“Reuben, don’t be a fool, it’s not becoming in the father of a family,” said Mrs. Hannah, proudly glancing at the twins.

“Law, so it isn’t, so it isn’t, Hannah, woman.  But surely I was only a-telling of you what ailed Ishmael, as he was off his feed.”

“But what foolishness and craziness and sottishness for Ishmael to be in love with Miss Merlin!” exclaimed Hannah impatiently.

“Law, woman, who ever said love was anything else but craziness and the rest of it,” laughed Gray.

“But Miss Merlin thinks no more of Ishmael than she does of the dirt under her feet,” said Hannah bitterly.

“Begging your pardon, she thinks a deal more of him than she’d like anybody to find out,” said honest Reuben, winking.

“How did you find it out then?” inquired his wife.

“Law, Hannah, I haven’t been fried and froze, by turn, with all sorts of fever and ague love fits, all the days of my youth, without knowing of the symptoms.  And I tell you as how the high and mighty heiress, Miss Claudia Merlin, loves the very buttons on our Ishmael’s coat better nor she loves the whole world and all the people in it besides.  And no wonder! for of all the young men as ever I seed, gentlemen or workingmen, Ishmael Worth is the handsomest in his looks, and his manners, and his speech, and all.  And I believe, though I am not much of a judge, as he is the most intelligentest and book-larnedest.  I never seed his equal yet.  Why, Hannah, I don’t believe as there is e’er a prince a-livin’ as has finer manners—­I don’t!”

“But, Reuben, do you mean what you say?  Do you really think Miss Claudia Merlin condescends to like Ishmael?  I have heard of ladies doing such strange things sometimes; but Miss Claudia Merlin!”

“I told you, and I tell you again, as she loves the very buttons offen Ishmael’s coat better nor she loves all the world besides.  But she is as proud as Lucifer, and ready to tear her own heart out of her bosom for passion and spite, because she can’t get Ishmael out of it!  She’ll never marry him, if you mean that; though I know sometimes young ladies will marry beneath them for love; but Miss Merlin will never do that.  She would fling herself into burning fire first!”

The conversation could go no farther, for the subject of it was heard coming down the stairs, and the next moment he opened the door and entered the room.

He took a seat near Hannah, smiling and saying: 

“For this one afternoon I will take a holiday, Aunt Hannah, and enjoy the society of yourself and the babies.”

“So do, Ishmael,” replied the pleased and happy mother.  And in the very effort to shake off his gloom and please and be pleased, Ishmael found his sadness alleviated.