“But with you, young man, the case was different,” said the judge loftily.

“True, sir,” replied our youth, with sweet and courteous dignity, “with me the case was very different; because, with me, it was a matter of self-interest; for the service rendered to Miss Merlin was rendered to myself.”

“I do not understand you, young man,” said the judge haughtily.

“Pardon me, sir.  I mean that in saving Miss Merlin from injury I saved myself from despair.  If any harm had befallen her I should have been miserable; so you perceive, sir, that the act you are good enough to term a great service was too natural and too selfish to be praised or rewarded; and so I must beseech you to speak of it in that relation no more.”

“But what was my daughter to you that you should risk your life for her, more than for another? or that her maimed limbs or broken neck should affect you more than others?”

“Sir, we were old acquaintances; I saw her every day when I went to Mr. Middleton’s, and she was ever exceedingly kind to me,” replied Ishmael.

“Oh! and you lived in that neighborhood?” inquired Judge Merlin, who immediately jumped to the conclusion that Ishmael had been employed as a laborer on Mr. Middleton’s estate; though still he could not possibly account for the refinement in Ishmael’s manner nor the excellence of his language.

“I lived in that neighborhood with my Aunt Hannah until Uncle Reuben married her, when I accompanied them to this place,” answered Ishmael.

“Ah! and you saw a great deal of Mr. Middleton and—­and his family?”

“I saw them every day, sir; they were very, very kind to me.”

“Every day! then you must have been employed about the house,” said the judge.

An arch smile beamed in the eyes of Ishmael as he answered: 

“Yes, sir, I was employed about the house—­that is to say, in the schoolroom.”

“Ah! to sweep it out and keep it in order, I suppose; and, doubtless, there was where you contracted your superior tone of manners and conversation,” thought the judge to himself, but he replied aloud: 

“Well, young man, we will say no more of rewards, since the word is distasteful to you; but as soon as you can get strong again, I should be pleased to give you work about the place at fair wages.  Our miller wants a white boy to go around with the grist.  Would you like the place?”

“I thank you, sir, no; my plans for the future are fixed; that is, as nearly fixed as those of short-sighted mortals can be,” smiled Ishmael.

“Ah, indeed!” exclaimed the judge, raising his eyebrows, “and may I, as one interested in your welfare, inquire what those plans may be?”

“Certainly, sir, and I thank you very much for the interest you express, as well as for all your kindness to me.”  Ishmael paused for a moment and then added: 

“On the first of September I shall open the Rushy Shore schoolhouse, for the reception of day pupils.”