“There, then, Ishmael!  I’m glad to find you again!  God bless my boy!  But law! what’s the use o’ my axing of him to do that?  He’ll do it anyways, without my axing!” said Reuben, pressing the hand of Ishmael.  “And now,” he added, “will you be round to the Farmer’s this evening to see Hannah and the young uns?”

“Yes, Uncle Reuben; but first I must go and let Mrs. Walsh know that you have brought her little girls back.  I suppose she will think it best to leave them with her aunt until the day of trial.”

“It will be the safest place for ’em! for besides the old lady being spunky, I shall be there to protect ’em; for I mean to stay till that same said trial and hear you make your fust speech afore the judge, and see that woman righted afore ever I goes back home again, ef it costs me fifty dollars.”

“I’m afraid you will find it very expensive, Uncle Reuben.”

“No, I won’t, sir—­Ishmael, I mean; because, you see, I fotch up a lot o’ spring chickens and eggs and early vegetables, and the profits I shall get offen them will pay my expenses here at the very least,” said Reuben, as he arose and stood waiting with hat in hand for Ishmael’s motions.

Ishmael got up and took his own hat and gloves.

“Be you going round to see the schoolmist’ess now, sir—­Ishmael, I mean?”

“Yes, Uncle Reuben.”

“Well, I think I’d like to walk round with you, if you don’t mind.  I kind o’ want to see the little woman, and I kind o’ don’t want to part with you just yet, sir—­Ishmael, I mean.”

“Come along, then, Uncle Reuben; she will be delighted to see her children’s kind protector, and I shall enjoy your company on the way.”

“And then, sir—­Ishmael, I mean—­when we have seen her, you will go back with me to the Farmer’s and see Hannah and the little uns and spend the evening long of us?”

“Yes, Uncle Reuben; and I fancy Mrs. Walsh will go with us.”

“Sartain, sure, so she will, sir—­Ishmael, I mean.”

It was too late to find her at the schoolhouse, as it would be sure to be closed at this hour.  So they walked directly to the little suburban cottage where she lived with one faithful old negro servant, who had been her nurse, and with her cow and pig and poultry and her pet dog and cat.  They made her heart glad with the news of the children’s arrival, and they waited until, with fingers that trembled almost too much to do the work, she put on her bonnet and mantle to accompany them to the Farmer’s.

The meeting between the mother and children was very affecting.  She informed them that, this being Holy Thursday evening, she had dismissed the school for the Easter holidays, and so could be with them all the time until she should take them into court on Wednesday of the ensuing week.

Then in family council it was arranged that both herself and the children should remain at the Farmer’s until the day of the trial.