o-morrow; and then if you continue to grow better, I
may be allowed to remain with you for half an hour," she said, rising.

"Thank you, Miss Merlin; I shall try to grow better; you have given me a
great incentive to improvement."

Claudia's face grew grave again. She bowed coldly and left the room.

As soon as the door had closed behind her Ishmael's long-strained nerves
became relaxed, and his countenance changed again in one of those awful
spasms of pain to which he was now so subject. The paroxysm, kept off by
force of will, for Claudia's sake, during her stay, now took its revenge
by holding the victim longer in its grasp. A minute or two of mortal
agony and then is was past, and the patient was relieved.

"I don't know what you call pain; but if dis'ere aint pain, I don't want
to set no worser de longest day as ever I live!" exclaimed Katie, who
stood by the bedside wiping the deathly dew from the icy brow of the
sufferer.

"But you see--it lasts so short a time--it is already gone," gasped
Ishmael faintly. "It is no sooner come than gone," he added, with a
smile.

"And no sooner gone, nor come again! And a-most taking of your life when
it do come!" said Katie, placing a cordial to the ashen lips of the
sufferer.

The stimulant revived his strength, brought color to his cheeks and
light to his eyes.

Ishmael's next visitor was Reuben Gray, who was admitted to see him for
a few minutes only. This was Reuben's first visit to the invalid, and
as under the transient influence of the stimulant Ishmael looked
brighter than usual, Reuben thought that he must be getting on
remarkably well, and congratulated him accordingly.

Ishmael smilingly returned the compliment by wishing Gray joy of his son
and daughter.

Reuben grinned with delight and expatiated on their beauty, until it was
time for him to take leave.

"Your Aunt Hannah don't know as you've been hurt, my boy; we dar'n't
tell her, for fear of the consequences. But now as you really do seem to
be getting on so well, and as she is getting strong so fast, and
continually asking arter you, I think I will just go and tell her all
about it, and as how there is no cause to be alarmed no more," said
Reuben, as he stood, hat in hand, by Ishmael's bed.

"Yes, do, Uncle Reuben, else she will think I neglect her," pleaded
Ishmael.

Reuben promised, and then took his departure.

That was the last visit Ishmael received that day.

Reuben kept his word, and a