prompting of hospitality
and benevolence, had brought her there on her first visit. She had not
thought of the lapse of time, or the change that two years must have
made in him as well as in herself, and so, where she expected to find a
mere youth, she found a young man; and maiden delicacy restrained her
from repeating her visit.

On Thursday\morning, however, as Ishmael was opening his schoolroom he
heard a brisk step approaching, and Mr. Middleton was at his side. Their
hands flew into each other and shook mutually before either spoke. Then,
with beaming eyes and hearty tones, both exclaimed at once:

"I am so glad to see you!"

"Of course you arrived last night! I hope you had a pleasant journey,
and that Mrs. Middleton has recovered her fatigue," said Ishmael,
placing a chair for his visitor.

"A very pleasant journey. The day was delightfully cool, and even my
wife did not suffer from fatigue. She is quite well this morning, and
quite delighted with her new home. But, see here, Ishmael, how you have
changed! You are taller than I am! You must be near six feet in
height--are you not?"

"I suppose so," smiled Ishmael.

"And your hair is so much darker. Altogether, you are so much improved."

"There was room for it."

"There always is, my boy. Well, I did not come here to pay compliments,
my young friend. I came to tell you that, thanks to my little Bee's
activity, we are all comfortably settled at home now; and we should be
happy if you would come on Friday evening and spend with us Saturday and
Sunday, your weekly holidays."

"I thank you, sir; I thank you very much. I should extremely like to
come, but--"

"Now, Ishmael, hush! I do not intend to take a denial. When I give an
invitation I am very much in earnest about it; and to show you how much
I am in earnest about this, I will tell you that I reflected that this
was Thursday, and that if I asked you to-day you could tell your friends
when you get home this evening, and come to-morrow morning prepared to
remain over till Monday. Otherwise if I had not invited you till
to-morrow morning, you would have had to walk all the way back home
to-morrow evening to tell your friends before coming to see us. So you
see how much I wished to have you come, Ishmael, and how I studied ways
and means. Mrs. Middleton and all your old schoolmates are equally
anxious to see you, so say no more about it, but come!"

"Indeed, I earnestly thank you, Mr. Middleton, and I