"See that, now! Everything, even the post, goes to cross a feller's
love! But Hannah, woman, if you had a-got the letter, would you a-called
me back?" asked Gray eagerly.

"No, Reuben, certainly not," said Hannah decidedly.

"Then it is just as well you didn't get it," sighed this most faithful,
though most unfortunate of suitors.

"Yes; just as well, Reuben," assented Hannah; "but that fact does not
lessen my interests in your fortunes, and as I never got the letter I am
still ignorant of your circumstances."

"Well, Hannah, my dear, I'm thankful as you feel any interest in me at
all; and I'll tell you everything. Let me see, what was it you was
wanting to know, now? all about myself; where I was living; how I was
getting along; and what fotch me back here; all soon told, Hannah, my
dear. First about myself: You see, Hannah, that day as you slammed the
door in my face I felt so distressed in my mind as I didn't care what on
earth became of me; first I thought I'd just 'list for a soldier; then I
thought I'd ship for a sailor; last I thought I'd go and seek my fortun'
in Californy; but then the idea of the girls having no protector but
myself hindered of me; hows'evar, anyways I made up my mind, as come
what would I'd leave the neighborhood first opportunity; and so, soon
after, as I heard of a situation as overseer at Judge Merlin's
plantation up in the forest of Prince George's County, I sets off and
walks up there, and offers myself for the place; and was so fort'nate as
to be taken; so I comes back and moves my family, bag and baggage, up
there. Now as to the place where I live, it is called Tanglewood, and a
tangle it is, as gets more and more tangled every year of its life. As
to how I'm getting on, Hannah, I can't complain; for if I have to do
very hard work, I get very good wages. As to what brought me back to the
neighborhood, Hannah, it was to do some business for the judge, and to
buy some stock for the farm. But there, my dear! that boy has slipped
out, and is cutting the wood; I'll go and do it for him," said Reuben,
as the sound of Ishmael's ax fell upon his ears.

Hannah arose and followed Gray to the door, and there before it stood
Ishmael, chopping away at random, upon the pile of wood, his cheeks
flushed with fever and his eyes wild with excitement.

"Hannah, he is ill; he is very ill; he doesn't well know what he is
about," said Reuben, taking the ax from the boy's hand.

"Ishmael, Ishmael, my