Our little hero had the instincts of a gallant little gentleman.  And this challenge was to be in no wise rejected.  And though he blushed until his very ears seemed like two little flames, he stooped and touched with his lips the beautiful white forehead that gleamed like marble beneath its curls of jet.  The storm, which had abated for a time, now arose with redoubled violence.  The party of women and children, though gathered under a group of cedars, were still somewhat exposed to its fury.

Grainger, the overseer, who with his men had been unremitting in his endeavors to arrest the progress of the flames, now came up, and taking off his hat to Mrs. Middleton, said: 

“Madam, I think, please the Lord, we shall bring the fire under presently and save all of the building except that wing, which must go.  But, if you please, ma’am, I don’t see as you can do any good standing here looking on.  So, now that the young gentlemen are safe, hadn’t you all better take shelter in my house?  It is poor and plain; but it is roomy and weather-tight, and altogether you and the young gentlemen and ladies would be better off there than here.”

“I thank you, Grainger.  I thank you for your offer as well as for your efforts here to-night, and I will gladly accept the shelter of your roof for myself and young friends.  Show us the way.  Come, my children.  Come, you also, Ishmael.”

“Thank you very much, ma’am; but, if I can’t be of any more use here, I must go home.  Aunt Hannah will be looking for me.”  And with a low bow the boy left the scene.

CHAPTER XXVII.

ISHMAEL’S FIRST STEP ON THE LADDER.

  There is a proud modesty in merit
  Averse to asking, and resolved to pay
  Ten times the gift it asks.

  —­Dryden.

Early the next morning the professor made his appearance at the Hill Hut.  Ishmael and Hannah had eaten breakfast, and the boy was helping his aunt to put the warp in the loom for a new piece of cloth.

“Morning, Miss Hannah; morning, young Ishmael!  You are wanted, sir, up to the Hall this morning, and I am come to fetch you,” said the professor, as he stood within the door, hat in hand.

“Yes, I thought I would be; there must be no end of the rubbish to clear away, and the work to do up there now, and I knew you would be expecting me to help you, and so I meant to go up to your house just as soon as ever I had done helping aunt to put the warp in her loom,” answered Ishmael simply.

“Oh, you think you are wanted only to be set to work, do you?  All right!  But now as we are in a hurry, I’ll just lend a hand to this little job, and help it on a bit.”  And with that the artist, who was as expert at one thing as at another, began to aid Hannah with such good will that the job was soon done.

“And now, young Ishmael, get your hat and come along.  We must be going.”