e cross, with me to love you," said
Reuben soothingly.

"But, indeed, I fear I should; it is my infirmity; I am cross even with
Ishmael, poor dear lad."

"Well, Hannah, even if you was to be, I shouldn't mind it much. I don't
want to boast, but I do hope as I've got too much manhood to be out of
patience with women; besides, I aint easy put out, you know."

"No, you good fellow; I never saw you out of temper in my life."

"Thank you, Hannah! Then it's a bargain?"

"But, Reuben! about Ishmael?"

"Lord bless you, Hannah, why, I told you years ago, when the lad was a
helpless baby, that he should be as welcome to me as a son of my own;
and now, Hannah, at his age, with his larnin', he'll be a perfect
treasure to me," said Reuben, brightening up.

"In what manner, Reuben?"

"Why, law, Hannah, you know I never could make any fist of reading,
writing, and 'rithmetic; and so the keeping of the farm-books is just
the one torment of my life. Little Kitty used to keep them for me before
she was married (you know I managed to give the child a bit of
schooling); but since she have been gone they haven't been half kept,
and if I hadn't a good memory of my own I shouldn't be able to give no
account of nothing. Now, Ishmael, you know, could put all the books to
rights for me, and keep them to rights."

"If that be so, it will relieve my mind very much, Reuben," replied
Hannah.

The appearance of Ishmael's pale face at the door put an end to the
conversation for the time being. And Reuben took up his hat and
departed.

That evening, after Reuben had bid them good-night, and departed to the
neighbor's house where he slept, Hannah told Ishmael all about her
engagement to Gray. And it was with the utmost astonishment the youth
learned they were all to go to reside on the plantation of Judge
Merlin--Claudia's father! Well! to live so near her house would make his
duty to conquer his passion only the more difficult, but he was still
resolved to effect his purpose.

Having once given her consent, Hannah would not compromise Reuben's
interest with his employer by making any more difficulties or delays.
She spent the remainder of that week in packing up the few effects
belonging to herself and Ishmael. The boy himself employed his time in
transplanting rosebushes from the cottage-garden to his mother's grave,
and fencing it around with a rude but substantial paling. On Sunday
morning Reuben and Hannah were married at the church