ould treat him properly, like a
young gentleman, and not like a dog! You treat him for all the world as
you treat Fido," said this little lady of so few years, speaking with an
effort of moral courage that distressed her more than her companions
could have guessed, as she turned and walked away.

Ishmael stepped after her. There were moments when the boy's soul arose
above all the embarrassments incident to his age and condition.

He stepped after her, and taking her hand, and pressing it
affectionately, said:

"Thank you, Bee! Thank you, dear, dearest, Bee! It was bravely done!"

She turned her tearful, smiling face towards the youth, and replied:

"But do not blame Claudia. She means well always; but, she is--"

"What is she?" inquired the youth anxiously; for there was no book in
his collection that he studied with so much interest as Claudia. There
was no branch of knowledge that he wished so earnestly to be thoroughly
acquainted with as with the nature of Claudia.

"What is she?" he again eagerly inquired.

"She is blind, where you are concerned."

"I think so too," murmured Ishmael, as he pressed the hand of his little
friend and left her.

Was Ishmael's allegiance to his "elect lady" turned aside? Ah, no!
Claudia might misunderstand, humiliate, and wound him; but she was still
"his own star," the star of destiny. He went straight back to her side.
But before a word could be exchanged between them the bell rang that
summoned the young ladies to their places in the classroom.

The long drawing room, which was opened only once or twice in the year,
for large evening parties, had been fitted up and decorated for this
fete.

The room being in its summer suit of straw matting, lace curtains, and
brown holland chair and sofa covering, needed but little change in its
arrangements.

At the upper end of the room was erected a stage; upon that was placed a
long table; behind the table were arranged the seats of the examining
committee; and before it, and below the stage, were ranged, row behind
row, the benches for the classes, a separate bench being appropriated to
each class. The middle of the room was filled up with additional
chairs, arranged in rows, for the accommodation of the audience. The
walls were profusely decorated with green boughs and blooming flowers,
arranged in festoons and wreaths.

At twelve o'clock precisely, the examining committee being in their
places, the classbooks on the table bef