go in."

At this Beatrice burst into a flood of tears and was led away to the
carriage by her father.

After the departure of the Middletons it was currently reported in the
neighborhood that the arrival of Mr. Herman Brudenell was daily
expected. Hannah became very much disturbed with an anxiety that was all
the more wearing because she could not communicate it to anyone. The
idea of remaining in the neighborhood with Mr. Brudenell, and being
subjected to the chance of meeting him, was unsupportable to her; she
would have been glad of any happy event that might take her off to a
distant part of the State, and she resolved, in the event of poor
Ishmael's death, to go and seek a home and service somewhere else.
Reuben Gray stayed on; and in answer to all Hannah's remonstrances he
said:

"It is of no use talking to me now, Hannah! You can't do without me,
woman; and I mean to stop until the poor lad gets well or dies."

But our boy was not doomed to die; the indestructible vitality, the
irrepressible elasticity of his delicate and sensitive organization,
bore him through and above his terrible illness, and he passed the
crisis safely and lived. After that turning point his recovery was
rapid. It was a mild, dry mid-day in early spring that Ishmael walked
out for the first time. He bent his steps to the old oak tree that
overshadowed his mother's grave, and seated himself there to enjoy the
fresh air while he reflected.

Ishmael took himself severely to task for what he called the blindness,
the weakness, and the folly with which he had permitted himself to fall
into a hopeless, mad, and nearly fatal passion for one placed so high
above him that indeed he might as well have loved some "bright
particular star," and hoped to win it. And here on the sacred turf of
his mother's grave he resolved once for all to conquer this boyish
passion, by devoting himself to the serious business of life.

Hannah and Reuben were left alone in the hut.

"Now, Reuben Gray," began Hannah, "no tongue can tell how much I feel
your goodness to me and Ishmael; but, my good man, you mustn't stay in
this neighborhood any longer; Ishmael is well and does not need you; and
your employer's affairs are neglected and do need you. So, Reuben, my
friend, you had better start home as soon as possible."

"Well, Hannah, my dear, I think so too, and I have thought so for the
last week, only I did not like to hurry you," said Reuben acquiescently.

"