in every lineament of his honest face.

"What was the matter with her? Was it the cholera morbus, that is so
prevalent at this season?"

Reuben grinned from ear to ear; but did not immediately reply.

The judge looked as if he still expected an answer. Reuben scratched his
gray head, and looked up from the corner of his eye, as he at length
replied:

"It was a boy and a gal, sir!"

"A what?" questioned the judge--perplexity.

"A boy and a gal, sir; twins, sir, they is," replied Reuben Gray, joy
getting the mastery over every other expression in his beaming
countenance.

"Why--you don't mean to tell me that your wife has presented you with
twins?" exclaimed the judge, both surprised and amused at the
announcement.

"Well, yes, sir," said Reuben proudly.

"But you are such an elderly couple!" laughed the judge.

"Well, yes, sir, so we is! And that, I take it, is the very reason on't.
You see, I think, sir, because we married very late in life--poor Hannah
and me--natur' took a consideration on to it, and, as we hadn't much
time before us, she sent us two at once! at least, if that aint the
reason, I can't account for them both in any other way!" said Reuben,
looking up.

"That's it! You've hit it, Reuben!" said the judge, laughing. "And mind,
if they live, I'll stand godfather to the babies at the christening. Are
they fine healthy children?"

"As bouncing babies, sir, as ever you set eyes on!" answered Reuben
triumphantly.

"Count on me, then, Gray."

"Thank you, sir! And, your honor--"

"Well, Gray?"

"Soon as ever Ishmael is able to hear the news, tell him, will you,
please? I think it will set him up, and help him on towards his
recovery."

"I think so, too," said the judge.

Reuben touched his hat and withdrew. And the judge returned to the
house.

Claudia had come down and breakfasted, but was in a state of great
annoyance because she was denied admittance to the bedside of her
suffering favorite.

The judge, to divert her thoughts, told her of the bountiful present
nature had made to Hannah and Reuben Gray. At which Miss Claudia was so
pleased that she got up and went to hunt through all her finery for
presents for the children.

CHAPTER XLIII.

THE HEIRESS.

Trust me, Clara Vere de Vere,
From yon blue heavens above us bent,
The grand old gardener and his wife
Smile at the claims of long descent,
Howe'er it be, it seems to me,
'Tis only noble to be good;