At this moment the little school clock struck out sharply the hour of noon.

“It is the children’s recess,” said the teacher.  “Lay aside your books, dears, and leave the room quietly and in good order.”

The children took their hoods and cloaks from the pegs on which they hung and went out one by one—­each child turning to make her little courtesy before passing the door.  Thus all went out but two little sisters, who living at a distance had brought their luncheon, which they now took to the open front door, where they sat on the steps in the pleasant winter sunshine to eat.

The teacher turned to her young visitor.

“Will you sit down?  And ah! will you pardon me for the rude reception I gave you?”

“Pray do not think of it.  It was so natural that I have not given it a thought,” said Ishmael gently.

“It is not my disposition to do so; but I have suffered so much; I have been goaded nearly to desperation.”

“I see that, madam; you are exceedingly nervous.”

“Nervous! why, women have been driven to madness and death with less cause than I have had!”

“Do not think of your troubles in that manner, madam; do not excite yourself, compose yourself, rather.  Believe me, it is of the utmost importance to your success that you should exhibit coolness and self-possession.”

“Oh, but I have had so much sorrow for so many years!”

“Then in the very nature of things your sorrows must soon be over.  Nothing lasts long in this world.  But you have had a recent bereavement,” said Ishmael gently, and glancing at her black dress; for he thought it was better that she should think of her chastening from the hands of God rather than her wrongs from those of men.  But to his surprise, the woman smiled faintly as she also glanced at her dress, and replied: 

“Oh, no!  I have lost no friend by death since the decease of my parents years ago, far back in my childhood.  No, I am not wearing mourning for anyone.  I wear this black alpaca because it is cheap and decent and protective.”

“Protective?”

“Ah, yes! no one knows how protective the black dress is to a woman, better than I do!  There are few who would venture to treat with levity or disrespect a quiet woman in a black dress.  And so I, who have no father, brother, or husband to protect me, take a shelter under a black alpaca.  It repels dirt, too, as well as disrespect.  It is clean as well as safe, and that is a great desideratum to a poor schoolmistress,” she said, smiling with an almost childlike candor.

“I am glad to see you smile again; and now, shall we go to business?” said Ishmael.

“Oh, yes, thank you.”

“I must ask you to be perfectly candid with me; it is necessary.”

“Oh, yes, I know it is, and I will be so; for I can trust you, now.”

“Tell me, then, as clearly, as fully, and as calmly as you can, the circumstances of your case.”