and our next residence will be a permanent one; I shall
purchase, and not rent, next time; and I shall not lose sight of your
interests; besides the parting is six months off yet; so look up, my
boy. Bless me, if I had known it was going to depress you in this way, I
should have delayed the communication as long as possible; in fact, my
only motive for making it now, is to give a good reason why you should
make the most of your time while we remain here."

"Oh, sir, I will; believe me, I will; but I am so sorry you are ever
going to leave us," said the boy, with emotion.

"Thank you, Ishmael; I shall not forget you; and in the meantime, Mr.
Brudenell, who is coming back to the Hall, and is a gentleman of great
means and beneficence, cannot fail to be interested in you; indeed, I
myself will mention you to him. And now come in, my boy, and take
luncheon with us. We breakfasted very early this morning in order to get
the teachers off in time for the Baltimore boat; and so we require an
early luncheon," said Mr. Middleton, as he walked his young friend off
to the house.

Mrs. Middleton and all her children and Claudia were already seated
around the table in the pleasant morning room, where all the windows
were open, admitting the free summer breezes, the perfume of flowers,
and the songs of birds.

The young people started up and rushed towards Ishmael; for their
sympathies were with him; and all began speaking at once.

"Oh, Ishmael! why did you disappoint me of dancing with the best scholar
in the school?" asked Claudia.

"What did you run away for?" demanded James.

"I wouldn't have gone for him," said John.

"Oh, Ishmael, it was such a pleasant party," said little Fanny.

"Alf was a bad boy," said Baby Sue.

"It was very impolite in you to run away and leave me when I was your
partner in the first quadrille! I do not see why you should have
disappointed me for anything that fellow could have said or done!"
exclaimed Claudia.

As all were speaking at once it was quite impossible to answer either,
so Ishmael looked in embarrassment from one to the other.

Bee had not spoken; she was spreading butter on thin slices of bread for
her baby sisters; but now, seeing Ishmael's perplexity, she whispered to
her mother:

"Call them off, mamma dear; they mean well; but it must hurt his
feelings to be reminded of last night."

Mrs. Middleton thought so too; so she arose and went forward and offered
Ishmael her han