ted boy worshiped her with a passionate love
that was growing deeper, stronger, and more ardent every day. She knew
that probably his peace of mind would be utterly wrecked by his fatal
passion. She knew all this, and yet she would not withdraw herself,
either suddenly or gradually. The adoration of this young, pure, exalted
soul was an intoxicating incense that had become a daily habit and
necessity to the heiress. But she tacitly required it to be a silent
offering. So long as her lover worshiped her only with his eyes, tones,
and manners, she was satisfied, gracious, and cordial; but the instant
he was betrayed into any words of admiration or interest in her, she
grew cold and haughty, she chilled and repelled him.

And yet she did not mean to trifle with his affections or destroy his
peace; but--it was very dull in the country, and Claudia had nothing
else to occupy and interest her mind and heart. Besides, she really did
appreciate and admire the wonderfully endowed peasant boy as much as she
possibly could in the case of one so immeasurably far beneath her in
rank. And she really did take more pride and delight in the society of
Ishmael than in that of any other human being she had ever met. And
yet, had it been possible that Ishmael should have been acknowledged by
his father and invested with the name, arms, and estate of Brudenell,
Claudia Merlin, in her present mood of mind, would have died and seen
him die, before she would have given her hand to one upon whose birth a
single shade of reproach was even suspected to rest.

Meanwhile Ishmael reveled in what would have been a fool's paradise to
most young men in similar circumstances,--but which really was not such
to him, dreaming those dreams of youth, the realization of which would
have been impossible to nine hundred and ninety-nine in a thousand
situated as he was, but which intellect and will made quite probable for
him. With his master mind and heart he read Claudia Merlin thoroughly,
and understood her better than she understood herself. In his secret
soul he knew that every inch of progress made in her favor was a
permanent conquest never to be yielded up. And loving her as loyally as
ever knight loved lady, he let her deceive herself by thinking she was
amusing herself at his expense, for he was certain of ultimate victory.

Other thoughts also occupied Ishmael. The first of September, the time
for opening the Rushy Shore school, had come, and the you