r. "Good-night, Miss Claudia. You will know
where to send for me, if I am wanted here."

"Yes; but I am so sorry about Gray's wife! Is she in danger?" persisted
Claudia.

"Yes."

"I am very sorry; but what ails her?" persevered Claudia.

"Good-evening, Miss Merlin," replied the doctor, lifting his hat and
departing.

"The man is half asleep; he has not answered my question," grumbled
Claudia, as she returned to her seat by the sick-bed.

Just then the bell rung for the late dinner, and Claudia went out and
crossed the hall to the dining room, where she joined her father. And
while at dinner she gave him a more detailed account of her late danger,
and the manner in which she was saved.

Once more in the course of that evening Claudia looked in upon the
wounded boy, to ascertain his condition before retiring to her room. He
was still sleeping.

"If he should wake up, you must call me, no matter what time of night it
is, Katie," said Miss Merlin, as she left the sick-chamber.

"Yes, miss," answered Katie, who nevertheless made up her mind to use
her own discretion in the matter of obedience to this order.

Claudia Merlin was not, as Ishmael was, of a religious disposition, yet
nevertheless before she retired to bed she did kneel and pray for his
restoration to life and health; for, somehow, the well-being of the
peasant youth was very precious to the heiress. Claudia could not sleep;
she lay tumbling and tossing upon a restless and feverish couch. The
image of that mangled and bleeding youth as she first saw him on the
river bank was ever before her. The gaze of his intensely earnest eyes
as he raised them to hers, when he inquired, "Are you safe?"--and the
deep smile of joy with which they closed again when she answered, "I am
safe"--haunted her memory and troubled her spirit. Those looks, those
tones, had made a revelation to Claudia!--That the peasant boy presumed
to love her!--her! Claudia Merlin, the heiress, angel-born, who scarcely
deemed there was in all democratic America a fitting match for her!

During the excitement and terror of the day, while the extent of
Ishmael's injuries was still unknown and his life seemed in extreme
danger, Claudia had not had leisure to receive the fact of Ishmael's
love, much less to reflect upon its consequences. But now that all was
known and suspense was over, now in the silence and solitude of her
bed-chamber, the images and impressions of the day returned to her wit