Ishmael complied with his requests as far as discretion permitted.

“And now, sir, please read it all out aloud to me, so I can hear how it sound.”

Ishmael complied with this request also, and read the letter aloud, to the immense delight of Jim, who earnestly expressed his approbation in the emphatic words: 

“Now—­that—­is—­beautiful!  Thank y’, sir!  That is ekal to anything as ever I heard out’n the pulpit—­and sides which, sir, it is all true, true as gospel, sir.  It is just exactly what I thinks and how I feels and what I wants to say, only I aint got the words.  Won’t mother be proud o’ that letter nyther?  Why, laws, sir, the ole ’oman ’ll get the minister to read that letter.  And then she’ll make everybody as comes to the house as can read, read it over and over again for the pride she takes in it, till she’ll fairly know it all by heart,” etc., etc., etc.

For Jim went on talking and smiling and covering the writer all over with gratitude and affection, until he was interrupted by the stopping of a carriage, the ringing of a door bell, and the sound of a sudden arrival.

“There’s Master Walter Middleton now, as sure as the world!  I must run!  Dinner’ll be put on the table soon’s ever he’s changed his dress.  I’m a thousand times obleeged to you, sir.  I am, indeed, everlasting obleeged!  I wish I could prove it some way.  Mother’ll be so pleased.”  And talking all the way downstairs, Jim took himself and his delight away.

Ishmael sighed, and arose to dress for dinner.  His kindness had not been without its reward.  The little divertisement of Jim’s letter had done him good.  Blessed little offices of loving-kindness—­what ministering angels are they to the donor as well as the receiver!  With some degree of self-possession Ishmael completed his toilet and turned to leave the room, when the sound of someone rushing up the stairs like a storm arrested his steps.

Then a voice sounded outside: 

“Which is Ishmael’s room?  Bother!  Oh, here it is!” and Bee’s door was opened.  “No! calico!  Ah! now I’m right.”

And the next instant Walter Middleton burst open the door and rushed in, exclaiming joyfully, as he seized and shook the hands of his friend: 

“Ah, here you are, old fellow!  God bless you!  How glad I am to see you!  You are still the first love of my heart, Ishmael.  Damon, your Pythias has not even a sweetheart to dispute your empire over him.  How are you?  I have heard of your success.  Wasn’t is glorious!  You’re a splendid fellow, Ishmael, and I’m proud of you.  You may have Bee, if you want her.  I always thought there was a bashful kindness between you two.  And there isn’t a reason in the world why you shouldn’t have her.  And so her Royal Highness, the Princess Claudia, has caught a Lord, has she?  Well, you know she always said she would, and she has kept her word.  But, I say, how are you?  How do you wear your honors?  How do the toga and the bays become you?  Turn around and let us have a look at you.”  And so the affectionate fellow rattled on, shaking both Ishmael’s hands every other second, until he had talked himself fairly out of breath.