use, laughed aloud with sincere,
boyish mirthfulness at its absurdity.

But Claudia's cheeks grew crimson, and her eyes flashed--bad signs these
for the keeping of her temper towards "dull pups."

"He is honest, truthful, intelligent, industrious, and polite. These are
qualities which, of course, unfit him for such society as yours, Mr.
Burghe; but I do not see why they should unfit him for that of ladies
and gentlemen," said Claudia severely.

"He is a ----," brutally exclaimed Alfred, using a coarse word, at which
all the young girls started and recoiled, as if each had received a
wound, while all the boys exclaimed simultaneously:

"Oh, fie!" or "Oh, Alf, how could you say such a thing!"

"For shame!"

As for Walter Middleton, he had collared the young miscreant before the
word was fairly out of his mouth. But an instant's reflection caused the
young gentleman to release the culprit, with the words:

"My father's house and the presence of these young ladies protect you
for the present, sir."

Ishmael stood alone, in the center of a shocked and recoiling circle of
young girls; so stunned by the epithet that had been hurled at him that
he scarcely yet understood its meaning or felt that he was wounded.

"What did he say, Walter?" he inquired, appealing to his friend.

Walter Middleton put his strong arm around the slender and elegant form
of Ishmael, and held him firmly; but whether in a close embrace or light
restraint, or both, it was hard to decide, as he answered:

"He says what will be very difficult for him to explain, when he shall
be called to account to-morrow morning; but what, it is quite needless
to repeat."

"I say he is a ----! His mother was never married! and no one on earth
knows who his father was--or if he ever had a father!" roared Alfred
brutally.

Walter's arm closed convulsively upon Ishmael. There was good reason.
The boy had given one spasmodic bound forward, as if he would have
throttled his adversary on the spot; but the restraining arm of Walter
Middleton held him back; his face was pale as marble; a cold sweat had
burst upon his brow; he was trembling in every limb as he gasped:

"Walter, this cannot be true! Oh, say it is not true!"

"True! no! I believe it is as false--as false as that young villain's
heart! and nothing can be falser than that!" indignantly exclaimed young
Middleton.

"It is! it is true! The whole county knows it is true!" vociferated
Alfred. "And if a