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