“You are to dine with my children every day, Ishmael,” said Mr. Middleton, in those tones of calm authority that admitted of no appeal from their decision.

Ishmael took the chair that was pointed out to him, and you may be sure he did full justice to the nourishing food placed before him.

When dinner was over the boys had another hour’s recreation in the grounds, and then they returned to the schoolroom for afternoon exercises.  These were very properly of a lighter nature than those of the morning—­being only penmanship, elocution, and drawing.

At six o’clock the school was dismissed.  And Ishmael went home, enchanted with his new life, but wondering where little Claudia could be; he had not seen her that day.  And thus ended his first day at school.

When he reached the hut Hannah had supper on the table.

“Well, Ishmael, how did you get on?” she asked.

“Oh, Aunt Hannah, I have had such, a happy day!” exclaimed the boy.  And thereupon he commenced and poured upon her in a torrent of words a description of the schoolroom, the teachers, the studies, the dinner, the recreations, and, in short, the history of his whole day’s experiences.

“And so you are charmed?” said Hannah.

“Oh, aunt, so much!” smiled the boy.

“Hope it may last, that’s all! for I never yet saw the lad that liked school after the first novelty wore off,” observed the woman.

The next morning Ishmael awoke with the dawn, and sprang from his pallet in the loft as a lark from its nest in the tree.

He hurried downstairs to help Hannah with the morning work before he should prepare for school.

He cut wood, and brought water enough to last through the day, and then ate his frugal breakfast, and set off for school.

He arrived there early—­almost too early, for none of the day pupils had come, and there was no one in the schoolroom but the young Middletons and Claudia Merlin.

She was sitting in her seat, with her desk open before her, and her black ringletted head half buried in it.  But as soon she heard the door open she glanced up, and seeing Ishmael, shut down the desk and flew to meet him.

“I am so glad you come to school, Ishmael!  I wasn’t here yesterday, because I had a cold; but I knew you were!  And oh! how nice you do look.  Indeed, if I did not know better, I should take you to be the young gentleman, and those Burghes to be workman’s sons!” she said, as she held his hand, and looked approvingly upon his smooth, light hair, his fair, broad forehead, clear, blue eyes, and delicate features; and upon his erect figure and neat dress.

“Thank you, miss,” answered Ishmael, with boyish embarrassment.

“Come here, Bee, and look at him,” said Miss Merlin, addressing some unknown little party, who did not at once obey the behest.

With a reddening cheek, Ishmael gently essayed to pass to his seat; but the imperious little lady held fast his hand, as, with a more peremptory tone, she said: