weet, grave courtesy, and
changed the subject of conversation by saying:

"I hope Judge Merlin and his daughter are quite well?"

"Quite. They are still at Annapolis. Papa visited them there for a few
days last week. The judge is stopping at the Stars and Stripes hotel,
and Claudia is a parlor boarder at a celebrated French school in the
vicinity. Claudia will not 'come out' until next winter, when her father
goes to Washington. For next December Claudia will be eighteen years of
age, and will enter upon her mother's large property, according to the
terms of the marriage settlement and the mother's will. I suppose she
will be the richest heiress in America, for the property is estimated at
more than a million! Ah! it is fine to be Claudia Merlin--is it not,
Ishmael?"

"Very," answered the young man, scarcely conscious amid the whirl of his
emotions what he was saying.

"And what a sensation her entree into society will make! I should like
to be in Washington next winter when she comes out. Ah, but after
all--what a target for fortune-hunters she will be, to be sure!" sighed
Bee.

"She is beautiful and accomplished, and altogether lovely enough to be
sought for herself alone!" exclaimed Ishmael, in the low and faltering
tones of deep feeling.

"Ah, yes, if she were poor; but who on earth could see whether the
heiress of a million were pretty or plain, good or bad, witty or
stupid?"

"So young and so cynical!" said Ishmael sadly.

"Ah, Ishmael, whoever reads and observes must feel and reflect; and
whoever feels and reflects must soon lose the simple faith of childhood.
We shall see!" said Bee, rising and drawing her gray silk scarf around
her shoulders.

"You are not going?"

"Yes; I have much yet to do."

"Can I not help you?"

"Oh, no; there is nothing that I have to do that a classical and
mathematical scholar and nursling lawyer could understand."

"Then, at least, allow me to see you safely home. The nursling-lawyer
can do that, I suppose? If you will be pleased to sit down until I hear
this young hopeful say his lesson, I will close up the schoolroom and be
at your service."

"Thank you very much; but I have to call at Brown's, the overseer's, and
I would much rather you would not trouble yourself, Ishmael. Good-by.
When we all get settled up at the house, which must be by next Saturday
night, at farthest, you must come often to see us. It was to say this
that I came here."

"Thank you, dearest