ove 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. Middle