"Walk up, my lad. We are going in to dinner now; we dine at noon, you know."
Ishmael, who had lingered behind from the motives of delicacy that withheld him from intruding on the confidential conversation of the newly-married pair, now quickened his steps and joined them, saying, with a smile:
"Uncle Reuben, when you advised me not to study for a whole month you did not mean to counsel me to rust in idleness for four long weeks? I must work, and I wish you would put me to that which will be the most useful to you."
"And most benefital to your own health, my boy! What would you say to fishing? Would that meet your wishes?"
"Oh, I should like that very much, if I could really be of use in that way, Uncle Reuben," said the youth.
"Why, of course you could; now I'll tell you what you can do; you can go this afternoon with Sam in the sailboat as far down the river as Silver Sands, where he hopes to hook some fine rock fish. Would that meet your views?"
"Exactly," laughed Ishmael, as his eyes danced with the eagerness of youth for the sport.
They went into the house, where Phillis had prepared a nice dinner, of bacon and sprouts and apple dumplings, which the whole party relished.
Afterwards Ishmael started on his first fishing voyage with Sam. And though it was a short one, it had for him all the charms of novelty added to the excitement of sport, and he enjoyed the excursion excessively. The fishing was very successful, and they filled their little boat and got back home by sunset. At supper Ishmael gave a full account of the expedition and received the hearty congratulations of Reuben. And thus ended the holiday of their first day at home.
The next morning Reuben Gray went into the fields to resume his oversight of his employer's estate.