“Sir?” questioned Ishmael in perplexity and vague alarm.

“I should rather have said it must be short!  I will explain.  You know Mr. Herman Brudenell?”

“Mr—­Herman—­Brudenell,” repeated the unconscious son, slowly and thoughtfully; then, as a flash of intelligence lighted up his face, he exclaimed:  “Oh, yes, sir, I know who you mean; the young gentleman who owns Brudenell Hall, and who is now traveling in Europe.”

“Yes! but he is not such a very young gentleman now; he must be between thirty-five and forty years of age.  Well, my boy, you know, of course, that he is my landlord.  When I rented this place, I took it by the year, and at a very low price, as the especial condition that I should leave it at six months’ warning.  Ishmael, I have received that warning this morning.  I must vacate the premises on the first of next February.”

Ishmael looked confounded.  “Must vacate these premises the first of next February,” he echoed, in a very dreary voice.

“Yes, my lad; but don’t look so utterly sorrowful; we shall not go out of the world, or even out of the State; perhaps not out of the county, Ishmael; and our next residence will be a permanent one; I shall purchase, and not rent, next time; and I shall not lose sight of your interests; besides the parting is six months off yet; so look up, my boy.  Bless me, if I had known it was going to depress you in this way, I should have delayed the communication as long as possible; in fact, my only motive for making it now, is to give a good reason why you should make the most of your time while we remain here.”

“Oh, sir, I will; believe me, I will; but I am so sorry you are ever going to leave us,” said the boy, with emotion.

“Thank you, Ishmael; I shall not forget you; and in the meantime, Mr. Brudenell, who is coming back to the Hall, and is a gentleman of great means and beneficence, cannot fail to be interested in you; indeed, I myself will mention you to him.  And now come in, my boy, and take luncheon with us.  We breakfasted very early this morning in order to get the teachers off in time for the Baltimore boat; and so we require an early luncheon,” said Mr. Middleton, as he walked his young friend off to the house.

Mrs. Middleton and all her children and Claudia were already seated around the table in the pleasant morning room, where all the windows were open, admitting the free summer breezes, the perfume of flowers, and the songs of birds.

The young people started up and rushed towards Ishmael; for their sympathies were with him; and all began speaking at once.

“Oh, Ishmael! why did you disappoint me of dancing with the best scholar in the school?” asked Claudia.

“What did you run away for?” demanded James.

“I wouldn’t have gone for him,” said John.

“Oh, Ishmael, it was such a pleasant party,” said little Fanny.

“Alf was a bad boy,” said Baby Sue.