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 f