Meanwhile Ishmael reveled in what would have been a fool’s paradise to most young men in similar circumstances,—­but which really was not such to him, dreaming those dreams of youth, the realization of which would have been impossible to nine hundred and ninety-nine in a thousand situated as he was, but which intellect and will made quite probable for him.  With his master mind and heart he read Claudia Merlin thoroughly, and understood her better than she understood herself.  In his secret soul he knew that every inch of progress made in her favor was a permanent conquest never to be yielded up.  And loving her as loyally as ever knight loved lady, he let her deceive herself by thinking she was amusing herself at his expense, for he was certain of ultimate victory.

Other thoughts also occupied Ishmael.  The first of September, the time for opening the Rushy Shore school, had come, and the youth was still unable to walk.  Under these circumstances, he wrote a note to the agent, Brown, and told him that it would be wrong to leave the school shut up while the children of the neighborhood remained untaught, and requested him to seek another teacher.

It cost the youth some self-sacrifice to give up this last chance of employment; but we already know that Ishmael never hesitated a moment between duty and self-interest.

September passed.  Those who have watched surgical cases in military hospitals know how long it takes a crushed and broken human body to recover the use of its members.  It was late in October before Ishmael’s right arm was strong enough to support the crutch that was needed to relieve the pressure upon his right leg when he attempted to walk.

It was about this time that Judge Merlin was heard often to complain of the great accumulation of correspondence upon his hands.

Ishmael, ever ready to be useful, modestly tendered his services to assist.

After a little hesitation, the judge thanked the youth and accepted his offer.  And the next day Ishmael was installed in a comfortable leather chair in the library, with his crutch beside him and a writing table covered with letters to be read and answered before him.  These letters were all open, and each had a word or a line penciled upon it indicating the character of the answer that was to be given.  Upon some was simply written the word “No”; upon others, “Yes”; upon others again, “Call on me when I come to town”; and so forth.  All this, of course, Ishmael had to put into courteous language, using his own judgment after reading the letters.

Of course it was the least important part of his correspondence that Judge Merlin put into his young assistant’s hands; but, notwithstanding that, the trust was a very responsible one.  Even Ishmael doubted whether he could discharge such unfamiliar duties with satisfaction to his employer.

He worked diligently all that day, however, and completed the task that had been laid out for him before the bell rung for the late dinner.  Then he arose and respectfully called the judge’s attention to the finished work, and bowed and left the room.