“Indeed, sir, I shall feel honored and happy in serving you.”

“I will give you what I consider a fair compensation for so young a beginner.  By the way, how old are you?”

“I shall be nineteen in December.”

“Very well; I will give you twenty dollars a month and your board.”

“Judge Merlin,” said Ishmael, as his pale face flushed crimson, “I shall feel honored and happy in serving you; but from you I cannot consent to receive any compensation.”

The judge stared at the speaker with astonishment that took all power of reply away; but Ishmael continued: 

“Consider, sir, the heavy obligations under which I already rest towards you, and permit me to do what I can to lighten the load.”

“What do you mean?  What the deuce are you talking about?” at last asked the judge.

“Sir, I have been an inmate of your house for nearly three months, nursed, tended, and cared for as if I had been a son of the family.  What can I render you for all these benefits?  Sir, my gratitude and services are due to you, are your own.  Pray, therefore, do not mention compensation to me again,” replied the youth.

“Young man, you surprise me beyond measure.  Your gratitude and services due to me?  For what, pray?  For taking care of you when you were dangerously injured in my service?  Did you not receive all your injuries in saving my daughter from a violent death?  After that, who should have taken care of you but me?  ‘Taken care of you?’ I should take care of all your future!  I should give you a fortune, or a profession, or some other substantial compensation for your great service, to clear accounts between us!” exclaimed the judge.

Ishmael bowed his head.  Oh, bitterest of all bitter mortifications!  To hear her father speak to him of reward for saving Claudia’s life!  To think how everyone was so far from knowing that in saving Claudia he had saved himself!  He had a right to risk his life for Claudia, and no one, not even her father, had a right to insult him by speaking of reward!  Claudia was his own; Ishmael knew it, though no one on earth, not even the heiress herself, suspected it.

The judge watched the youth as he sat with his fine young forehead bowed thoughtfully upon his hand; and Judge Merlin understood Ishmael’s reluctance to receive pay; but did not understand the cause of it.

“Come, my boy,” he said; “you are young and inexperienced.  You cannot know much of life.  I am an old man of the world, capable of advising you.  You should follow my advice.”

“Indeed, I will gratefully do so, sir,” said Ishmael, raising his head, glad, amid all his humiliation, to be advised by Claudia’s father.

“Then, my boy, you must reflect that it would be very improper for me to avail myself of your really valuable assistance without giving you a reasonable compensation; and that, in short, I could not do it,” said the judge firmly.