t wonder if the world should
hear of him some day, after all!" he said, as he read letter after
letter that had been left unsealed for his optional perusal. In these
letters he found his own hard "No's" expressed with a courtesy that
softened them even to the most bitterly disappointed; his arrogant
"Yes's," with a delicacy that could not wound the self-love of the most
sensitive petitioner; and his intermediate, doubtful answers rendered
with a clearness of which by their very nature they seemed incapable.

"The boy is a born diplomatist," repeated the judge in an accession of
astonishment.

But he was wrong in his judgment of Ishmael. If the youth's style of
writing was gracious, courteous, delicate, it was because his inmost
nature was pure, refined, and benignant. If his letters denying favors
soothed rather than offended the applicant, and of those granting favors
flattered rather than humiliated the petitioner, it was because of that
angelic attribute of Ishmael's soul that made it so painful to him to
give pain, so delightful to impart delight. There was no thought of
diplomatic dealing in all Ishmael's truthful soul.

The judge was excessively pleased with his young assistant. Judge Merlin
was an excellent lawyer, but no orator, and never had been, nor could be
one. He had not himself the gift of eloquence either in speaking or
writing; and, therefore, perhaps he was the more astonished and pleased
to find it in the possession of his letter-writer. He was pleased to
have his correspondence well written, for it reflected credit upon
himself.

Under the influence of his surprise and pleasure he took up his hand
full of letters and went directly to Ishmael's room. He found the youth
seated in his arm-chair engaged in reading.

"What have you there?" inquired Judge Merlin.

Ishmael smiled and turned the title-page to his questioner.

"Humph! 'Coke upon Lyttleton.' Lay it down, Ishmael, and attend to me,"
said the judge, drawing a chair and seating himself beside the youth.

Ishmael immediately closed the book and gave the most respectful
attention.

"I am very much pleased with the manner in which you have accomplished
your task, Ishmael. You have done your work remarkably well! So well
that I should like to give you longer employment," he said.

Ishmael's heart leaped in his bosom.

"Thank you, sir; I am very glad you are satisfied with me," he replied.

"Let us see now, this is the fifteenth of Octob