And, sure enough, there the pretty little motherly maiden was among the children.

Ishmael went straight up to her, saying, in fervent tones: 

“I thank you, Bee; I thank you for remembering me.”

“Why, who should remember you if not I, Ishmael?  Are you not like one of ourselves?  And should I forget you any sooner than I should forget Walter, or James, or John?” said Bee, with a pleasant smile.

“Ah, Bee!  I have neither mother nor sister to think of me at festive times; but you, dear Bee, you make me forget the need of either.”

“You have ‘neither mother nor sister,’ Ishmael?  Now, do not think so, while my dear mother and myself live; for I am sure she loves you as a son, Ishmael, and I love you—­as a brother,” answered Bee, speaking comfort to the lonely youth from the depths of her own pure, kind heart.  But ah! the intense blush that followed her words might have revealed to an interested observer how much more than any brother she loved Ishmael Worth.

Judge Merlin, Claudia, Mr. and Mrs. Middleton, and Ishmael went to church.

Bee stayed home to see that the nurses took proper care of the children.

They had a family Christmas dinner.

And after that Ishmael excused himself, and went over to the Plow to spend the evening with Reuben and Hannah.  That evening the three friends went to the theater, and saw their first play, “the Comedy of Errors,” together.  And it did many an old, satiated play-goer good to see the hearty zest with which honest Reuben enjoyed the fun.  Nor was Hannah or Ishmael much behind him in their keen appreciation of the piece; only, at those passages at which Hannah and Ishmael only smiled, Reuben rubbed his knees, and laughed aloud, startling all the audience.

“It’s a good thing I don’t live in the city, Hannah, my dear, for I would go to the play every night!” said Reuben, as they left the theater at the close of the performance.

“And it is a good thing you don’t, Reuben, for it would be the ruination of you!” admitted Hannah.

They went back to the Plow, where the Christmas supper was served for them in the plain little private sitting room.  After partaking moderately of its delicacies, Ishmael bade them good-night, and returned home.

Reuben and Hannah stayed a week in the city.  Reuben took her about to see all the sights and to shop in all the stores.  And on New Year’s day, when the President received the public, Reuben took Hannah to the White House, to “pay their duty” to the chief magistrate of the nation.  And the day after New Year’s day they took leave of Ishmael and of all their friends, and returned home, delighted with the memory of their pleasant visit to the city.

Ishmael, after all these interruptions, returned with new zest to his duties, and, as before, worked diligently day and night.

Claudia went deeper into her preparations for her first appearance in society at the President’s first drawing room of the season.