ather'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 litt