watched, listened, and took notes, comparing the latter with the
readings. Of course he could not do all this without reducing his labors
to a perfect system, and he could not constantly adhere to this system
without practicing the severest self-denial. I tell you, young reader of
this story, that in this republic there is no "royal road" to fame and
honor. The way is open to each and all of you; but it is steep and
rugged, yes, and slippery; and you must toil and sweat and watch if you
would reach the summit.

Would you know exactly how Ishmael managed this stage of his toilsome
ascent? I will tell you. He arose at four o'clock those winter mornings,
dressed quickly and went into the judge's study, where he made the fire
himself, because the servants would not be astir for hours; then he sat
down with the pile of letters that had come by the night's mail; he
looked over the judge's hints regarding them, and then went to work and
answered letters or copied documents for four hours, or until the
breakfast bell rung, when he joined Claudia and her father at table.
After breakfast he attended the judge in his study; submitted to his
inspection the morning's work; then took them to the post office, posted
them, brought back the letters that arrived by the morning's mail, and
left them with the judge to be read. This would bring him to about
eleven o'clock, when he went to the City Hall, to watch the proceedings
of the circuit court, making careful notes and comparing them with his
own private readings of law. He returned from the circuit court about
two o'clock; spent the afternoon in answering the letters left for him
by the judge; dined late with the family; took the second lot of letters
to the post office, and returned with those that came by the evening
mail; gave them to the judge for examination, and then went up to his
room to spend the evening in reading law and comparing notes. He allowed
himself no recreation and but little rest. His soul was sustained by
what Balzac calls "the divine patience of genius." And the more he was
enabled to measure himself with other men, the more confidence he
acquired in his own powers. This severe mental labor took away much of
the pain of his "despised love." Ishmael was one to love strongly,
ardently, constantly. But he was not one to drivel over a hopeless
passion. He loved Claudia: how deeply, how purely, how faithfully, all
his future life was destined to prove. And he knew tha