eel 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 repr