After dinner Ishmael went upstairs to his books, and Hannah took advantage of his absence to say to Gray: 

“Reuben, I wish you would never mention Miss Claudia Merlin’s name before Ishmael.”

“Law! why?” inquired Gray.

“Because I want him to forget her.”

“But why so?”

“Oh, Reuben, how dull you are!  Well, if I must tell you, he likes her.”

“Well, so do I! and so do everyone!” said honest Reuben.

“But he likes her too well! he loves her, Reuben!”

“What!  Ishmael love Judge Merlin’s daughter!  L-a-w!  Why I should as soon think of falling in love with a royal princess!” exclaimed the honest man, in extreme astonishment.

“Reuben, hush!  I hate to speak of it; but it is true.  Pray, never let him know that we even suspect the truth; and be careful not to mention her name in his presence.  I can see that he is struggling to conquer his feelings; but he can never do it while you continue to ding her name into his ears foreverlasting.”

“I’ll be mum!  Ishmael in love with Miss Merlin!  I should as soon suspicion him of being in love with the Queen of Spain!  Good gracious! how angry she’d be if she knew it.”

After this conversation Reuben Gray was very careful to avoid all mention of Claudia Merlin in the hearing of Ishmael.

The month of August was drawing to a close.  Ishmael had not once set eyes on Claudia, though he had chanced to see the judge on horseback at a distance several times.  Ishmael busied himself in seeking out a room in the neighborhood, in which to open a school on the first of September.  He had not as yet succeeded in his object, when one day an accident occurred that, as he used it, had a signal effect on his future life.

It was a rather cool morning in the latter part of August when he, after spending an hour or two of work in the garden, dressed himself in his best clothes and set off to walk to Rushy Shore farm, where he heard there was a small schoolhouse ready furnished with rough benches and desks, to be had at low rent.  His road lay along the high banks of the river, above the sands.  He had gone about a mile on his way when he heard the sound of carriage wheels behind him, and in a few minutes caught a glimpse of an open barouche, drawn by a pair of fine, spirited gray horses, as it flashed by him.  Quickly as the carriage passed, he recognized in the distinguished looking young lady seated within it—­Claudia!—­recognized her with an electric shock that thrilled his whole being, paralyzed him where he stood and bound him to the spot!  He gazed after the flying vehicle until it vanished from his sight.  Then he sank down where he stood and covered his face with his hands and strove to calm the rising emotion that swelled his bosom.  It was minutes before he recovered self-possession enough to arise and go on his way.