Then the young man, with desolation in his heart, turned into the house to set the library in order, lock it up, and remove his own few personal effects from the premises.

Reuben Gray, who had come up to assist the judge, receive his final orders, and see him off, waited outside with his light wagon to take Ishmael and his luggage home to Woodside.  Reuben helped Ishmael to transfer his books, clothing, etc., to the little wagon.  And then Ishmael, after having taken leave of Aunt Katie, and left a small present in her hand, jumped into his seat and was driven off by Reuben.

The arrangement at Tanglewood had occupied nearly the whole of the short winter forenoon, so that it was twelve o’clock meridian when they reached Woodside.

They found a very comfortable sitting room awaiting them.  Reuben in the pride of paternity had refurnished it.  There was a warm red carpet on the floor; warm red curtains at the windows; a bright fire burning in the fireplace; a neat dinner-table set out, and, best of all, Hannah seated in a low rocking chair, with one rosy babe on her lap and another in the soft, white cradle bed by her side.  Hannah laid the baby she held beside its brother in the cradle, and arose and went to Ishmael, warmly welcoming him home again, saying: 

“Oh, my dear boy, I am so glad you have come back!  I will make you happier with us, lad, than you have ever been before.”

“You have always been very good to me, Aunt Hannah,” said Ishmael warmly, returning her embrace.

“No, I haven’t, Ishmael, no, I haven’t, my boy; but I will be.  Sally, bring in the fish directly.  You know very well that Ishmael don’t like rock-fish boiled too much,” she said by way of commencement.

The order was immediately obeyed, and the family sat down to the table.  The thrifty overseer’s wife had provided a sumptuous dinner in honor of her nephew’s return.  The thriving overseer could afford to be extravagant once in a while.  Ah! very different were those days of plenty at Woodside to those days of penury at the Hill hut.  And Hannah thought of the difference, as she dispensed the good things from the head of her well-supplied table.  The rock-fish with egg sauce was followed by a boiled ham and roast ducks with sage dressing, and the dinner was finished off with apple pudding and mince pies and new cider.

Ishmael tried his best to do justice to the luxuries affection had provided for him; but after all he could not satisfy the expectation of Hannah, who complained bitterly of his want of appetite.

After dinner, when the young man had gone upstairs to arrange his books and clothes in his own room, and had left Hannah and Reuben alone, Hannah again complained of Ishmael’s derelictions to the duty of the dinner-table.

“It’s no use talking, Hannah; he can’t help it.  His heart is so full—­so full, that he aint got room in his insides for no victuals!  And that’s just about the truth on’t.  ’Twas the same with me when I was young and in love long o’ you!  And wa’n’t you contrairy nyther?  Lord, Hannah, why when you used to get on your high horse with me, I’d be offen my feed for weeks and weeks together.  My heart would be swelled up to my very throat, and my stomach wouldn’t be nowhar!”