear how it +sound." + +Ishmael complied with this request also, and read the letter aloud, to +the immense delight of Jim, who earnestly expressed his approbation in +the emphatic words: + +"Now--that--is--beautiful! Thank y', sir! That is ekal to anything as +ever I heard out'n the pulpit--and sides which, sir, it is all true, +true as gospel, sir. It is just exactly what I thinks and how I feels +and what I wants to say, only I aint got the words. Won't mother be +proud o' that letter nyther? Why, laws, sir, the ole 'oman 'll get the +minister to read that letter. And then she'll make everybody as comes to +the house as can read, read it over and over again for the pride she +takes in it, till she'll fairly know it all by heart," etc., etc., etc. + +For Jim went on talking and smiling and covering the writer all over +with gratitude and affection, until he was interrupted by the stopping +of a carriage, the ringing of a door bell, and the sound of a sudden +arrival. + +"There's Master Walter Middleton now, as sure as the world! I must run! +Dinner'll be put on the table soon's ever he's changed his dress. I'm a +thousand times obleeged to you, sir. I am, indeed, everlasting obleeged! +I wish I could prove it some way. Mother'll be so pleased." And talking +all the way downstairs, Jim took himself and his delight away. + +Ishmael sighed, and arose to dress for dinner. His kindness had not +been without its reward. The little divertisement of Jim's letter had +done him good. Blessed little offices of loving-kindness--what +ministering angels are they to the donor as well as the receiver! With +some degree of self-possession Ishmael completed his toilet and turned +to leave the room, when the sound of someone rushing up the stairs like +a storm arrested his steps. + +Then a voice sounded outside: + +"Which is Ishmael's room? Bother! Oh, here it is!" and Bee's door was +opened. "No! calico! Ah! now I'm right." + +And the next instant Walter Middleton burst open the door and rushed in, +exclaiming joyfully, as he seized and shook the hands of his friend: + +"Ah, here you are, old fellow! God bless you! How glad I am to see you! +You are still the first love of my heart, Ishmael. Damon, your Pythias +has not even a sweetheart to dispute your empire over him. How are you? +I have heard of your success. Wasn't is glorious! You're a splendid +fellow, Ishmael, and I'm proud of you. You may have Bee, if you want +her. I always thought there was a bashful kindness between you two. And +there isn't a reason in the world why you shouldn't have her. And so her +Royal Highness, the Princess Claudia, has caught a Lord, has she? Well, +you know she always said she would, and she has kept her word. But, I +say, how are you? How do you wear your honors? How do the toga and the +bays become you? Turn around and let us have a look at you." And so the +affectionate fellow rattled on, shaking both Ishmael's hands every other +second, until he had talked himself fairly out of breath. + +"And how are you, dear Walter? But I need not ask; you look so well and +happy," said Ishmael, as soon as he could get in a word. + +"Me? Oh, I'm well enough. Nought's never in danger. I've just graduated, +you know; with the highest honors, they say. My thesis won the great +prize; that was because you were not in the same class, you know. I have +my diploma in my pocket; I'm an M.D.; I can write myself doctor, and +poison people, without danger of being tried for murder! isn't that a +privilege? Now let my enemies take care of themselves! Why don't you +congratulate me, you--" + +"I do, with all my heart and soul, Walter!" + +"That's right! only I had to drag it from you. Well, so I'm to be 'best +man' to this noble bridegroom. Too much honor. I am not prepared for it. +One cannot get ready for graduating and marrying at the same time. I +don't think I have got a thing fit to wear. I wrote to Bee to buy me +some fine shirts, and some studs, and gloves, and handkerchiefs, and +hair oil, and things proper for the occasion. I wonder if she did?" + +"I don't know. I know that she has been overwhelmed with care for the +last month, too much care for a girl, so it is just possible that she +has had no opportunity. Indeed, she has a great deal to think of and to +do." + +"Oh, it won't hurt her; especially if it consists of preparations for +the wedding." + +A bell rang. + +"There now, Ishmael, there is that diabolical dinner-bell! You may look, +but it is true: a dinner-bell that peals out at seven o'clock in the +evening is a diabolical dinner-bell. At college we dine at twelve +meridian, sharp, and sup at six. It is dreadful to sit at table a whole +hour, and be bored by seeing other people eat, and pretending to eat +yourself, when you are not hungry. Well, there's no help for it. Come +down and be bored, Ishmael." + +They went down into the drawing room, where quite a large circle of near +family connections were assembled. + +Walter Middleton was presented to the Viscount Vincent, who was the only +stranger, to him, present. + +Claudia was there, looking as calm, as self-possessed and queenly, as if +she had not passed through a storm of passion two hours before. + +Ishmael glanced at her and saw the change with amazement, but he dared +not trust himself to look again. + +The dinner party, with all this trouble under the surface, passed off in +superficial gayety. The guests separated early, because the following +morning would usher in the wedding day. + + + + +CHAPTER LXVI. + +THE MARRIAGE MORNING. + + I trust that never more in this world's shade + Thine eyes will be upon me: never more + Thy face come back to me. For thou hast made + My whole life sore. + Fare hence, and be forgotten.... Sing thy song, + And braid thy brow, + And be beloved and beautiful--and be + In beauty baleful still ... a Serpent Queen + To others not yet curst in loving thee + As I have been! + + --_Meredith_. + +Ishmael awoke. After a restless night, followed by an hour't complete +forgetfulness, that more nearly resembled the swoon of exhaustion than +the sleep of health, Ishmael awoke to a new sense of wretchedness. + +You who have suffered know what such awakenings are. You have seen +someone dearer than life die; but hours, days, or weeks of expectation +have gradually prepared you for the last scene; and though you have seen +the dear one die, and though you have wept yourself half blind and half +dead, you have slept the sleep of utter oblivion, which is like death; +but you have at last awakened and returned to consciousness to meet the +shock of memory and the sense of sorrow a thousand times more +overwhelming than the first blow of bereavement had been. + +Or you have been for weeks looking forward to the parting of one whose +presence is the very light of your days. And in making preparations for +that event the thought of coming separation has been somewhat dulled; +but at last all is ready; the last night has come; you all separate and +go to bed, with the mutual injunction to be up early in the morning for +the sake of seeing "him"--it may be some brave volunteer going to +war--off; after laying awake nearly all night you suddenly drop into +utter forgetfulness of impending grief, and into some sweet dream of +pleasantness and peace. You awake with a start; the hour has come; the +hour of parting; the hour of doom. + +Yes, whatever the grief may be, it is in the hour of such awakenings we +feel it most poignantly. + +Thus it was with Ishmael. The instant he awoke the spear of memory +transfixed his soul. He could have cried out in his agony. It took all +his manhood to control his pain. He arose and dressed himself and +offered up his morning worship and went to the breakfast room, resolved +to pass through the day's fiery ordeal, cost what it might. + +Claudia was not at breakfast. In fact, she seldom or never appeared at +the breakfast table; and this morning of all mornings it was quite +natural she should be absent. But Mrs. Middleton and Bee, Judge Merlin, +Mr. Middleton, Mr. Brudenell, Walter, and Ishmael were present. It was +in order that people should be merry on a marriage morning; but somehow +or other that order was not followed. Judge Merlin, Mrs. Middleton, and +Bee were unusually grave and silent; Mr. Brudenell was always sad; +Ishmael was no conventional talker, and therefore could not seem other +than he was--very serious. It was quite in vain that Mr. Middleton and +Walter tried to get up a little jesting and badinage. And when the +constraint of the breakfast table was over everyone felt relieved. + +"Remember," said Mrs. Middleton, with her hand upon the back of her +chair, "that the carriages will be at the door at half-past ten; it is +now half-past nine." + +"And that means that we have but an hour to get on our wedding +garments," said Walter. "Bee, have you got my finery ready?" + +"You will find everything you require laid out on your bed, Walter." + +"You are the best little sister that ever was born. I doubt whether I +shall let Ishmael, or anyone else, hate you until I get a wife of my +own; and even then I don't know but what I shall want you home to look +after her and the children!" rattled Walter, careless or unobservant of +the deep blush that mantled the maiden's face. + +"Ishmael," said the judge, "I wish you to take the fourth seat in the +carriage with myself and daughter and Beatrice. Will you do so?" + +Ishmael's emotions nearly choked him, but he answered: + +"Certainly, if you wish." + +"The four bridesmaids will fill the second carriage, and Mr. and Mrs. +Middleton, Mr. Brudenell and Walter the third, I do not know the +arrangements made for our other friends; but I dare say it is all right. +Oh, Ishmael, I feel as though we were arranging a procession to the +grave instead of the altar," he added, with a heavy sigh. Then +correcting himself, he said: "But this is all very morbid. So no more of +it." + +And the judge wrung Ishmael's hand; and each went his separate way to +dress for the wedding. + +Meanwhile the bride-elect sat alone in her luxurious dressing room. + +Around her, scattered over tables, chairs, and stands, lay the splendid +paraphernalia of her bridal array--rich dresses, mantles, bonnets, +veils, magnificent shawls, sparkling jewels, blooming flowers, +intoxicating perfumes. + +On the superb malachite stand beside her stood a silver tray, on which +was arranged an elegant breakfast service of Bohemian china. But the +breakfast was untasted and forgotten. + +There was no one to watch her; she had sent her maid away with orders +not to return until summoned by her bell. + +And now, while her coffee unheeded grew cold, she sat, leaning forward +in her easy-chair, with her hands tightly clasped together over her +knees, her tumbled black ringlets fallen down upon her dressing gown, +and her eyes flared open and fixed in a dreadful stare upon the far +distance as if spellbound by some horror there. + +To have seen her thus, knowing that she was a bride-elect, you might +have judged that she was about to be forced into some loathed marriage, +from which her whole tortured nature revolted. + +And you would have judged truly. She was being thus forced into such a +marriage, not by any tyrannical parent or guardian, for flesh and blood +could not have forced Claudia Merlin into any measure she had set her +will against. She was forced by the demon Pride, who had taken +possession of her soul. + +And now she sat alone with her sin, dispossessed of all her better self, +face to face with her lost soul. + +She was aroused by the entrance of Mrs. Middleton--Mrs. Middleton in +full carriage-dress--robe and mantle of mauve-colored moire-antique, a +white lace bonnet with mauve-colored flowers, and white kid gloves +finished at the wrists with mauve ribbon quillings. + +"Why, Claudia, is it possible? Not commenced dressing yet, and everybody +else ready, and the clock on the stroke of ten! What have you been +thinking of, child?" + +Claudia started like one suddenly aroused from sleep, threw her hands +to her face as if to clear away a mist, and looked around. + +But Mrs. Middleton had hurried to the door and was calling: + +"Here, Alice! Laura! 'Gena! Lotty! Where are you?" + +Receiving no answer, she flew to the bell and rang it and brought +Claudia's maid to the room. + +"Ruth, hurry to the young ladies' room and give my compliments, and ask +them to come here as soon as possible! Miss Merlin is not yet dressed." + +The girl went on her errand and Mrs. Middleton turned again to Claudia: + +"Not even eaten your breakfast yet. Oh, Claudia!" and she poured out a +cup of coffee and handed it to her niece. + +And Claudia drank it, because it was easier to do so than to +expostulate. + +At the moment that Claudia returned the cup the door opened and the four +bridesmaids entered--all dressed in floating, cloud-like, misty white +tulle, and crowned with wreaths of white roses and holding bouquets of +the same. + +They laid down their bouquets, drew on their white gloves and fluttered +around the bride and with their busy fingers quickly dressed her +luxuriant black hair, and arrayed her stately form in her superb bridal +dress. + +This dress was composed of an under-skirt of the richest white satin and +an upper robe of the finest Valenciennes lace looped up with bunches of +orange flowers. A bertha of lace fell over the satin bodice. And a long +veil of lace flowed from the queenly head down to the tiny foot. A +wreath of orange flowers, sprinkled over with the icy dew of small +diamonds, crowned her black ringlets. And diamonds adorned her neck, +bosom, arms, and stomacher. Her bouquet holder was studded with +diamonds, and her initials on the white velvet cover of her prayer-book +were formed of tiny seed-like diamonds. + +No sovereign queen on her bridal morn was ever more richly arrayed. But, +oh, how deadly pale and cold she was! + +"There!" they said triumphantly, when they had finished dressing her, +even to the arranging of the bouquet of orange flowers in its costly +holder and putting it in her hand. "There!" And they wheeled the tall +Psyche mirror up before her, that she might view and admire herself. + +She looked thoughtfully at the image reflected there. She looked so long +that Mrs. Middleton, growing impatient, said: + +"My love, it is time to go." + +"Leave me alone for a few minutes, all of you! I will not keep you +waiting long," said Claudia. + +"She wishes to be alone to offer up a short prayer before going to be +married," was the thought in the heart of each one of the party, as they +filed out of the room. + +Did Claudia wish to pray? Did she intend to ask God's protection against +evil? Did she dare to ask his blessing on the act she contemplated? + +We shall see. + +She went after the last retreating figure and closed and bolted the +door. Then she returned to her dressing bureau, opened a little secret +drawer and took from it a tiny jar of rouge, and with a piece of +cotton-wool applied it to her deathly-white cheeks until she had +produced there an artificial bloom, more brilliant than that of her +happiest days, only because it was more brilliant than that of nature. +Then to soften its fire she powdered her face with pearl white, and +finally with a fine handkerchief carefully dusted off the superfluous +particles. + +Having done this, she put away her cosmetics and took from the same +receptacle a vial of the spirits of lavender and mixed a spoonful of it +with water and drank it off. + +Then she returned the vial to its place and locked up the secret drawer +where she kept her deceptions. + +She gave one last look at the mirror, saw that between the artificial +bloom and the artificial stimulant her face presented a passable +counterfeit of its long-lost radiance; she drew her bridal veil around +so as to shade it a little, lowered her head and raised her bouquet, +that her friends might not see the suspicious suddenness of the +transformation from deadly pallor to living bloom--for though Claudia, +in an hour of hysterical passion, had discovered this secret of her +toilet to Beatrice, yet she was really ashamed of it, and wished to +conceal it from all others. + +She opened the door, went out, and joined her friends in the hall, +saying with a cheerfulness that she had found in the lavender vial: + +"I am quite ready for the show now!" + +But she kept her head lowered and averted, for a little while, though in +fact her party were too much excited to scrutinize her appearance, +especially as they had had a good view of her while making her toilet. + +They went down into the drawing room, where the family and their nearest +relations were assembled and waiting for them. + +Bee was there, looking lovely as usual. Bee, who almost always wore +white when in full dress, now varied from her custom by wearing a glace +silk of delicate pale blue, with a white lace mantle and a white lace +bonnet and veil. Bee did this because she did not mean to be mustered +into the bride's service, or even mistaken by any person for one of the +bridesmaids. Beyond her obligatory presence in the church as one of the +bride's family, Bee was resolved to have nothing to do with the +sacrilegious marriage. + +"Come, my dear! Are you ready? How beautiful you are, my Claudia! I +never paid you a compliment before, my child; but surely I may be +excused for doing so now that you are about to leave me! 'How blessings +brighten as they take their flight,'" whispered the judge, as he met and +kissed his daughter. + +And certainly Claudia's beauty seemed perfectly dazzling this morning. +She smiled a greeting to all her friends assembled there, and then gave +her hand to her father, who drew it within his arm and led her to the +carriage. + +Ishmael, like one in a splendid, terrible dream, from which he could not +wake, in which he was obliged to act, went up to Bee and drew her little +white-gloved hand under his arm, and led her after the father and +daughter. + +The other members of the marriage party followed in order. + +Besides Judge Merlin's brougham and Mr. Middleton's barouche, there were +several other carriages drawn up before the house. + +Bee surveyed this retinue and murmured: + +"Indeed, except that we all wear light colors instead of black, and the +coachmen have no hat-scarfs, this looks quite as much like a funeral as +a wedding." + +Ishmael did not reply; he could not wake from the dazzling, horrible +dream. + +When they were seated in the carriage, Claudia and Beatrice occupied the +back seat; the judge and Ishmael the front one; the judge sat opposite +Bee, and Ishmael opposite Claudia. + +The rich drifts of shining white satin and misty white lace that formed +her bridal dress floated around him; her foot inadvertently touched his, +and her warm, balmy breath passed him. Never had he been so close to +Claudia before; that carriage was so confined and crowded--dread +proximity! The dream deepened; it became a trance--that strange trance +that sometimes falls upon the victim in the midst of his sufferings held +Ishmael's faculties in abeyance and deadened his sense of pain. + +And indeed the same spell, though with less force, acted upon all the +party in that carriage. Its mood was expectant, excited, yet dream-like. +There was scarcely any conversation. There seldom is under such +circumstances. Once the judge inquired: + +"Bee, my dear, how is it that you are not one of Claudia's bridesmaids?" + +"I did not wish to be, and Claudia was so kind as to excuse me," +Beatrice replied. + +"But why not, my love? I thought young ladies always liked to fill such +positions." + +Bee blushed and lowered her head, but did not reply. + +Claudia answered for her: + +"Beatrice does not like Lord Vincent; and does not approve of the +marriage," she said defiantly. + +"Humph!" exclaimed the judge, and not another word was spoken during the +drive. + +It was a rather long one. The church selected for the performance of the +marriage rites being St. John's, at the west end of the town, where the +bridegroom and his friends were to meet the bride and her attendants. + +They reached the church at last; the other carriages arrived a few +seconds after them, and the whole party alighted and went in. + +The bridegroom and his friends were already there. And the bridal +procession formed and went up the middle aisle to the altar, where the +bishop in his sacerdotal robes stood ready to perform the ceremony. + +The bridal party formed before the altar, the bishop opened the book, +and the ceremony commenced. It proceeded according to the ritual, and +without the slightest deviation from commonplace routine. + +When the bishop came to that part of the rites in which he utters the +awful adjuration--"I require and charge you both, as ye shall answer at +the dreadful day of judgment, when the secrets of all hearts shall be +disclosed, that if either of you know any impediment why ye may not be +lawfully joined together in matrimony, ye do now confess it. For be ye +well assured, that if any persons are joined together, otherwise than +God's word doth allow, their marriage is not lawful,"--Bee, who was +standing with her mother and father near the bridal circle, looked up at +the bride. + +Oh, could Claudia, loving another, loathing the bridegroom, kneel in +that sacred church, before that holy altar, in the presence of God's +minister, in the presence of God himself, hear that solemn adjuration, +and persevere in her awful sin? + +Yes, Claudia could! as tens of thousands, from ignorance, from +insensibility, or from recklessness, have done before her; and as tens +of thousands more, from the same causes, will do after her. + +The ceremony proceeded until it reached the part where the ring is +placed upon the bride's finger, and all went well enough until, as they +were rising from the prayer of "Our Father," the bride happened to lower +her hand, and the ring, which was too large for her finger, dropped off, +and rolled away and passed out of sight. + +The ceremony ended, and the ring was sought for; but could not be found +then: and, I may as well tell you now, it has not been found yet. + +Seeing at length that their search was quite fruitless, the gentlemen of +the bridal train reluctantly gave up the ring for lost, and the whole +party filed into the chancel to enter their names in the register, that +lay for this purpose on the communion table. + +The bridegroom first approached and wrote his. It was a prolonged and +sonorous roll of names, such as frequently compose the tail of a +nobleman's title: + +Malcolm--Victor--Stuart--Douglass--Gordon--Dugald, Viscount Vincent. + +Then the bride signed hers, and the witnesses theirs. + +When Mr. Brudenell came to sign his own name as one of the witnesses, he +happened to glance at the bridegroom's long train of names. He read them +over with a smile at their length, but his eye fastened upon the last +one--"Dugald," "Dugald"? Herman Brudenell, like the immortal Burton, +thought he had "heard that name before," in fact, was sure he had "heard +that name before!" Yes, verily; he had heard it in connection with his +sister's fatal flight, in which a certain Captain Dugald had been her +companion! And he resolved to make cautious inquiries of the viscount. +He had known Lord Vincent on the Continent, but he had either never +happened to hear what his family name was, or if he had chanced to do +so, he had forgotten the circumstances. At all events, it was not until +the instant in which he read the viscount's signature in the register +that he discovered the family name of Lord Vincent and the disreputable +name of Eleanor Brudenell's unprincipled lover to be the same. + +But this was no time for brooding over the subject. He affixed his own +signature, which was the last one on the list, and then joined the +bridal party, who were now leaving the church. + +At the door a signal change took place in the order of the procession. + +Lord Vincent, with a courtesy as earnest and a smile as beaming as +gallantry and the occasion required, handed his bride into his own +carriage. + +Judge Merlin, Ishmael, and Beatrice rode together. + +And others returned in the order in which they had come. + +Ishmael was coming out of that strange, benumbed state that had deadened +for a while all his sense of suffering--coming back to a consciousness +of utter bereavement and insupportable anguish--anguish written in such +awful characters upon his pallid and writhen brow that Beatrice and her +uncle exchanged glances of wonder and alarm. + +But Ishmael, in his fixed agony, did not perceive the looks of anxiety +they turned towards him--did not even perceive the passage of time or +space, until they arrived at home again, and the wedding guests once +more began to alight from the carriages. + +The party temporarily separated in the hall, the ladies dispersing each +to her own chamber to make some trifling change in her toilet before +appearing in the drawing room. + +"Ishmael, come here, my lad," said the judge, as soon as they were left +alone. + +Ishmael mechanically followed him to the little breakfast parlor of the +family, where on the sideboard sat decanters of brandy and wine, and +pitchers of water, and glasses of all shapes and sizes. + +He poured out two glasses of brandy--one for himself and one for +Ishmael. + +"Let us drink the health of the newly-married couple," he said, pushing +one glass towards Ishmael, and raising the other to his own lips. + +But Ishmael hesitated, and poured out a tumbler of pure water, saying, +in a faint voice: + +"I will drink her health in this." + +"Nonsense! put it down. You are chilled enough without drinking that to +throw you into an ague. Drink something, warm and strong, boy! drink +something warm and strong. I tell you, I, for one, cannot get through +this day without some such support as this," said the judge +authoritatively, as he took from the young man's nerveless hand the +harmless glass of water, and put into it the perilous glass of brandy. + +For ah! good men do wicked things sometimes, and wise men foolish ones. + +Still Ishmael hesitated; for even in the midst of his great trouble he +heard the "still, small voice" of some good angel--it might have been +his mother's spirit--whispering him to dash from his lips the Circean +draught, that would indeed allay his sense of suffering for a few +minutes, but might endanger his character through all his life and his +soul through all eternity. The voice that whispered this, as I said, was +a "still, small voice" speaking softly within him. But the voice of the +judge was bluff and hearty, and he stood there, a visible presence, +enforcing his advice with strength of action. + +And Ishmael, scarcely well assured of what he did, put the glass to his +lips and quaffed the contents, and felt at once falsely exhilarated. + +"Come, now, we will go into the drawing room. I dare say they are all +down by this time," said the judge. And in they went. + +He was right in his conjecture; the wedding guests were all assembled +there. + +And soon after his entrance the sliding doors between the drawing room +and the dining room were pushed back, and Devizac, who was the presiding +genius of the wedding feast, appeared and announced that breakfast was +served. + +The company filed in--the bride and bridegroom walking together, and +followed by the bridesmaids and the gentlemen of the party. + +Ishmael gave his arm to Beatrice. Mr. Brudenell conducted Mrs. +Middleton, and the judge led one of the lady guests. + +The scene they entered upon was one of splendor, beauty, and luxury, +never surpassed even by the great Vourienne and Devizac themselves! +Painting, gilding, and flowers had not been spared. The walls were +covered with frescoes of Venus, Psyche, Cupid, the Graces, and the +Muses, seen among the rosy bowers and shady groves of Arcadia. The +ceiling was covered with celestial scenery, in the midst of which was +seen the cloudy court of Jupiter and Juno and their attendant gods and +goddesses; the pillars were covered with gilding and twined with +flowers, and long wreaths of flowers connected one pillar with another +and festooned the doorways and windows and the corners of the room. + +The breakfast table was a marvel of art--blazing with gold plate, +blooming with beautiful and fragrant exotics, and intoxicating with the +aroma of the richest and rarest viands. + +At the upper end of the room a temporary raised and gilded balcony +wreathed with roses was occupied by Dureezie's celebrated band, who, as +the company came in, struck up an inspiring bridal march composed +expressly for this occasion. + +The wedding party took their seats at the table and the feasting began. +The viands were carved and served and praised. The bride's cake was cut +and the slices distributed. The ring fell to one of the bridesmaids and +provoked the usual badinage. The wine circulated freely. + +Mr. Middleton arose and in a neat little speech proposed the fair +bride's health, which proposal was hailed with enthusiasm. + +Judge Merlin, in another little speech, returned thanks to the company, +and begged leave to propose the bridegroom's health, which was duly +honored. + +Then it was Lord Vincent's turn to rise and express his gratitude and +propose Judge Merlin's health. + +This necessitated a second rising of the judge, who after making due +acknowledgments of the compliments paid him, proposed--the fair +bridesmaids. + +And so the breakfast proceeded. + +They sat at table an hour, and then, at a signal from Mrs. Middleton, +all arose. + +The gentlemen adjourned to the little breakfast parlor to drink a +parting glass with their host in something stronger than the light +French breakfast wines they had been quaffing so freely. + +And the bride, followed by all her attendants, went up to her room to +change her bridal robe and veil for her traveling dress and bonnet; as +the pair were to take the one o'clock train to Baltimore en route for +New York, Niagara, and the Lakes. + +She found her dressing room all restored to the dreary good order that +spoke of abandonment. Her rich dresses and jewels and bridal presents +were all packed up. And every trunk was locked and corded and ready for +transportation to the railway station, except one large trunk that stood +open, with its upper tray waiting for the bridal dress she was about to +put off. + +Ruth, who had been very busy with all this packing, while the wedding +party were at church and at breakfast, now stood with the brown silk +dress and mantle that was to be Claudia's traveling costume, laid over +her arm. + +Claudia, assisted by Mrs. Middleton, changed her dress with the feverish +haste of one who longed to get a painful ordeal over; and while Ruth +hastily packed away the wedding finery and closed the last trunk, +Claudia tied on her brown silk bonnet and drew on her gloves and +expressed herself ready to depart. + +They went downstairs to the drawing room, where all the wedding guests +were once more gathered to see the young pair off. + +There was no time to lose, and so all her friends gathered around the +bride to receive her adieus and to express their good wishes. + +One by one she bade them farewell. + +When she came to her cousin, Bee burst into tears and whispered: + +"God forgive you, poor Claudia! God avert from you all evil consequences +of your own act!" + +She caught her breath, wrung Bee's hand and turned away, and looked +around. She had taken leave of all except her father and Ishmael. + +Her father she knew would accompany her as far as the railway station, +for he had said as much. + +But there was Ishmael. + +As she went up to him slowly and fearfully, every vein and artery in her +body seemed to throb with the agony of her heart. She tried to speak; +but could utter no articulate sound. She held out her hand; but he did +not take it; then she lifted her beautiful eyes to his, with a glance so +helpless, so anguished, so imploring, as if silently praying from him +some kind word before she should go, that Ishmael's generous heart was +melted and he took her hand and pressing it while he spoke, said in low +and fervent tones: + +"God bless you, Lady Vincent. God shield you from all evil. God save you +in every crisis of your life." + +And she bowed her head, lowly and humbly, to receive this benediction as +though it had been uttered by an authorized minister of God. + + + + +CHAPTER LXVII. + +BEE'S HANDKERCHIEF. + + "I would bend my spirit o'er yon." + "I am humbled, who was humble! + Friend! I bow my head before you!" + + --_E.B. Browning_. + +But a mist fell before Ishmael's eyes, and when it cleared away Claudia +was gone. + +The young bridesmaids were chattering gayly in a low, melodious tone +with each other, and with the gentlemen of the party filling the room +with a musical hum of many happy voices. + +But all this seemed unreal and dreadful, like the illusions of troubled +sleep. And so Ishmael left the drawing room and went up to the office, +to see if perhaps he could find real life there. + +There lay the parcels of papers tied up with red tape, the open books +that he had consulted the day before, and the letters that had come by +the morning's mail. + +He sat down wearily to the table and began to open his letters. One by +one he read and laid them aside. One important letter, bearing upon a +case he had on hand, he laid by itself. + +Then rising, he gathered up his documents, put them into his pocket, +took his hat and gloves and went to the City Hall. + +This day of suffering, like all other days, was a day of duties also. + +It was now one o'clock, the hour at which the train started which +carried Claudia away. + +It was also the hour at which a case was appointed to be heard before +the Judge of the Orphan's Court--a case in which the guardianship of +certain fatherless and motherless children was disputed between a +grandmother and an uncle, and in which Ishmael was counsel for the +plaintiff. He appeared in court, punctually to the minute, found his +client waiting for him there, and as soon as the judge had taken his +seat the young counsel opened the case. By a strong effort of will he +wrested his thoughts from his own great sorrow, and engaged them in the +interests of the anxious old lady, who was striving for the possession +of her grandchildren only from the love she bore them and their mother, +her own dead daughter; while her opponent wished only to have the +management of their large fortune. + +It was nature that pleaded through the lips of the eloquent young +counsel, and he gained this case also. + +But he was ill in mind and body. He could scarcely bear the thanks and +congratulations of his client and her friends. + +The old lady had retained him by one large fee, and now she placed +another and a larger one in his hands; but he could not have told +whether the single banknote was for five dollars or five hundred, as he +mechanically received it and placed it in his pocketbook. + +And then, with the courteous bow and smile, never omitted, because they +were natural and habitual, he turned and left the courtroom. + +"What is the matter with Worth?" inquired one lawyer. + +"Can't imagine; he looks very ill; shouldn't wonder if he was going to +have a congestion of the brain. It looks like it. He works too hard," +replied another. + +Old Wiseman, the law-thunderer, who had been the counsel opposed to +Ishmael in this last case, and who, in fact, was always professionally +opposed to him, but, nevertheless, personally friendly towards him, had +also noticed his pale, haggard, and distracted looks, and now hurried +after him in the fear that he should fall before reaching home. + +He overtook Ishmael in the lobby. The young man was standing leaning on +the balustrade at the head of the stairs, as if unable to take another +step. + +Wiseman bent over him. + +"Worth, my dear fellow, what is the matter with you? Does it half kill +you to overthrow me at law?" + +"I--fear that I am not well," replied Ishmael, in a hollow voice, and +with a haggard smile. + +"What is it? Only exhaustion, I hope? You have been working too hard, +and you never even left the courtroom to take any refreshments to-day. +You are too much in earnest, my young friend. You take too much pains. +You apply yourself too closely. Why, bless my life, you could floor us +all any day with half the trouble! But you must always use a +trip-hammer to drive tin tacks. Take my arm, and let us go and get +something." + +And the stout lawyer drew the young man's arm within his own and led him +to a restaurant that was kept on the same floor for the convenience of +the courts and their officers and other habitues of the City Hall. + +Wiseman called for the best old Otard brandy, and poured out half a +tumblerful, and offered it to Ishmael. It was a dose that might have +been swallowed with impunity by a seasoned old toper like Wiseman; but +certainly not by an abstinent young man like Ishmael, who, yielding to +the fatal impulse to get rid of present suffering by any means, at any +cost, or any risk, took the tumbler and swallowed the brandy. + +Ah, Heaven have mercy on the sorely-tried and tempted! + +This was only the third glass of alcoholic stimulants that Ishmael had +ever taken in the whole course of his life. + +On the first occasion, the day of Claudia's betrothal, the glass had +been placed in his hand and urged upon his acceptance by his honored old +friend, Judge Merlin. + +On the second occasion, the morning of this day, of Claudia's marriage, +the glass had also been offered him by Judge Merlin. + +And on the third occasion, this afternoon of the terrible day of trial +and suffering, it was placed to his lips by the respectable old lawyer, +Wiseman. + +Alas! alas! + +On the first occasion Ishmael had protested long before he yielded; on +the second he had hesitated a little while; but on the third he took the +offered glass and drank the brandy without an instant's doubt or pause. + +Lord, be pitiful! + +And oh, Nora, fly down from heaven on wings of love and watch over your +son and save him--from his friends!--lest he fall into deeper depths +than any from which he has so nobly struggled forth. For he is +suffering, tempted, and human! And there never lived but one perfect +man, and he was the Son of God. + +"Well?" said old Wiseman as he received the glass from Ishmael's hand +and sat it down. + +"I thank you; it has done me good; I feel much better; you are very +kind," said Ishmael. + +"I wish you would really think so, and go into partnership with me. My +business is very heavy--much more than I can manage alone, now that I am +growing old and stout; and I must have somebody, and I would rather have +you than anyone else. You would succeed to the whole business after my +death, you know." + +"Thank you; your offer is very flattering. I will think it over, and +talk with you on some future occasion. Now I feel that I must return +home, while I have strength to do so," replied Ishmael. + +"Very well, then, my dear fellow, I will let you off." + +And they shook hands and parted. + +Ishmael, feeling soothed, strengthened, and exhilarated, set off to walk +home. But this feeling gradually passed off, giving place to a weakness, +heaviness, and feverishness, that warned him he was in no state to +appear at judge Merlin's dinner table. + +So when he approached the house he opened a little side gate leading +into the back grounds, and strayed into the shrubbery, feeling every +minute more feverish, heavy, and drowsy. + +At last he strayed into an arbor, quite at the bottom of the +shrubberies, where he sank down upon the circular bench and fell into a +deep sleep. + +Meanwhile up at the house changes had taken place. The wedding guests +had all departed. The festive garments had had been laid away. The +decorated dining room had been shut up. The household had returned to +its usual sober aspect, and the plain family dinner was laid in the +little breakfast parlor. But the house was very sad and silent and +lonely because its queen was gone. At the usual dinner-hour, six +o'clock, the family assembled at the table. + +"Where is Ishmael, uncle?" inquired Beatrice. + +"I do not know, my dear," replied the judge, whose heart was sore with +the wrench that had torn his daughter from him. + +"Do you, papa?" + +"No, dear." + +"Mamma, have you seen Ishmael since the morning?" + +"No, child." + +"Nor you, Walter?" + +"Nor I, Bee." + +Mr. Brudenell looked up at the fair young creature, who took such +thought of his absent son, and volunteered to say: + +"He had a case before the Orphans' Court to-day, I believe. But the +court is adjourned, I know, because I met the judge an hour ago at the +Capitol; so I suppose he will be here soon." + +Bee bowed in acknowledgment of this information, but she did not feel at +all reassured. She had noticed Ishmael's dreadful pallor that morning; +she felt how much he suffered, and she feared some evil consequences; +though her worst suspicions never touched the truth. + +"Uncle," she said, blushing deeply to be obliged still to betray her +interest in one whom she was forced to remember, because everyone else +forgot him, "uncle, had we not better send Powers up to Ishmael's room +to see if he has come in, and let him know that dinner is on the table?" + +"Certainly, my dear; go, Powers, and if Mr. Worth is in his room, let +him know that dinner is ready." + +Powers went, but soon returned with the information that Mr. Worth was +neither in his room nor in the office, nor anywhere else in the house. + +"Some professional business has detained him; he will be home after a +while," said the judge. + +But Bee was anxious, and when dinner was over she went upstairs to a +window that overlooked the Avenue, and watched; but, of course, in vain. +Then with the restlessness common to intense anxiety she came down and +went into the shrubbery to walk. She paced about very uneasily until she +had tired herself, and then turned towards a secluded arbor at the +bottom of the grounds to rest herself. She put aside the vines that +overhung the doorway and entered. + +What did she see? + +Ishmael extended upon the bench, with the late afternoon sun streaming +through a crevice in the arbor, shining full upon his face, which was +also plagued with flies! + +She had found him then, but how? + +At first she thought he was only sleeping; and she was about to withdraw +from the arbor when the sound of his breathing caught her ear and +alarmed her, and she crept back and cautiously approached and looked +over him. + +His face was deeply flushed; the veins of his temples were swollen; and +his breathing was heavy and labored. In her fright Bee caught up his +hand and felt his pulse. It was full, hard, and slowly throbbing. She +thought that he was very ill--dangerously ill, and she was about to +spring up and rush to the house for help, when, in raising her head, +she happened to catch his breath. + +And all the dreadful truth burst upon Bee's mind, and overwhelmed her +with mortification and despair! + +With a sudden gasp and a low wail she sank on her knees at his side and +dropped her head in her open hands and sobbed aloud. + +"Oh, Ishmael, Ishmael, is it so? Have I lived to see you thus? Can a +woman reduce a man to this? A proud and selfish woman have such power so +to mar God's noblest work? Oh, Ishmael, my love, my love! I love you +better than I love all the world besides! And I love you better than +anyone else ever did or ever can; yet, yet, I would rather see you stark +dead before me than to see you thus! Oh, Heaven! Oh, Saviour! Oh, Father +of Mercies, have pity on him and save him!" she cried. + +And she wrung her hands and bent her head to look at him more closely, +and her large tears dropped upon his face. + +He stirred, opened his eyes, rolled them heavily, became half conscious +of someone weeping over him, turned clumsily and relapsed into +insensibility. + +At his first motion Bee had sprung up and fled from the arbor, at the +door of which she stood, with throbbing heart, watching him, through the +vines. She saw that he had again fallen into that deep and comatose +sleep. And she saw that his flushed and fevered face was more than ever +exposed to the rays of the sun and the plague of the flies. And she +crept cautiously back again, and drew her handkerchief from her pocket +and laid it over his face, and turned and hurried, broken-spirited from +the spot. + +She gained her own room and threw herself into her chair in a passion of +tears and sobs. + +Nothing that had ever happened in all her young life had ever grieved +her anything like this. She had loved Ishmael with all her heart, and +she knew that Ishmael loved Claudia with all of his; but the knowledge +of this fact had never brought to her the bitter sorrow that the sight +of Ishmael's condition had smitten her with this afternoon. For there +was scarcely purer love among the angels in heaven than was that of +Beatrice for Ishmael. First of all she desired his good; next his +affection; next his presence; but there was scarcely selfishness enough +in Bee's nature to wish to possess him all for her own. + +First his good! And here, weeping, sobbing, and praying by turns, she +resolved to devote herself to that object; to do all that she possibly +could to shield him from the suspicion of this night's event; and to +save him from falling into a similar misfortune. + +She remained in her own room until tea-time, and then bathed her eyes, +and smoothed her hair, and went down to join the family at the table. + +"Well, Bee," said the judge, "have you found Ishmael yet?" + +Bee hesitated, blushed, reflected a moment, and then answered: + +"Yes, uncle; he is sleeping; he is not well; and I would not have him +disturbed if I were you; for sleep will do him more good than anything +else." + +"Certainly. Why, Bee, did you ever know me to have anybody waked up in +the whole course of my life? Powers, and the rest of you, hark ye: Let +no one call Mr. Worth. Let him sleep until the last trump sounds, or +until he wakes up of his own accord!" + +Powers bowed, and said he would see the order observed. + +Soon after tea was over, the family, fatigued with the day's excitement, +retired to bed. + +Bee went up to her room in the back attic; but she did not go to bed, or +even undress, for she knew that Ishmael was locked out; and so she threw +a light shawl around her, and seated herself at the open back window, +which from its high point of view commanded every nook and cranny of the +back grounds, to watch until Ishmael should wake up and approach the +house, so that she might go down and admit him quietly, without +disturbing the servants and exciting their curiosity and conjectures. No +one should know of Ishmael's misfortune, for she would not call it +fault, if any vigilance of hers could shield him. All through the still +evening, all through the deep midnight, Bee sat and watched. + +When Ishmael had fallen asleep, the sun was still high above the Western +horizon; but when he awoke the stars were shining. + +He raised himself to a sitting posture, and looked around him, utterly +bewildered and unable to collect his scattered faculties, or to remember +where he was, or how he came there, or what had occurred, or who he +himself really was--so deathlike had been his sleep. + +He had no headache; his previous habits had been too regular, his +blood was too pure, and the brandy was too good for that. He was simply +bewildered, but utterly bewildered, as though he had waked up in another +world. + +He was conscious of a weight upon his heart, but could not remember the +cause of it; and whether it was grief or remorse, or both, he could not +tell. He feared that it was both. + +Gradually memory and misery returned to him; the dreadful day; the +marriage; the feast; the parting; the lawsuit; the two glasses of +brandy, and their mortifying consequences. All the events of that day +lay clearly before him now--that horrible day begun in unutterable +sorrow, and ended in humiliating sin! + +Was it himself, Ishmael Worth, who had suffered this sorrow, yielded to +this temptation, and fallen into this sin? To what had his inordinate +earthly affections brought him? He was no longer "the chevalier without +fear and without reproach." He had fallen, fallen, fallen! + +He remembered that when he had sunk to sleep the sun was shining and +smiling all over the beautiful garden, and that even in his half-drowsy +state he had noticed its glory. The sun was gone now. It had set upon +his humiliating weakness. The day had given up the record of his sin and +passed away forever. The day would return no more to reproach him, but +its record would meet him in the judgment. + +He remembered that once in his deep sleep he had half awakened and found +what seemed a weeping angel bending over him, and that he had tried to +rouse himself to speak; but in the effort he had only turned over and +tumbled into a deeper oblivion than ever. + +Who was that pitying angel visitant? + +The answer came like a shock of electricity. It was Bee! Who else should +it have been? It was Bee! She had sought him out when he was lost; she +had found him in his weakness; she had dropped tears of love and sorrow +over him. + +At that thought new shame, new grief, new remorse swept in upon his +soul. + +He sprang upon his feet, and in doing so dropped a little white drift +upon the ground. He stooped and picked it up. + +It was the fine white handkerchief that on first waking up he had +plucked from his face. And he knew by its soft thin feeling and its +delicate scent of violets, Bee's favorite perfume, that it was her +handkerchief, and she had spread it as a veil over his exposed and +feverish, face. That little wisp of cambric was redolent of Bee! of her +presence, her purity, her tenderness. + +It seemed a mere trifle; but it touched the deepest springs of his +heart, and, holding it in both his hands, he bowed his humbled head upon +it and wept. + +When a man like Ishmael weeps it is no gentle summer shower, I assure +you; but as the breaking up of great fountains, the rushing of mighty +torrents, the coming of a flood. + +He wept long and convulsively. And his deluge of tears relieved his +surcharged heart and brain and did him good. He breathed more freely; he +wiped his face with this dear handkerchief, and then, all dripping wet +with tears as it was, he pressed it to his lips and placed it in his +bosom, over his heart, and registered a solemn vow in Heaven that this +first fault of his life should also, with God's help, be his last. + +Then he walked forth into the starlit garden, murmuring to himself: + +"By a woman came sin and death into the world, and by a woman came +redemption and salvation. Oh, Claudia, my Eve, farewell! farewell! And +Bee, my Mary, hail!" + +The holy stars no longer looked down reproachfully upon him; the +harmless little insect-choristers no longer mocked him; love and +forgiveness beamed down from the pure light of the first, and cheering +hope sounded in the gleeful songs of the last. + +Ishmael walked up the gravel-walk between the shrubbery and the house. +Once, when his face was towards the house, he looked up at Bee's back +window. It was open, and he saw a white, shadowy figure just within it. + +Was it Bee? + +His heart assured him that it was; and that anxiety for him had kept her +there awake and watching. + +As he drew near the house, quite uncertain as to how he should get in, +he saw that the shadowy, white figure disappeared from the window; and +when he went up to the back door, with the intention of rapping loudly +until he should wake up the servants and gain admission, his purpose was +forestalled by the door being softly opened by Bee, who stood with a +shaded taper behind it. + +"Oh, Bee!" + +"Oh, Ishmael!" + +Both spoke at once, and in a tone of irrepressible emotion. + +"Come in, Ishmael," she next said kindly. + +"You know, Bee?" he asked sadly, as he entered. + +"Yes, Ishmael! Forgive me for knowing, for it prevented others finding +out. And your secret could not rest safer, or with a truer heart than +mine." + +"I know it, dear Bee! dear sister, I know it. And Bee, listen! That +glass of brandy was only the third of any sort of spirituous liquor that +I ever tasted in my life. And I solemnly swear in the presence of Heaven +and before you that it shall be the very last! Never, no, never, even as +a medicine, will I place the fatal poison to my lips again." + +"I believe you, Ishmael. And I am very happy. Thank God!" she said, +giving him her hand. + +"Dear Bee! Holy angel! I am scarcely worthy to touch it," he said, +bowing reverently over that little white hand. + +"'There shall be more joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, than +over ninety and nine just persons who need no repentance.' Good-night, +Ishmael!" said Bee sweetly, as she put the taper in his hand and glided +like a spirit from his presence. + +She was soon sleeping beside her baby sister. + +And Ishmael went upstairs to bed. And the troubled night closed in +peace. + +The further career of Ishmael, together with the after fate of all the +characters mentioned in this work, will be found in the sequel to and +final conclusion of this volume, entitled, "Self-Raised; or, From the +Depths." + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ISHMAEL*** + + +******* This file should be named 15774.txt or 15774.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/7/7/15774 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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