This had been a forenoon of varied pleasures to Ishmael. The gates of the Temple of Knowledge had been thrown open to him. All three of his studies had charmed him: the marvelous description of the earth's surface, the wonderful history of the human race, the curious analysis of language—each had in its turn delighted him. And now came the recreation hour to refresh him.
The girls all went to walk on the lawn in front of the house.
The boys all went into the shrubberies in the rear; and the day pupils began to open their dinner baskets.
Ishmael took a piece of bread from his pocket. That was to be his dinner.
But presently a servant came out of the house and spoke to Walter Middleton; and Walter called our boy, saying:
"Come, Ishmael; my father has sent for you."
Ishmael put his piece of bread in his pocket and accompanied the youth into the house and to the dining-room, where a plain, substantial dinner of roast mutton, vegetables, and pudding was provided for the children of the family.
"You are to dine with my children every day, Ishmael," said Mr. Middleton, in those tones of calm authority that admitted of no appeal from their decision.
Ishmael took the chair that was pointed out to him, and you may be sure he did full justice to the nourishing food placed before him.
When dinner was over the boys had another hour's recreation in the grounds, and then they returned to the schoolroom for afternoon exercises. These were very properly of a lighter nature than those of the morning—being only penmanship, elocution, and drawing.